Chapter 9 Trial

The courtroom was quiet. I sat beside our legal team, my hands clasped together on my lap. Across from us, the lawyers representing the Grants were calm, almost too confident. It was clear-they had done this a hundred times before.

Today is our first trial. We were given a schedule right away, and it seems like our evidence for now is in favor of us.

I swallowed hard. This was it. The fight we had been preparing for. The farmers sat in the audience, their faces filled with both fear and hope. Some clutched their hands together as if praying. Others sat stiffly, their eyes fixed on the judge.

Then, the door at the side of the room opened. The opposing party walked in. My stomach tightened.

Lucas Grant stepped inside, his tall frame moving with ease. He wore a dark suit, tailored perfectly to his body. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes, sharp as ever, swept across the room. I felt his gaze flicker toward me, but I quickly looked away.

I try my best not to be affected by his presence.

A moment later, another man entered. His presence was different. Stronger. More commanding.

He wasn't just powerful-he was the kind of man who could control a room without saying a single word. His silver hair was neatly combed back, and his eyes, though aged, held an intensity that sent chills down my spine.

Whispers spread through the courtroom.

Elias Grant.

Lucas's grandfather. The true head of the Grant family.

I felt my breath hitch as his eyes landed on me. He didn't speak, but there was something in his gaze-curiosity? Amusement? I couldn't tell. But one thing was clear.

He recognized me.

"Ah, so you're the woman my grandson talks about, huh?" Elias Grant's voice was deep, rich with amusement. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze studying me like I was an interesting puzzle he was trying to solve. "Amanda Riley, was it?"

I forced a polite smile. "Amari, actually."

His laugh was hearty, the kind that filled a room and demanded attention. "Ah, my mistake. Amari." He said my name slowly, as if testing how it felt on his tongue.

The restaurant we were in was empty-reserved entirely for us. After my damn whole shift in the café, Lucas didn't stop persuading me to meet his grandfather. He stayed inside for the whole day. I even tell him that I will go somewhere else but he's too persevered.

He said he doesn't have a choice anymore since his grandfather is now too eager to meet me.

"Why does your grandfather is really so interested in meeting me. Don't tell me it was just because he saw the pictures of us going inside your apartment?" I told him while we're on our way to the restaurant.

He look at me impatiently. Yep, in his entire waiting, I know he's controlling himself not to burst out because he's the one who needs me. He needs a fake girlfriend to defend himself in front of his grandfather.

"For the record, Amari, you are the only woman I brought in there. That's why the old hag is eager to meet you-ouch!"

"You are so disrespectful!" I pinched his arm. "It's too impossible! You are a known flirt in the campus. A womanizer. I'm pretty sure you bed women, if not in your apartment, probably in a motel or in an inn-"

"Oh? You heard about it huh? Don't worry, from now on, I'll only flirt with you."

I rolled my eyes.

The chandeliers above glowed softly, casting golden light over the table filled with dishes I could barely name.

I knew the Grants were rich. Filthy rich. But this? This was another level.

I tried not to stare at the opulence around me, but my eyes betrayed me, drifting upward to the high ceilings and intricate gold details.

Lucas must have noticed. I felt the warmth of his hand as he reached for mine under the table, his fingers wrapping around mine with ease.

I turned to him, raising a brow. Too touchy, huh?

His lips twitched, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, as if to silently tell me to relax.

I wasn't sure if it was working.

Because the man across from me-the man who owned this city more than anyone else-was still watching me with a knowing smile.

"I heard you're quite an achiever, Amari," Elias said, swirling his wine glass. "Tell me, what is it you want to become?"

I hesitated, but then squared my shoulders. "A lawyer."

For the first time that evening, Elias Grant looked genuinely surprised.

"A lawyer?" His brows lifted slightly. "Now, that's interesting."

"Why?" I asked.

He set his glass down, his expression thoughtful. "Because most people your age dream of power, success, beauty, or wealth. But you... you want responsibility."

