Xavier~
"Mr. William, the documents you sent are based on Chinese legislation, which is not found in the United States." The judge reviewed the document that James had presented to him and shared his thoughts on it.
"My lord, because my client was born in China and holds both Chinese and American citizenship, he has the full right to follow Chinese government regulations in the United States."
We were all amazed by James' statement. Although I am aware of his talent as a lawyer, I never would have thought that he would go to such lengths to save Jordan Lucas from exacting revenge on me by defeating Bella in this case. I tried to caution Bella against pursuing this case, but she constructed such a strong defense that my warnings were ineffective.
"My Lord, no legislation says we should obey the laws of other countries just because the offender is a citizen of another nation. The fact that Mr. Lucas holds dual citizenship despite having a serious criminal record, which also constitutes a felony."
Bella stood up and objected to James' claims, her tone unwavering as she looked at the judge, challenging him to weigh his decision carefully.
A chill ran down my spine, wondering if she understood the danger of sparring with someone like James or the lengths to which Jordan Lucas would go to protect his reputation.
"Why didn't you tell us about your dual citizenship in court earlier, Mr. Lucas, considering you had already appeared in court numerous times?" Bella's sharp gaze cut through the courtroom as she turned to Jordan, her voice filled with an intensity I hadn't seen before.
Jordan, as usual, played the part of a gullible citizen to trick the court.
"I didn't think my previous issues had anything to do with my citizenship," he responded calmly.
This display of false innocence was typical of Jordan.
"Please note this, my lord. Despite his involvement in numerous criminal activities, Mr. Lucas never disclosed a significant aspect of his personal life. The clear implication is that he consistently attempted to manipulate the legal system." Bella's confident voice filled the courtroom, commanding attention.
I couldn't help but feel proud of her for standing her ground, though a subtle feeling of dread tugged at me as I saw Jordan's supercilious smile. I feared for her, knowing how relentless and merciless Jordan could be.
"My lord, I kindly request that you note the fact that Mr. Lucas holds two citizenships despite having a severe criminal record. I implore you to penalize him for this additional offense." Bella glanced angrily at Jordan, and for a moment, her gaze lingered on James, filled with a resolve that said she would not back down.
"My lord, I object to my colleague's attempt to mislead the court. We are here for another case, not to talk about my client's citizenship," James rose, visibly startled. He hadn't expected Bella to challenge him so directly. The steadiness of her voice seemed to shake him, and though he tried to maintain composure, his hand trembled slightly as he gathered his notes.
"Mr. Williams, you should first decide what you want to prove in the case, as you tried to manipulate the court by demonstrating Chinese rule." Bella's cool reply cut through his defense. She stood tall and composed, but I could sense the tension under her calm demeanor.
James wiped the sweat from his brow and put on a forced smile.
"My Lord, my client did not intentionally hide this truth from the court. Due to personal reasons, he only came to know about his Chinese citizenship recently because his mother is from China." James's lie was almost convincing, but Bella's raised eyebrow revealed her skepticism.
"Please take note, my Lord. Mr. William claims that his client, Mr. Lucas only recently discovered he was a dual citizen but had previously exploited Chinese law to avoid going to jail." Bella's words settled heavily in the room. A hush fell over the courtroom as her statement left everyone pondering the absurdity of James' defense.
I watched Bella, feeling a rush of admiration. She looked as fierce as ever, her focus unwavering as she challenged James' every move. Watching her now, I realized how much she had grown and how wrong I'd been to question her skill. She was proving herself far beyond what I'd ever expected.
As I glanced at my father, I saw him nod in agreement with Bella's words, his gaze moving between her and me. His expression was one of pride as he observed Bella's command over the court. I could almost hear his unspoken words chastising me, reminding me of all the times I had dismissed her abilities. Regret surged in me, memories of our anniversary replaying bitterly in my mind.
"Do you have any further evidence to support your client, Mr. William?" The judge's voice broke the silence, and he looked at James expectantly.
"Not yet, my lord, but I request the court to give me one more chance to prove my client's innocence. I request the court to extend the date of the next hearing," James replied, his tone slightly desperate.
"My Lord, it's evident that Mr. William lacks any evidence to support Mr. Lucas's innocence. Therefore, I respectfully request that you conclude this case today to conserve the valuable court time." Bella's appeal stemmed from her practical frustration with James's antics.
"Miss Luis, I don't want to rush the first hearing to achieve justice. I'm giving you one last chance to defend your client, Mr. William, and I'll share my verdict at the next hearing. The court will adjourn until the 29th of the next month."
The judge's gavel struck, finalizing his decision. Bella's eyes widened, and she moved as if to protest further. But the judge had already risen.
James and Jordan exchanged glances, a smug smile creeping onto Jordan's face. That look—this was his strategy to buy time—was familiar.
"Drink some water and relax, Miss Luis. You're wasting your time and energy on the judge's ruling." James offered Bella a glass of water with a smirk, his attempt at appearing supportive coming across as hollow and mocking.
Bella clenched her fists, anger flashing in her eyes. James intercepted her just as she was about to make a sharp retraction.
"Are you pleased with my performance today, Xavier?" James spoke loudly enough for Bella to hear, drawing me into a provocative embrace.
Bella's eyes met mine, betrayal written on every line of her face as she turned sharply away. My heart sank, knowing I'd lost yet another chance to explain myself, another opportunity dashed by James' manipulation.