Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
The Walsh’s and Alyssa’s family recognized that the other voice belonged to Betty. Other than them, no one else could tell that the other person in the recording was Betty.
“What… What is this? How is this recording being played?”
The police officers headed to the AV room to have a look. The judges were shocked, too!
Steven was the only one with a calm expression on his face. As a judge, it was his duty to maintain order in the courtroom.
However, he chose to keep silent at this moment.
Sophia was like a zombie who had just lost her soul then. Her entire body went limp, and she crumpled to the floor.
Despite her mental fortitude, even the most villainous individuals had a breaking point.
At the same time, Betty was shaking like a leaf. She was biting her fingernails until they almost bled. “Lyse, this voice recording. Was it your doing?” Jeremy grabbed Alyssa’s hand and asked in surprise. Alyssa had a confused look on her face, too. She blinked and answered, “It wasn’t me. If I had made any arrangements, I would’ve told you in the first instance.”
All of a sudden, her cell phone started vibrating in her purse. She pulled her phone out to check. To her surprise, it was a text message from Axel.
“Lyse, did you like the surprise I prepared for you all?”
Alyssa gasped. She typed her reply as quickly as she could. “Axel, the recording. You were the one who played it?”
“Out of all your brothers, who else but myself has the ability to hack into the courthouse’s computer system? Even your partner, my school’s alumnus, doesn’t know this trick of mine.”
Alyssa narrowed her eyes. “Are you seeing someone, Axel?”
Axel: “Seeing someone? I don’t have time for that. No way!”
Alyssa: “How did you learn to be so cheeky?”
Axel: “Hey, I was just helping all of you relieve some of the solemnness and pressure.”
Alyssa was just teasing him. Deep down, she did indeed feel more at ease.
Hurriedly, she showed Jeremy her message exchange with Axel. She leaned her head against his.
“When is Axel coming back? I need to thank him in person.” Jeremy’s eyes were full of gratitude.
“Uh. You scared him off with your drinking skills the last time. I’m guessing that he wouldn’t want to see you again so soon.” Alyssa shrugged.
Jeremy chuckled. He hadn’t even shown his full capability yet.
The interlude in the courtroom ended. The court session resumed.
The look on Steven’s face was frigid. He hammered his gavel loudly. “We will adjourn for now. The court will resume at 3:00 pm to announce the verdict!”
Right after Steven said that, Javier stood up. The air around him was frosty. He left without turning back.
After that, everyone who came with him began to rise from their seats, too. They, too, left the courtroom. In the blink of an eye, the gallery, which was previously filled to the brim, was now empty. Only the Taylors were left.
“Javier, that wasn’t true! I’ve never murdered anyone! Javier!” Sophia was still on the floor. She wailed as she reached her hand out toward Javier.
However, the only response she received was the sound of the door closing heavily.
The corridor was previously empty. The loud footsteps of the Walsh family broke the silence in the hallway.
Javier had a frosty expression on his face. His eyes were red. He was seething with rage as he strutted forward. The Walsh family members behind him held their breath.
Rory followed closely behind Javier. He kept a straight expression on his face. But this hearing gave him an inexplicable feeling of relief in his heart.
His heart harbored unspoken words for far too long.
He had been in Javier’s employ for a considerable time, witnessing Sophia’s claim and enjoying everything that rightfully belonged to Anne. However, as a secretary, he could only go along with it. He had no other choice but to show respect to Sophia. This irked him. It made him feel indignant.
Fortunately, justice prevailed.
Even so, Rory pretended to be worried. He probed, “Mr. Javier, the verdict will be announced at 3:00 pm. Is there anything else that you need to get done before this? I can help you out if you have anything in mind…”
Javier shot him a fierce look before he could even finish his sentence. He interrupted gruffly, “Am I the mad one, or have you gone mad? Why do I have to save a lowly and evil murderer time and time again?
“She murdered Anne! She killed the woman I loved the most! Saving her? I wish that I could kill her with my own hands this instant!”