I held his gaze. "I want to help people who can't fight for themselves."

A small, approving smile formed on his lips. "A noble ambition." He glanced at Lucas. "This one has quite the fire in her."

Lucas smirked. "I know. I guess I picked the right one, huh?"

I glanced at Lucas, and he also looked at me. Somehow, I felt happy that he's kinda...proud of me even though we are just faking this.

Elias nodded, still watching me with curiosity. "The law is a complicated thing, Amari. You'll find that sometimes, truth and justice don't always go hand in hand."

I met his gaze, unwavering. "Then I'll fight until they do."

A moment of silence stretched between us before Elias let out a deep, satisfied chuckle. "Idealistic and determined. I like that."

Lucas leaned back, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You should be careful, Grandpa. Who knows? If I ever get into trouble, Amari might be the one to drag me to court."

Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "Now that would be a sight to see." He turned to me, his smile lingering. "I have a feeling you'll do well, Amari. Just remember-sometimes, the law isn't as black and white as you'd like it to be."

I smiled, not realizing that his words weren't just advice-they were a warning.

A warning that now here in the courtroom, it feels suffocating seeing them, observing my every move.

Elias Grant was still watching me, his expression unreadable. But this time, there was something in his gaze that hadn't been there before.

Curiosity.

Amusement.

And maybe, just maybe... a challenge.

"Your Honor, in light of the evidence presented by Miss Amari and her team, we would like to file an appeal regarding the validity of these documents."

I immediately tensed. Shit.

The judge's gaze hardened. "On what grounds?"

Lucas's lawyer adjusted his tie, his voice smooth and calculated.

"While we acknowledge that Mr. Grant's signature is present on these contracts, we contest the context in which they were signed. The prosecution claims that these transactions were obtained through illegal means-coercion, fraud, and manipulation. However, we argue that the signatures of the landowners were given voluntarily. There is no direct proof that my client was aware of any unlawful conduct."

I immediately stood. "Your Honor, we have proof."

I turned to the evidence screen as my assistant displayed a series of documents-contracts, emails, and most damning of all, testimonies from farmers who had been tricked, harassed, and forced to sign.

I stepped forward, my voice clear and unwavering. "These documents do not just show transactions. They show patterns. Repeated cases where farmers were approached under the same conditions-isolated meetings, misleading information, and in some cases, outright threats."

Lucas's lawyer held up a hand. "Objection. These are claims based on-"

I cut him off. "Based on signed statements from victims who have come forward." My voice was sharp, precise. "And if that's not enough for you, let's not forget the internal emails we acquired-emails that explicitly discuss the pressure tactics used to secure these lands."

The room was silent.

Lucas's lawyer hesitated for a fraction of a second before regaining his composure. "Your Honor, we request that these documents undergo further verification. There is still room to argue that my client was unaware of the fraudulent dealings of his subordinates."

The judge exhaled. "Noted. But for now, the court recognizes these documents as valid evidence."

The judge tapped his gavel.

"We will reconvene for the next hearing. Court adjourned."

A small victory.

"You're relentless." Lucas exhaled through his nose before leaning back in his chair.

I tilted my head slightly. "You have no idea." I turned my gaze toward Lucas, finally acknowledging him directly.

"You are just harming yourself, Amari."

"Is that a threat, Mr. Grant," I said, my voice calm yet pointed. "Do you really expect the court to believe that a man of your position had no knowledge of multiple transactions that directly benefited your company?"

He slowly leaned forward.

His brown eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw something behind them-not anger, not arrogance.

Control.

"I expect the court to consider the full picture," he replied smoothly. "Business is complex. Decisions are made at different levels. You, of all people, should know that."

I didn't flinch. "I do know that. I also know that when those decisions involve illegal actions, the person who signs off on them is just as responsible."

His jaw tightened for the briefest second.

The smallest crack in his carefully built armor.

We're not over, Luke. I will make sure it will crash you.