Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 93: The court hearing

The internet blew up for weeks on end, reporting all sorts of crime from the entertainment department to finance (business).

It was all a buzz and the newlyweds couldn’t even have their honeymoon as they both had things to take care of.

People in Stewart had all sorts of complaints, arguing as to why Max would use the family name for such a scheme.

They even tried to question Grampa Leo why he would go ahead with such a risky plan that could’ve brought down their company as well.

But of course, they were shut down and ignored.

After all, they didn’t really bring a lot of contribution to the family name. All they knew how to do was enjoy the privileges that came with having Stewart as their last name and squandering money how they liked, boasting and looking down on people.

Grandpa Leo sighed.

’I should’ve put a tight rein on my descendants.’ he was regretful but looking up to see that his daughter was doing well and was nothing like his other children, he was glad.

"Gramps." Mariam asked, placing the tablet in her hand on the table.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you really plan to run here every time you get a headache at the family house?" She asked, but Grandpa Leo slyly darted his eyes and cleared his throat.

"Ahem, I don’t know what you’re talking about." He said, blatantly denying the fact. But Mariam gave him this blank look that said she did not believe him.

They were currently at Max’s house. Mariam would naturally live with Max after returning from school on holidays but now her grandfather was visiting almost every day.

There were even days when he slept over, claiming it was too late outside or his bones were feeling sore.

It was clear he was running from the mansion. That family house was no different from a den of lions as they all wanted to bite out of whatever flesh they came across.

They loved how they liked and were extremely selfish. She understood that but she couldn’t not blame him as he was the one who gave them the reins to do whatever they liked.

It was his fault

"Mariam, leave him. He’s just being lazy." Tiana said and laughed. She had a bright expression on her face. "The old man’s gotta have a break one of these days." She said, stuffing her mouth with the treats in front of her.

"I get it." Mariam said. "But doesn’t that mean big brother will have a lot more to work on since the chairman is absent?"

"Come on, he’s not the only one in the company. A little more work won’t kill him." Grandpa Leo added, sipping his tea. He looked nonchalant like he was happy for Max’s circumstances. "He’ll have to face a lot more than this when he becomes chairman so he should be happy that he’ll be used to handling this much before he takes over."

"I don’t think he has the same thought on that." Mariam said and they all paused and looked up while thinking of Max’s raging expression as he left the house that morning.

It was known that the reason he was so angry so early in the morning was because he couldn’t see Valerie for so many days. He was missing his dear wifey.

"Aye, those two have it rough." Tiana exclaimed. "Poor things didn’t even have their honeymoon yet."

"Haah, it can’t be helped." Grandpa Leo shook his head in pity. "But once the storm dies down, I believe they will finally be at ease."

"By the way, have you really not seen Valerie since she left?" Mariam asked Tiana who shook her head in response and said,

"There’s no helping it. She’s busier than a working mouse. She’s all over the place because of the company and the court case."

Mariam thought about it. She really thought Valerie was as bad as they said and believed it too, pointing her finger at her and calling her insane. But after watching the videos, she felt so sorry for her.

The court case... It would finally preside on what would happen to their heartless criminals. They wouldn’t even be able to get a lawyer for themselves since all their crime have been put to light.

Even if they could get a lawyer, no crazy person would take up that losing case. Their end was certain.

The court hearing finally came and Max saw Valerie after so long. At the entrance, after getting down, Valerie was immediately attacked with a hug.

"M-Max?" She was startled but he refused to let go and her expression softened. Was he a kid? "I missed you too." She said, and Max roughly pulled out of the hug to kiss her on the lips.

Others who were present understood that it was because they had not seen each other for a long time but could they keep this for later?

"Hello, break it up. We’re going to be late." Mariam said but Max gave a deaf ear till he was satisfied.

Valerie’s face was flushed and she was a bit out of breath after he broke the kiss. He smiled at her and kissed the corner of her eyes.

"You’ve lost weight." He said still planting kisses at the corner of her face.

"How can you tell?" She asked and he touched her collarbone, causing her to flinch.

"It’s so pronounced now."

Valerie blushed. It wasn’t like she was skipping meals but the stress was indeed taking a toll out of her.

"It’s not that bad." She said, flipping her hair behind her ear and then catching on to something, she said, "Hey, you have a lot going on for you as well. How are you still so fit?"

As soon as she asked that, his lips curled up and he smirked.

"It’s because I don’t want to lose the ’standard’ version of myself."

"What?" She was a bit confused and he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"You like me for, don’t you? I’ll make sure to keep this form just for you." His voice itching in her ear made her flinch and once he was done talking, she looked away and covered her ear, blushing.

"I got it." She said. "Let’s... Let’s go in."

He watched her walking away and stuffed a laugh. Then, he caught up with her and wrapped his arm around her waist but she pushed it down.

"Stop it. We’re on serious business here."

"But I am serious." He said, itching closer to brush his nose against hers but she lightly pushed him off.

"You’re such a temptation." She said and walked ahead but he caught up once more and wrapped his arm around her waist once more.

She once again pushed it down and so he resulted in wrapping his arms around her shoulder. She gave up and let him do whatever he liked.

Mariam watched from behind with blank eyes.

"Seriously?!" She exclaimed, shook her head, and went in with her mother who was wearing a nosemask to hide her identity.

"Come on, dear. Just let them do what they want. It’s not every day they get to meet." She said and laughed.

Everyone was seated and the hearing began.

"Usher in the prisoners."

From the side door, Bernard, Victoria, and Lucy were ushered in. They were wearing orange jail uniforms and had their hands cuffed but Lucy’s own was far more peculiar. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Since that day, Lucy had been going crazy, yelling, screaming, and saying a sort of nonsense, how her father was the chairman of Ross and that she would burn the entire country to the ground. So her hands were brutally chained and the chain extended to the metal collar on her neck.

Valerie watched her haggard appearance. She was no longer that bright and sunny girl whom the whole world loved. Seeing her chained like an animal... Her lips curled up in a smirk and her eyes glowed in delight... It was a precious sight to behold.

"We shall start the hearing with the judgment of the criminals. No need to beat around the bush." As soon as the judge said this, Bernard looked up in shock.

"Wait, don’t we get a chance to get a lawyer? This is an unfair hearing!" As soon as he said this, the entire court hall went silent and everyone’s eyes glared deadly at him.

This shook his entire being. Those many eyes on him... So many judging eyes.

’What’s this? I know it’s a crime to kill and all but I thought I would at least have a chance to plead my case. I...’ He was delusional. Utterly delusional.

"Bernard Ross, for the crime of murdering your own sister as well as her husband, the crime of fraud, drugs and human trafficking, money laundering..."

The judge kept listing the crimes one after the other, causing Bernard’s legs to shake continuously, and then the judge concluded with the punishment.

"You are sentenced to death." He dropped the bomb and Bernard finally lost the feeling of his legs, falling on his butt. "You are to be killed by a firing squad in two days." He said and hit his gavel on the table, finalizing his fate.