Chapter 14 If Not You, Then Who?
Elsa leaned against the hospital bed, her fingers absentmindedly brushing the oxygen tube.
Rain poured outside the window, but her heart was sunk at the bottom of a well.
+8 Pearls
She’d been in the hospital for quite a while now. Other than that one fake visit from Quinn early on, not a single person from the Moore family had shown up.
Her head bowed low, Elsa let out a cold laugh.
So much for clinging to the idea of family–it had vanished long ago.
Meanwhile, due to Elsa’s hospitalization, the trial had been abruptly halted.
But the incident had stirred quite a storm online.
Some netizens even launched a petition demanding that the judge hold the trial inside Elsa’s hospital room.
They didn’t want her walking away unpunished.
The judge, reading the public uproar, rubbed his temples in frustration and slammed a stack of documents on his desk.
“These people act like they’re watching a circus. She’s in the hospital, and they still won’t let it go!”
His superior sighed beside him.
“I get where you’re coming from, but this case has made waves. Higher–ups want us to wrap it up quickly.”
“There’s really no other way.”
The judge looked at Elsa’s medical report, his eyes filled with helplessness.
She’d only just been snatched back from death’s door. Couldn’t they at least give her some time to recover?
After all, memory retrieval procedures were extremely taxing on the human body..
“Start preparing,” his superior said. “This can’t be dragged out any longer.”
“Got it.”
Not long after, the official Twitter account released a statement:
“Elsa’s live–streamed trial will resume in three days, with full nationwide coverage.”
Within minutes, the comment section flooded with responses.
“Been waiting forever–finally happening!”
“The last trial didn’t even finish. What do you think–was Elsa faking it?”
“I doubt it. She was hauled away in an ambulance. If she was faking, and they prove it, she’ll end up worse off.”
“Good point. Honestly, it’s too early to pick a side.”
“Exactly. Let’s wait and see–there might be more to this than we know.”
Three days later.
Tuesday,
Elsa sat in her hospital room, staring out the window as a strange feeling washed over her.
she’d gotten the update two nights ago and had been waiting ever since.
Closing her eyes softly, she only hoped this could all be over soon.
12:25 PM P.
Chapter 14 If Not You Then, who?
G
Not long after, footsteps echurdidinw the hallway–orderly, official, and heavy.
The judge entered with assistants, huiling in courtroom equipment and files. He calmly explained the procedures to Elsa.
Five minutes later.
Elsa nodded. Her voice was hoarse.. Thunderstand. You can begin.”
“Next charge–Elsa is accused of leaking Mire Corp’s core business secrets, violating corporate law.”
“What an ungrateful snake! We Moore fumily naised her for twenty years, and this is what she does?”
She wants to see our company bum!”
Elsa heard Felix and Mandy’s voices but conlithithenthered to look up.
Felix and Mandy stormed into view, their faces livid. Behind them trailed Peter, grinning smugly.
Seeing Elsa’s calm, indifferent expression only made Mundyhatelhermore.
“You ungrateful brat!” Mandy snatched the water cup from thelbedside table and smashed it against the wall. Shards of glass sprayed Elsa’s hand. “We gave you everything for twenty years and you sold our secrets to the Mu family?!”
Elsa slowly raised her eyes. Her voice was ragged!. “I donittewannow which way Moore Corp’s front door opens. What secre could I possibly steal?”
“Keep pretending!” Peter sneered, waving his phone as he approndhed. If it wasn’t you, then how did Martin Corp get a low quote than us?”
“The surveillance showed you were the only one who entered the study during that time!” Peter’s voice rose to a furious roa “The next day, the leak happened. If it wasn’t you, who else could the
The moment he said it, the livestream exploded..
“Holy crap–Elsa really leaked company secrets? Maybe there’s a reason, though…”
“Stop making excuses. She did it for money. Better to live lunge aften leaving the Moore family.”
“Exactly. Risky move, but high reward!”
“Now I get why Mandy called her a thankless traitor”
Elsa& fingers gripped the blanket so tightly her knuckles turned white:
But before she could speak, the presiding judge and officers entered the room. The camomis dies hare down on her.
“Elsa, you are hereby accused of stealing confidential information from Moore Corp, causing significant stock drop.”
The judge supped the portable gavel with a cold, firm voice.
“This hospital–room trial will now begin. It will be broadcast live.”
is then, Beds stormed forward and slapped Elsa across the face without hesitation.
“Wow ungrateful make! How much did Lincoln pay your!”
Annadumped her head just in time, but her cheek still burned with pain.
She slowly dried her gaze stared at Felix’s twisted face and suddenly laughed.
home abr and eyes glining, “what’s the passcode to your study’s fingerprint lock? Why don’t you go ahead and ther
Flar oven drad frogs for a moment.
12:25 PM P
Chapter 14 If Not You, Then Who?
Peter lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, eyes blazing with fury like he wanted to devour her.
“Quit dodging! I saw you steal those files with my own eyes!”
He threw down several blurry surveillance screenshots onto the bed.
In them, “Elsa” could be seen handing a folder to Lincoln Martin.
The livestream exploded once more.
“Proof! That side profile’s definitely her!”
“The Moore family would’ve been better off raising a pet!”
“Jesus. Elsa is next–level shady.”
“Video footage doesn’t lie. Even if it’s blurry, it’s obviously her!”
Elsa picked up the pictures. Her fingers trembled.
From behind, the woman in the image did look a lot like her.
But she was wearing a pale yellow dress Elsa had never owned.
“Didn’t you notice the person in the footage is left–handed?”
Peter’s face darkened. He hadn’t noticed that detail at all.
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Mandy suddenly lunged toward the camera, wailing. “Your Honor! That girl’s been a liar since she was little! She even crippled Quinn–there’s nothing she wouldn’t do!”
Elsa’s voice was raspy but clear. She looked toward Felix’s suddenly rigid back and spoke slowly, word by word.
“If you’re so sure I’m guilty, then show me actual proof.”
“You think one blurry screenshot is enough to convict me?‘
She scoffed, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
“Did you see a sudden deposit in my account? Did I suddenly start wearing designer clothes?”
“Stop trying to talk your way out of this!” Peter roared.
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