Chapter 345
Veronica’s POV
Court Room
Today is the court proceedings we filed against Fredrick and Alex.
Vance and John had arrived in advance, while I, Jonathan, Daniel and Isabella came a little later.
Vance and John had already submitted the evidence against both, but Fredrick still didn’t miss his chance.
“Your honor, I’m truly innocent,” Fredrick said, posing a pitiful face.
“Everything is just a big misunderstanding p>
“Actually, my wife and I had a fallout, and she just left me p>
“I was also fooled into believing Veronica was not my child p>
“Or else why would I as a father give her away p>
“And as for Imelda p>
“I was a lonely man who just yearned for a family p>
“You can ask Imelda, I gave her the best life a girl could want p>
“And as for Harmon Designs, I was the president, how can you file a case on that p>
“Mr Fredrick, the case against you is not about your married relationship but about you abandoning your daughter p>
“There is solid proof, you abandoned your daughter based on the words of a tarot reader, who has verified he was a fake one and did so because he took money from a rival of yours p>
“There are proof of you embezzling funds from Harmon Designs p>
“Even if you are the legal owner of Harmon Designs p>
“You do not have the rights to embezzle funds p>
“The money belongs to the company, to the employees who made you earn them p>
“And Harmon Designs is not your founded company p>
“You stole it from your wife and you are not a Harmon p>
“Based on these facts, you have no right in what you did p>
“Now, please step down and wait for your verdict p>
“Next p>
Alex was the second one to be called onto the stand.
“Mr Alex Vale, what do you have to say about the accusations filed against you p>
“I did nothing wrong p>
“I only wanted to fulfil my father’s last wish p>
“As for Imelda p>
“I only paid her money for a project p>
“Now she used the money for a face surgery p>
“How would I know p>
Silence fell in the court as the jury began to discuss the evidence and the plea Fredrick presented.
After about an hour, the jury was ready to announce the verdict.
“Mr Vance, we would like you to please present the evidence once again in court,” a jury member said so Vance did as he was told.
He presented each evidence all over again, including his involvement in using his nephew Sanders to trap Jonathan.
Every action was detailed again, all the while I kept listening to every word.
Even though he was my father, watching him standing in the box, I felt nothing at all.
“Next we would like to know about Alex Vale’s involvement,” the jury member said.
Vance presented the surveillance videos of me and my family.
“As you can see, Alex had his men track the activity of my client Mrs Rollings and her family p>
“Not only a breach of privacy, but unethical as well p>
“Alex Vale has been arguing the reason he did was to fulfil his father’s last wish to get the Blue Heart p>
“But the Blue Heart is a property of the River family and now that Mr Rollings is the legal heir of the River family, it belongs to him p>
“Alex Vale has no rights to claim or steal it whatsoever p>
“Now I will read the verdict for both,” the judge said.
“The charges filed against Mr Fredrick are abandoning his wife, abandoning his daughter, buying a child, embezzlement of funds, conducting business he is not a legal CEO of p>
“The court finds Mr Fredrick guilty of all said charges p>
Fredrick looked towards me, probably for sympathy.
But I was the last person who would feel sympathy for him.
The court then read out Alex’s verdict as well and was announced guilty as charged.
“Jonathan, how dare you?” Alex yelled across the room.
“All I wanted was to fulfil my father’s last wish p>
“So his soul could rest in peace, you won’t allow even that p>
“It’s just a god-damn gemstone p>
“Why can’t you just give it to me p>
“Mr Vale, I was considering of reducing your sentence p>
“But after seeing your outburst in court p>
“I think I’ll just have to extend your sentence p>
Finally, I was walking hand in hand out of the court holding Jonathan’s hand.
On our way home, I reflected on Fredrick, Imelda, Charles, and Alex.
How they wanted to destroy my marriage, and my family.
Especially Imelda, who even went as far as to change her face.
At the same time I was content, Janet and Joshua will be able to live a normal life with no fear of any stalkers or anyone betraying them.
“Nicky,” Jonathan said as he held my hand.
“I can’t say I’m sorry for all the hurt you suffered p>
“But I swear, from now on, I won’t let any harm touch you p>
“Jonathan p>
“I won’t deny back then I did think you prioritized Imelda over me p>
“But the time I spent away from you, I was able to understand everything and the fact you had been protecting me all along p>
“You don’t have to say that p>
I exhaled as now I was hopeful the future would no longer revolve around surviving, and rather living to the fullest.
Just then I got a message from Ann:
Imelda is practically homeless.
She had already lost financial support from Fredrick, and now Alex was also arrested.
Of course she had no job thanks to her having my face, no one was willing to hire her anymore.
“Feeling sorry for her?” Jonathan asked as he saw the message.
“I won’t deny her situation is unfortunate p>
“Had she been adopted by someone else p>
“Maybe she would have had a normal life p>
“But she still could have lived a normal life p>
“But she chose to target you and me p>
“And taking my face was her biggest mistake she will have to live with for the rest of her life now p>
“How can anyone feel sorry for her p>
“But p>
“But I think we should just leave her to her fate, home is waiting for us p>
Rollings House
As we arrived home, Janet and Joshua had organized a small celebration for us.
“I’m so happy, now no one will come in between you both p>
“Dad! Let’s play ball p>
I watched Jonathan playing with Joshua, and realized how badly I missed these simple things.
The feeling now no one will disturb us, really was a feeling I never thought I would feel.
No more glancing at the phone receiving unwanted calls.
No more security warnings anymore.
No more unexpected visitors coming at our door.
To some this may be simple happiness, but for me and Jonathan they are what we longed for.
“John!” Jonathan said as he walked over.
“I got some update over Imelda’s financial condition p>
“I just found out over the past few months p>
“Imelda was depending on Alex for her funds p>
“Now with Alex behind bars, her cash flow has practically stopped p>
“She even went to meet the ones who helped her on his name p>
“But they also turned their backs on her p>
Even after listening to all this, I was wondering if Imelda learnt her lesson or not.
“I want to meet her p>
“What??” Both said in unison.
“Jonathan, I want to hear what she has to say, before I can make a final decision on her, please p>
“Nicky, you know she has taken repeated advantage of your kindness time and time again p>
“I know p>
“But she is one matter I want to put an end to p>
“Okay,” Jonathan said as he exhaled.
“John arrange it p>
A Small Cafe
“By now you must be knowing I’m practically living on the stress thanks to putting Fredrick and Alex in jail.” she scoffed, making me wonder why I came to meet her.
“I know I am responsible for my actions, but you also never gave in to me p>
“Gave in?” I said.
“As in let you have Jonathan p>
“Why not p>
“You are married, you already had Janet p>
“”So why not let me have him p>
“It wasn’t like I was making him to divorce you or anything p>
I was listening to her quietly as I was still hoping she would acknowledge her actions and repent.
Then she went silent.
“I never thought this day would come p>
“But she trailed off.
“Can you help me p>
“I’ve lost everything p>
“And now cause of your face, unless you help me, no one will p>
“I can’t promise you a place to stay or monetary wise p>
“But I’m willing to listen to you, but it all depends on your honesty and accountability p>
She looked surprised at me.
I knew she was uncertain if I was willing to offer her kindness or I was preparing myself to reject her.
But I also knew the moment Imelda finds out about her biological mother, her perspective will change.