Daryn was sitting right behind Dawn. He appeared in control and of course was inviting too many stolen glances from men and women.

It wasn't that everyday media got such juicy trials to report. Almost every news channel, every newspaper reporter was present there outside the courthouse. Only a few were allowed to get in the court. Other than that key witnesses were standing on the outside with their lawyers and some important government officials. There was excitement amongst all of them. They wanted to see how this family feud would pan out. Most of them were against Dawn for bringing down her father's empire. Only a few sided with her for not being given what originally belonged to her.

​​

Hertz had informed Anne and Helena about the general sentiment of the public and so he hoped that the date of the hearing was extended without much of a trial.

When Judge Coombes entered the court, all of them rose. The proceedings started soon after. Hertz approached the bench immediately along with the opposition lawyer and said, "We need an extension of the date." He presented the documents, which said that one of the key witnesses, David McDow, isn't available and this case should not go forward without his presence.

The opposition lawyer, Geoffrey stared at Hertz with amazement for a few seconds and then pointed at the back. "He is right there."

Hertz swiveled sharply towards the direction he pointed. David McDow was sitting in the last seats. He frowned and tilted his head giving a questioning glance at the lawyers. Anne and Helena followed the gaze and their mind became numb. This was one thing they were banking upon heavily—David's absence.

Anne cursed herself for asking him to come in a hurry. But she was surprised as to how come he arrived so early from the Bahamas and made it to the court? Was he somewhere near? The scenario made her dizzy when her gaze went to the woman sitting beside him—Rose. Her body trembled and she caught the armrest of her chair.

Helena's breath accelerated and her face paled. She inwardly cursed Anne for calling this man at the last moment. If he hadn't come, not only would they have stalled the hearing, they were planning to take him down for evading the trial. All her hopes dashed like waves of ocean against rocky cliffs. She looked at Lily, who was only watching the judge with dull eyes. Helena closed her eyes and then looked at her lawyer.

For Hertz it was such an embarrassment that he didn't know that his own witness was sitting across the courtroom. "I am sorry Your Honor, this was something I wasn't aware of."

"Strange," said the judge. "Please continue with the proceedings."

The two lawyers went back to their clients.

The proceedings started and witnesses upon witnesses were called. One of them, Hans Müller gave very important statements, which went all against Starfish Refineries. Accused government officials were called to the stand. It was impossible for them to give alibis. When Anne was called to the stand, it was already lunchtime, so the judge gave recess and said to resume after lunch. The trial had become one of the most exhausting and notorious trials of history.

Lily's team of ten lawyers wasn't able to handle Dawn's three lawyers. Well, they were the top-notch in their profession and paid so handsomely that they fought tooth and claw. The fact that they were pureblood werewolves was entirely different.

When Dawn walked out of the court along with Daryn, her eyes went to the side of a familiar smell. She darted her gaze to that side. "Father!" she said in a breathy voice. Gayle was sitting there watching the two of them with tiredness. He looked as though he hadn't slept or rested ever since their last meeting in which he had told her everything.

"I'll be right back," said Daryn and walked to his father. Dawn lowered her head and waited for him to come back.

Moments later when they walked outside, she saw Anne who was glaring in her direction. On an impulse Anne took a step forward, when Helena caught her hand. Hertz told her in a low tone, which couldn't be missed by the werewolves, "Don't do anything incriminatory here. It might go against us." She swallowed her anger and continued to glare at her.

The court resumed an hour later and Anne was called to the stand.

After her own lawyer had asked her all the easy questions, the opposition lawyer rose. And his first question was, "Why did you bribe the government officials?"

"The Chairman, David McDow had asked us to," she replied in a casual tone. Yes, this was their plan B—to throw David under the bus.

"Whom all did he ask?"

"Rose, Helena, some senior officials and me."

"But according to Mr. McDow, it was Ms. Helena and you who gave those kinds of instructions and directed most of the operations, and I believe that two years back you had a spat with Ms. Rose on this issue."

Anne took a deep breath and looked at Hertz for helping her out.

"Objection Your Honor," Hertz said immediately.

"Nothing has been proved and the opposition lawyer is trying to fish information."

"Overruled," said Coombes with a grunt. "Proceed, Mr. Geoffrey."

Geoffrey looked at Anne with confidence. "I did what David asked me to do."

"Remember Ms. Anne you are under oath here," he said.

Anne became quiet.

"After the spat with Ms. Rose, you even fought with David to remove her from her position. Once Rose was pushed out, you stepped in as the Vice President of Procurement and she was transferred to a different division."

"She was transferred because she couldn't do her job," Anne replied.

"Or was it because she was beginning to get between yours and Helena's ways to siphon off the money to Swiss banks?"

"Objection Your Honor!" Hertz said, standing ramrod straight. This wasn't told to him at all. He looked at Helena with a stunned expression. She had hidden it from him. If the opposition lawyer knew, how come he didn't? "This is a false implication."

"No, Your Honor," replied Geoffrey. "We have evidence." He walked back to his table and submitted the evidence.

There was a line of sweat on Hertz's forehead. He balled his hands into fists. Lily clenched her teeth as she coldly glared at Anne.

Helena didn't know what to do. Her eyes locked with Anne, her lips quivering.

Next question from Geoffrey threw her off balance. "How is your relationship with your husband?"

"Objection!" Hertz rose again. "What has this got to do with the case?"

"It is an important question, Your Honor," Geoffrey said.

"Objection overruled," said Coombes in a boring tone. He lowered his spectacles and narrowed his eyes at Hertz. "It is such an important case and yet you aren't prepared well?"

Hertz bit his lower lip and sat with dejection. Other lawyers in the team were equally flummoxed.

Geoffrey looked at Anne.

"Our relationship was in turmoil because of Ms. Rose," she replied with a lot of sadness. She had tears in her eyes. What possible connection could this detail have to the case? It was their personal matter. She laughed on the inside. The opposition lawyer was throwing himself on the axe. Why not swing it on his neck instead?

The public went all out for her. They felt so sad for her that a murmur started in the courtroom.

"Poor one…" that was the main feeling.

"Typical chauvinistic male."