The Bennet Scandal

The Courtroom Confrontation

Gabriel entered the courtroom and scanned the faces in the crowd, his heart pounding. When his eyes landed on Sophia, sitting there with an icy expression, a wave of nervousness washed over him. He approached her, trying to mask his unease.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice low.

Sophia turned to him, her gaze unwavering. "Do you think I've forgotten everything? No, Gabriel. It's revenge. Bennet's revenge." Her cold tone shattered any feelings he'd harbored for her, turning them to dust.

"Sophia..." Gabriel said, disbelief washing over him. He felt a surge of confusion and anger, realizing how foolish he'd been to trust Marshal Bennet's daughter. "You're going through with this?"

"I'm here to witness your downfall," she replied, her voice steady and full of ice, her eyes fixed on the courtroom's occupants.

Tension buzzed in the air as Gabriel Westbrook stood at the front, flanked by his lawyer, Emily Trent. The spectators lined the walls, eager to witness the drama that was about to unfold.

Moments later, Marshal Bennet strode into the courtroom, a mix of triumph and disdain etched across his face. He approached Sophia, looking pleased. "You did the right thing," he said, his tone almost paternal.

Sophia noticed Natasha standing beside her father, both of them acting like a well-rehearsed team. "What is she doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"To take my revenge," Natasha replied, moving away quickly, not wanting to draw attention.

After a few tense minutes, the judge entered the room, rapping the gavel against the sound block to command silence.

"Court is now in session," he announced, his voice steady. "We are here today to address the allegations of fraud against Mr. Gabriel Westbrook regarding the construction of the trust hospital."

The courtroom shifted as Marshal's lawyer, Daniel, a tall man in a sharp suit, stood to deliver the opening statement.

"Your Honor, we intend to prove that Mr. Westbrook has mismanaged government funds and engaged in fraudulent activities. Evidence will show that he used these funds for personal gain while defrauding the public trust."

Gabriel felt anger bubbling up inside him but fought to keep his composure, reminding himself that the truth would come out. His lawyer, Emily, rose to counter.

"Your Honor, my client is innocent. The allegations made against him are baseless and fabricated by the Bennet family. Mr. Westbrook has conducted all operations with integrity and has a complete paper trail to substantiate his claims."

The judge nodded and turned his attention to Gabriel Westbrook. "Mr. Westbrook, please take the stand."

Gabriel heard the words and immediately moved toward the stand. As he approached, he felt the weight of the eyes upon him, but he stood tall, determined to defend his name.

"Mr. Westbrook, please state your case," the judge instructed.

Gabriel took a deep breath. "I built the trust hospital with the utmost care and responsibility. Every penny of government funding was used honestly and transparently. I have maintained meticulous records of all transactions and can provide a complete paper trail."

"Your Honor," Marshal's lawyer interjected, "we request access to Mr. Westbrook's laptop to examine any evidence of fraudulent activity."

Gabriel nodded, his heart pounding but filled with resolve. "I have nothing to hide. Here is my laptop." He handed it over, feeling a surge of hope.

The courtroom watched in silence as the judge's assistant connected the laptop to the projector, revealing folders and documents.

"Here we go... now, no one can save him," Marshal Bennet said to Reckon, glancing toward the projector screen, which displayed the folder labeled "Trust Hospital."