FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO - Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Apology
All pairs of eyes seated in the courtroom turned to glare at the noisy Harriet, who was up on her feet and attempting to run to her husband.

“What do you think you’re doing, Harriet?” Uncle Lazarus demanded angrily, pulling at her left wrist. “Sit down.”

Before anyone else could reprimand Harriet, Desmond’s broken voice reverberated in the room, his sunken eyes widening in excitement.

“My love!” Desmond screamed for joy, lifting both of his handcuffed hands. He wasn’t expecting to see his wife after the way she reacted that night before the arrest. He thought he had lost her forever after watching Lilian verbally end her marriage.

“Order!” Judge Addams struck his gavel against the sound block, his eyes flared and nose crinkled. “I will have order in my courtroom.” His icy gaze darted between the husband and wife.

The court police officer standing close to the accused, poked Desmond with his black-coated wooden baton on the side

“Put your filthy hands down and close that hole in your face.”

“Sorry.” Desmond apologized and did as he was told while the judge lectured his wife.

“What do you take this place for? Your living room, where you can do as you please. You will either sit down and keep that mouth shut or I will have you thrown out of this courtroom.”

“I’m sorry, your honour.” Harriet cupped her face, crying silently as she sat down.

“Let this be a warning to everyone seated here.” The judge continued speaking, his expression stern. “I will not tolerate this kind of behavior again. Anyone who interrupts me or speaks out of term will be held in contempt. And that includes all six of you.” He pointed at the accused who were already standing inside the witness box.

A wave of silence fell in the courtroom. Even Harriet who was initially sniffing was forced to swallow her sniffle. She couldn’t bear the thought of being thrown out of the court without hearing her husband’s sentence.

Amelia’s gaze swept across her supposed family, most of whom were glaring at her. If looks could kill, she would be dead in the next second due to the way Matt, Lin and Pearl were scowling at her.

Regina kept her head lowered, ashamed to look at her husband. But Gwen kept her broken and pleading gaze at her dad, communicating unspoken words of regret and forgiveness.

Senator Gregory turned to the side to look at his daughter. He was slightly stunned to see her maintaining the same rigid and unrelenting expressions.

‘How can she remain this cold after seeing them looking this way?’ The senator pondered in his heart. He thought of whispering something to her, but the Judge’s voice broke through the thick fog of silence.

“Based on your confessions and the evidence presented, all six of you pleaded guilty to the crime of abduction, attempted assassination, forgery and unauthorized sales of liquidated trust fund assets belonging to Mrs Amelia Shawls Anderson.”

The judge briefly admonished the accused before saying.

“I have always believed in a fair trial where everyone is allowed to prove their innocence. Irrespective of the detailed confession and evidence presented, this case can still go to trial if any of you think you are innocent of the criminal charges presented. With that being said, do any of you have something to say before I read out your sentences? Please signify by raising your hands.”

To the judge’s delight, five of the accused lifted their hands except for the lady in pink, whose hardened face was in direct contrast to her choice of colour.

“Alright, let’s hear you first.” Judge Addams pointed to Desmond, who was the first to raise his hands.

“Thank you, Your Honour, and I’m sorry for my earlier outburst,” Desmond said genuinely.

The judge nodded his head in acknowledgement, giving Desmond the go-ahead signal.

“I would like to plead to my kind and considerate niece,” Desmond said tilting his gaze to Amelia, whose expression was deadpan, just like her husband. “I know I failed you the moment I encouraged and partook in a crime I am now ashamed to say. I am guilty of what I did and I regret my wicked actions. I believe every man deserves a second chance to rewrite their wrong. That is why I am asking for your forgiveness, Amy. I’m sorry for everything I did and I promise to be a better uncle to you. A better brother…” His gaze shifted to the senator whose eyes were already teary. “…a better husband to my lovely wife and a better father to our children.”

Harriet nodded her head vigorously as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

Amelia almost felt sorry for Desmond. However, when she recalled how he was so quick to shift the blame to others to save his neck, she decided in her heart that he still needed to suffer for his crime to learn from his mistakes. Moreover, if Harriet knew that he was having an extramarital affair with Pearl, would she be this forgiving?

“The next person beside him.” The judge pointed to Matt.

“I have something to say to my brother,” Matt said in a repressed tone, before tilting his head to look at the senator, his gaze frigid and devoid of remorse.

“Everyone has a dark secret embedded in the deepest part of their heart. You’re not perfect neither are you innocent. You are as guilty as every one of us standing here. So do not get so comfortable because you will soon be exposed. And when that day comes, I want you to remember this, you are the very reason why I became this Matt you now detest.”

The senator’s jaw dropped in shock.

“What in God’s name is he talking about, Dad?” Amelia asked, her tone brimming with curiosity and perplexity.

The Senator shook his head. “I have no idea.”

However, Blaze thought otherwise. He observed the way Matt stole a glance in his direction before reverting to his brother. Something within him told him that whatever Matt was insinuating was somehow tied to Amelia’s late mother and his late father.

Matt had virtually chosen death rather than comment on Desmond’s speculation of his affair with the late Fiona Wales Shawls.

‘Something isn’t right. I have to dig deeper.’ Blaze concluded in his heart as the judge called on Gwen to speak next.