***************
CHAPTER 324 â€" In Court 2
With the thoughts she dropped into the minds of everyone present, Lawyer Longwei had a hint of a smile pressed on her lips as she pushed further.
"Were you driven by jealousy to the extent you planned a framework against my client?"
Whispers could be heard from the crowd seated and hearing the word 'jealousy' made Andromeda scoff in disgust.
She was rather thankful because if Wu Bai didn't plan any of this in the first place, she wouldn't have met the man who turned her life around completely, in a good way.
"I object."
Lawyer Chang chose to try again, but as expected, his objections were overruled, leaving Attorney Longwei to glance in his direction.
"What's the rush lawyer Chang?" She questioned straight out, "you'll get your turn, it'll be appreciated if you don't interrupt me next time and wait till I'm done."
Due to her retort, Lawyer Chang cast her a secret glare but remained quiet, knowing that if she spoke back, he might complicate things further.
Returning her gaze back to Andromeda, she repeated her earlier question. "Answer me, Miss Kai, were you jealous?"
"Sorry to ruin the moment but I wasn't, rather I felt ecstatic because she separated me from a man who'd have made my life a living hell."
"I see, so you did this to get back at your ex-man for leaving you, by going after my client and thus, leading to your tactics?"
Andromeda realized her words had been twisted and she felt stupid for spilling those things out of emotions.
A triumphant smirk curved Attorney Longwei's lips a little before turning her straight face to the judge.
"As you can see my lord, it's obvious that Miss Kai here has some personal issues to settle, resulting in her false accusations against my client and I think it's best to drop the matter. I'm done here, my lord."
She concluded before dismissing Andromeda and returning to her seat beside Lawyer Chang, giving him the chance to stand up and support his own client as he walked out to stand the judge.
"My lord," he arranged a few papers in his hands before lifting his head to look at the seated judge, "it is true that my client, Miss Kai does have some personal issues that don't concern the case in any way as my fellow lawyer here tried to make it sound."
He eyed attorney Longwei who was the least bothered as she went through her own files, not minding the words that came from lawyer Chang who instinctively continued.
"The accused, Miss Beatrice over here," he directed a finger at her, "hired someone to break into the house of Miss Kai, paying him some ample amount of money to steal the drawings from her home, wanting to sabotage my client's hard work and steal her glory."
He handed the file to the clerk who thoroughly went through them, before handing it to the judge.
"According to the section of 'Crime Violating Intellectual Property Rights' which includes articles 213 to 220, stating the crimes and punishments due to one who has committed any of them, Miss Beatrice Zhang has been found wanting and is been accused of intrusion, theft and patency."
"I stole nothing," Beatrice intervened with a disbelieving scoff, turning her hostile gaze towards Andromeda who was sitting at the front of her seat, along with the crowd and a bitter sneer curved her lips.
"I've always known you hated me Andromeda, but I didn't think you'd stoop this low to frame me up like this!"
Andromeda had the urge to slap that shameless woman across the face.
How can someone be so cunning? Despite facing trial, she still has the guts to lie before everyone here.
Planning a powerful retort in her head, she was about to give a venomous response but stopped when she indubitably met Liu Xueyi's stare.
He shook his head, advising her not to say a word and indicating she should remain calm.
Andromeda was boiling on the inside, but then again, Liu Xueyi was right, her lawyer would handle this and if she says anything now, Beatrice's talented attorney might just use it against her.
To lawyer Chang's relief, Andromeda didn't give a retort and he regained himself, looking at Beatrice who was already acting like she was the wronged one in all of this.
"You stole nothing?" He raised his right brow in an inquiring manner before his expression turned half-serious, "then I hope you don't mind me asking you a few questions, Miss Zhang?"
"Where were you when the stealing of Miss Kai's drawing took place?"
"It's been a while, I can't remember," She responded, but that only made Lawyer Chang smile, "I haven't even told you the date and time, and you can't remember? Interesting..."
The colour of Beatrice's face paled a little, realizing the slight mistake she made and when she tried to cover up, he didn't give her that chance.
"You don't have to explain anything, Miss Beatrice, it's obvious that you're already aware of when the whole thing happened since you can't remember, based on the fact "it's been a while since it happened so I understand that."
<Author: Muahahaa hehhee. Nice one. In your face Bitchrice. *winks*>
<Andy: Nice one author. Nice one Lawyer Chang.>
"I have an objection to make, my lord," attorney Longwei got to her feet, but just like Lawyer Chang, her approach of defence was overruled.
"Damn it." She cursed silently, knowing lawyer Chang would enjoy the fact that she just got overruled, but keeping her frustration intact, she took her seat.
"Do you have any proof that I'm responsible for what I'm being accused of?" Beatrice challenged, but if she looked at her attorney, even once, she'd see the woman was signalling her to keep shut.
Unfortunately, she didn't look in her direction, as though she could easily handle the situation herself.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Lawyer Chang responded curtly, leaving Beatrice's knees weakened at his unexpected response.
Does he have proof? What sort of proof?
As far as she knew, she carried out the plan successfully without leaving a single trace, so what evidence could he possibly have against her?
Turning his attention to the judge, Lawyer Chang proceeded to take full permission as he asked, "we do have evidence, showing the crimes of Miss Beatrice along with her partners in crime, but it'll be much appreciated if the case can be adjourned till next week, where full evidence can be brought to the table and the accused shall get her well-deserved punishment."
The tiny smile on Wu Bai's face cracked a little at the mention of 'evidence'
What sort of evidence could Andromeda have gotten hold of? Deep down, he silently prayed that the evidence doesn't implicate him in the situation with Beatrice.
However, he was going to figure out what sort of evidence the smart woman had managed to get her hands on before the next trial.
Accessing the situation properly, Judge Lie Jungie narrowed his eyes at the two lawyers before giving his verdict.
"The next trial will be adjourned till 10th of October, 2022 at 9:00 am on Monday," the judge declared, writing something down on a file that was placed on his table.
The moment he was done, the bailiff announced once again, "all rise."
Everyone got to their feet, same with the judge as he made his way out of the courtroom along with the jury.
The prison officers took Beatrice away since she wasn't freed yet and the moment she walked past Andromeda, she whispered.
"You won't get away with this."
Liu Xueyi cast a cold glance her way, intimidating her with his pristine look and cold eyes.
One wrong move from her was to harm the woman he loved and it would spell doom for her. He was going to make sure of it.
And judging from her the preceding went, he was sure her lawyer friend had some cunning ploys under her sleeves. However, he had one of the best lawyers in the country as his attorney.
Should the need be, he would ask him to take the place of Lawyer Chang. But from what he had seen, here today, Lawyer Chang could handle his own very well.
All he needed to do now was to join Tang Yan in getting stronger pieces of evidence and look for more weaknesses to use against Lawyer Longwei.
"I think you should remind yourself of that," Andromeda retorted, wearing a calm smile on her face as she eyed Beatrice's retreating form.
Similarly, Wu Bai cleared his throat and walked out of his seat to stand between both rows as he let his sinister eyes wash over Andromeda.
"You dare go against me, Meda?"
"It's Miss Kai to you," she openly corrected, giving him the stinky eye.
And just to add flare to her words, she moved closer to him, taking a bold stand before him and said, "at the very least, do well to recall and rightly pronounce the name of the one who would bring you down."
Her lips curved upward, as a mischievous glint flashed in those daring blue eyes of hers.
"See you in court next week."