Gianna couldn't bring herself to lie more that was pulling more and more questions and suspicion on her and the Matthews family. She never wanted to hurt the Matthews family but Alvin and his family. So she thought staying silent would be a better choice and avoided looking at Abbot.
Following the long silence, Abbot firmly spoke, "I will tell you." There was a threat under his tone, "You hate your second son because he was and is doing better than your first son." He stated provokingly.
Gianna clenched her teeth to control herself from growling at the man. It was true. Alvin was good at everything he did. She always tried to corrupt him by sending the wrong people to his group. But she felt her blood boil hearing a stranger call Alvin the best and her son Liam mediocre.
Abbot continued as his tone turned fierce with each line, "You hated Your Second Son because he was successful from a young age.
You hated Your Second Son when you got to know he was settling in Narnia.
You despise Your Second Son because he is grabbing more attention than your first son." He purposefully stressed 'Your Second Son' to irritate Gianna.
Gianna's breath hitched as the words continued to bore holes through her head. Everything was true and she loathed each things about Alvin. What was churning her ears was 'Your Second Son.' Abbot was uttering repeatedly.
Abbot noticed Gianna was losing her cool. He could have easily revealed Gianna was a stepmother but a stepmother doesn't have to be mean and cruel. Thus he wanted to reveal Gianna's real behavior and thoughts about Alvin.
So he continued to push Gianna off the ridge, "You fear that Your Second Son would take over the company instead of Liam Matthews.
Why!?" He demanded a response but didn't give her the chance to speak. He gave another hard push, "Isn't Alvin Matthews your SON? Why can't you accept YOUR SON's success?"
Wales stood up to object but Abbot lifted his hand to stop him from uttering anything and distracting Gianna. Liam rose from his chair, holding his breath. He hadn't expected Alvin to reveal his birth secret. He wasn't sure if it was good or not but it was going to push Gianna into the grave.
Gianna felt as if creepy crawlies were slithering on her body hearing Alvin as her son again and again. She started shaking, eager to shut the mouth of the advocate.
Abbot didn't stop there and stressed his every word, "You carried him in your womb for nine months."
Gianna imagined nursing baby Alvin. Her face contorted into disgust glaring at Abbot.
Abbot snapped at her by giving her one last push, "You gave BIRTH to him."
Overcome with extreme revulsion towards Casper and Alvin, Gianna bellowed at Abbot "I didn't give birth to him. He is a bastard." She swore in the court looking at Abbot's provoking gaze, "He. Is. A. Bloody. Bastard."
Everyone: "…"
A sudden hush fell in the courtroom. Always calm and collected, Gianna lost her cool. Her only weakness was calling Alvin her son and Abbot used exactly that.
As if suddenly realizing what she uttered, Gianna froze with her eyes wide open. She saw Abbot turn indifferent before he turned to justice. She looked at Wales who was shocked and Liam Matthews was pale.
Wales snapped out of his daze. He hadn't thought in his dreams that Alvin would agree to reveal his birth truth. 'Bastard? Bloody Bastard?' It was the worst way to reveal the truth. He could have handled it but Gianna's true emotions made her the villain.
"I-I Object, your honor." Wales realized he just stuttered. He couldn't let his confidence waver and make any mistake from his side. Breathing out, he relaxed his nerves. "Mr. Abbot is disrupting my client's emotions."
The justice moved his gaze from Gianna to Wales. Even if the emotions are disrupted, a mother wouldn't call a son a bastard. If mother said it out of anger, she wouldn't have been so shocked by her own words.
The justice wanted to know why Abbot made Gianna swear in the court session so he suspended Wales.
Abbot submitted the file in his hand to the chief justice. It had the DNA test reports. He faced Gianna and asked, "I get it you are a stepmother but 'A bastard?' Mrs. Gianna Sallow, how was your relationship with Alvin Matthews?"
Gianna wanted to lie but her lips moved and no word came out. She was trying to think of a way to get out of the situation but her mind refused to cooperate.
Abbot asked another question but in a much calmer countenance, "You were married to Casper Matthews when your husband had an affair and brought a baby home. Did you accept Alvin Matthews wholeheartedly?"
Gianna looked at all the gazes. Some were certain she did horrible things for Alvin while some were shocked and pitying her. She snapped at Abbot, "W-why are you asking all these questions?"
Abbot patiently explained, "Mrs. Matthews, we need a clear picture of everything that concerns the case. So the court must get to know your relationship with your stepson." He changed the question, "If you weren't happy with Casper's affair or for bringing Alvin home, why did you accept giving your name as the mother to Alvin?" Alvin's birth was registered under Casper and Gianna's names.
Gianna felt her head throb. Alvin was good in education, he had a good startup until Casper pulled out his money, he left the house without a penny and returned with a successful life. There was nothing she could pick against Alvin and prove as Alvin was in the wrong. Or else she will have to make Casper a villain to save herself.
She didn't utter a single word to the rest of the questions and maintained silence. So Abbot looked at Justice and softly shrugged.
"Your Honor, Mrs. Gianna Sallow Matthews has a strong reason behind all the actions she has been accused of."
He paused, looking at the judge to keep the file away. Then he continued, "As the DNA report says and Mrs, Gianna Sallow confessed, Alvin Matthews, isn't a biological son of Gianna Sallow. Considering how Mrs. Matthews addressed Alvin Matthews, it's clear that they never had a good relationship."
The whole hall was stunned. Elder Collins and Butler Oliver were bewildered hearing the truth. They had never expected Alvin to reveal his birth history. Although Alvin initially was bothered about his identity, later Alvin didn't give a damn. This clarification could bring the storm or end the years of endurance.
Secretary Harrison who was watching everything silently so far wasn't the least bit fazed by the reveal. He had suggested to Casper that attacking, or scheming against Alvin or Anya wasn't a good move. Alvin wasn't the same teenager who got hurt hearing 'Bastard.' With Anya next to him as a support, Alvin could care less about anything.
He typed a message to Casper. [Birth history is revealed.] Harrison paused in typing realizing Janet's name wasn't leaked yet. What was Alvin planning?
Will Alvin protect Janet?
Revealing Janet's name would cause more harm to Matthews as Janet was twenty when Casper impregnated Janet. Janet might lose face but her loyal fans will hound at the Matthews industries.
Whatever Alvin had planned, Harrison wanted to applaud Alvin. Every counter move from Casper had a more negative impact on himself than Alvin. And he had interconnected everything so smoothly that it was difficult for Gianna to evade the law, Casper couldn't save his reputation.
Harrison erased the message as Casper wouldn't have his mobile in hand. He looked at Liam who was thinking of worse. He suggested in a low voice, "You are the only hope." To recover the company's reputation and save the jobs of thousands of people.
Liam: "…"
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