There were many people in the corridor. Everyone was taken aback. The corridor was filled with dead silence.
Rory lowered his hands to his side immediately. He felt more at ease now. He said softly, “Understood.”
Javier took a few steps forward. Unexpectedly, he bumped into Betty. She was looking disconcerted.
“Dad…”
Betty stopped in her tracks instantly. She stood stiffly in front of Javier. Her heart was pounding, and her legs were shaking.
Javier’s face was expressionless. He took a step toward her. He glared at her through his bloodshot eyes.
“Dad. Mom, she. “
He raised his hand and gave her one hard slap. Betty shrieked.
She was already feeling weak from terror. She wasn’t able to withstand the slap. She fell straight to the ground. She started seeing stars and wasn’t able to get back up.
The slap was painful. But more than that, her pride had taken a hit. She felt crushed.
Javier was her father. He didn’t care about not embarrassing her. He had slapped her in front of so many people on the Walsh’s’ side. He was essentially directing his anger at Sophia toward her.
“You ungrateful twat! How dare you show yourself in front of me?”
Javier’s eyes were red with anger. His hand was trembling as he pointed straight at her face. “You are also one of my daughters. Your younger sister is so pure and kind. You, on the other hand, are a complete disgrace to me!
“You have always caused trouble since a young age. Now that you’re older, you can’t even tell right from wrong. You’ve simply allowed that witch to string you along!”
The more Javier spoke, the more furious he got. He was so mad that his eyes were bulging. He worked hard for over 20 years. He felt like all his hard work had gone down the drain. If only he could get rid of the jinx before him.
“Betty! You are my eldest daughter. Your grandfather and I have loved and cared for you since you were young. I had high hopes for you. I’ve also paid more attention to you than your sister! However, you… What were you and your diabolical mother up to behind my back?”
“Dad, I wasn’t aware. I wasn’t aware of anything.” Betty cupped her swollen face in her hands. She tried to gain sympathy. Her eyes welled up with tears as she feigned innocence and sought pity.
“Everyone heard the recording played in the courtroom just now!” Javier was so pissed off that his breathing had become uneven. He growled, “Others might not have recognized your voice. But of course I could!
“Right from the start… you were fully aware of Sophia’s actions. You knew she hired a hitman! Not only did you conceal it from me, but you actively assisted her in keeping it a secret. You must be out of your mind!”
Betty denied, “No. That’s not it.”
“Don’t you know that you were harboring a criminal? You are an accomplice! Did you want to follow in Sophia’s footsteps and end up imprisoned?”
Betty was scared shitless. She was flustered. She knelt by Javier’s feet. Tear stains marked her face as she gazed up at him. She pleaded, “Dad! I was wrong. I now know that what I did was wrong!
“All those things. She made me do them! She’s my mother. Those things that she asked me to do, I didn’t dare to go against her! I was too mindlessly obedient. I was dumb!
“Please, I beg you. You cannot let me end up in prison! I am your daughter. Could you bear to see me end up in prison?
“Also, can our family afford to have another family member go to jail? The Schmidt family already took a hit because of it. You’ve worked tirelessly to manage the Walsh Group. Are you hoping the Walsh Group ends up in ruins just like the Schmidt Group?”
Javier’s dark pupils constricted as he yelled, “Bugger off!”
Betty scooted to the side hurriedly and made way for Javier. She watched as he walked past her.
A series of footsteps sounded as others walked by her, too. Not a single person stopped to help her up. This made her feel even more ashamed.
“Damn it. Goddamn it!”
Betty punched the ground with her fists. She screamed and cursed in the empty hallway.
“Hey, this is the courthouse, not a circus! Go outside to scream instead!” Two police officers approached her to throw her out. They carried hateful expressions on their faces.
Betty’s face flushed red in embarrassment. She gathered up her strength to stand back up.
She stumbled awkwardly. She was taken aback the moment she stood back up.