Chapter 264 The Courtroom 2

Chapter 264: Chapter 264 The Courtroom 2

Serena’s face twisted as Eira spoke. She started to rise, but Mason caught her wrist and pulled her back into her chair.

"Don’t," he whispered. "You’ll be held in contempt."

Shocked murmurs spread through the gallery. Several people exchanged uneasy looks, finally understanding the weight of the allegations.

"Order," the judge said firmly.

The murmurs died away. She looked toward the defense table.

"The defense may respond."

Serena rose carefully, forcing her voice to stay calm.

"I am not his mistress. Sebastian and I were business partners. We signed an investment agreement, and the money was research funding. The property, vehicles, and other assets were returns from that project."

She looked toward the judge.

"I had no idea he was married, and I had no reason to believe the funds were community property. I am not required to return anything."

Her hand drifted toward her stomach before she caught herself.

Alpha Sebastian noticed. Guilt flickered across his eyes. He lowered his head, then stood.

"I confirm the business relationship," he said. "The transfers were made at my discretion and were unrelated to my marriage. I ask the court to dismiss Eira’s claims."

He had sold what he could and arrived at court in a cab. His father had warned him to think about the family for once.

Eira never looked at him.

She kept her attention on Serena.

"Business partners?" she asked. "Then explain the hotel records, the messages, and the photographs of you two holding hands and kissing."

Serena went rigid.

Eira’s voice remained quiet.

"And explain the pregnancy report."

Mason’s expression tightened.

"Based on the dates, you became pregnant while Sebastian and I were still legally married and living apart under a separation order. Our bond had not been dissolved."

Eira paused.

"Unless the child was not his."

Serena’s breathing turned shallow. The child was Alpha Sebastian’s. He was the only man she had slept with since returning to California.

Mason gave her a sharp look.

[Do not take the bait. Stay with the funding.]

Eira turned back to the judge.

"Can you confirm that every dollar Sebastian transferred to you was used for research?"

Serena raised her chin.

"Of course."

She did not believe Eira could trace the overseas accounts in only two weeks. The documents had been carefully arranged, and the transfers had passed through several companies.

Eira said nothing.

She exchanged one brief look with Susan.

Susan rose and carried a thick binder to the clerk.

"Your Honor, the plaintiff is submitting four groups of evidence."

The courtroom screen lit up.

"First, bank records show that Mr. Hale transferred three hundred thousand dollars a month to Ms. Winthrop for forty months out of the four-year marriage. The payments were labeled as research funding and totaled more than twelve million dollars."

A murmur moved through the gallery.

"Second, we have purchase agreements and title records for the property, vehicles, and jewelry transferred to Ms. Winthrop. Mr. Hale paid for all of them. Ms. Winthrop provided no documented investment capital in return."

The next set of exhibits appeared. Travel records, messages, photographs, and the pregnancy report followed.

Serena’s face lost what little color it had left. Behind her, Victor and her parents sat rigid and silent.

Mason leaned toward her. "The affair is no longer deniable. We focus on the contract."

He rose and faced the judge.

"Your Honor, before Ms. Winthrop returned to California, my client and Mr. Hale had a legitimate investment agreement. The evidence concerning their personal relationship begins after her return. It does not automatically invalidate the earlier contract."

He paused.

"Any funds transferred under that agreement should be treated as investment capital, not marital gifts. We ask the court to separate those transactions from the plaintiff’s community-property claims."

Eira looked at him. "So you’re admitting they had a relationship."

Mason’s expression tightened. "I’m addressing the financial records."

Alpha Sebastian said nothing.His silence spoke louder than any denial.

Susan opened another file.

"The evidence also shows deliberate concealment. Sebastian Hale used company accounts and marital funds to support Ms. Winthrop while hiding the transfers from his wife."

She turned toward the judge.

"We are not asking the court to punish Ms. Winthrop for having a personal relationship. We are asking it to determine whether she knowingly accepted property purchased with community funds and whether those assets must be returned or charged against Mr. Hale’s share of the marital estate."

Serena’s control finally cracked.

"You’re twisting everything," she snapped. "Those were research funds. It’s right there in the contract."

Her voice rose as she turned toward Eira.

"Just because you couldn’t keep your husband happy doesn’t mean you get to destroy my life."

A sharp murmur swept through the gallery.

Lila started to rise, but Alpha Killian placed a calm hand on her arm.

"Easy," he murmured. "Eira has this."

Eira stood.

The pale morning light from the high windows caught in her eyes, turning them cold and clear.

"An investment?" she asked.

Serena’s lips pressed together.

"What kind of investment pays three hundred thousand dollars every month for forty months?" Eira continued. "Where are the reports? The business plans? The returns? The dividends?"

She turned toward Alpha Sebastian.

"And what did you receive in exchange for twelve million dollars?"

Alpha Sebastian’s face tightened. He had no answer.

Eira looked back at Serena.

"You call it research funding because the label makes it sound respectable. But an agreement is not legitimate simply because someone typed the word ’investment’ at the top of a page."

She let the silence settle.

"If there was no real business purpose, no capital contribution, and no return, then this was not an investment. It was money given to another woman behind a wife’s back."

Eira’s voice remained quiet, but every word carried through the courtroom.

"It was the financial support of an affair."