Ann's heart skipped a beat. She immediately changed her attitude and apologized. "Respectable judges, please don't believe her nonsense. My husband is badly hurt and has been in a coma. The hospital can prove it. I will sue her for defaming..."

Nathalia cut in casually, "It's not your turn to speak here. Seducing men is what you are good at, but you don't know much about the law, do you?"

​​

She was killing it. Everyone's jaw dropped. Even the lawyers were staring at her, impressed. She's got great potential—so much confidence at such a young age.

Evette's face turned burning red, furious or embarrassed, but she sat quietly, biting her lips, glaring at Nathalia.

The beast in Zack came alive instantly, and it was unstoppable. He slapped the table hard, stood up, and barked, "You little shit! I can see you don't want to live..."

If the guards had not been there, it was very likely that Zack would have dashed to Nathalia and threw a few good punches at her.

Ann regretted taking Zack there. I shouldn't have brought him here. He was always spoiling things. Why does he never learn?

"Zack, shut up!" If I don't allow him here, he gets angry. What am I supposed to do?

The judges frowned, displeased. "Silence. Zack Carter, you are disturbing the court. Take him out." The chief judge demanded.

As Zack was taken away by two guards, he glared at Nathalia and yelled, "I will get revenge soon. Wait and see." He sounded threatening, but no one paid him much attention. Nathalia didn't even take a look at him; instead, she said to the judges politely, "Respectable judges, please go on."

The judges let out a silent sigh, thinking Born in the same family, but what a difference!

The chief judge was especially impressed by Nathalia's manners. "Nathalia Carter, you said that your father is pretending to be in a coma and refuses to be in court. Do you have proof?"

"Yes, I do." Nathalia was prepared. Sean presented the proof. "Respectable judge, here's the proof."

It was a tape. It recorded Frank Carter's daily life and showed that he was well, staying at a fancy room in the hospital, working hard. Apart from a doctor and a nurse, only Ann, Evette, and Zack were visiting the room. At the bottom of the screen showed the date of the recording, which was just a week ago.

If he was still in a coma and couldn't come to court, how could he be normal and well a week ago? It didn't make sense. It was probably because he had been faking it.

The judges watched with a heavy frown on their faces. What is he doing? Faking sick in the hospital to avoid coming to court? Has he forgotten that we can still sentence him even though he's absent?

Ann and Evette were shocked. Where did she get that from? How? "It's fake. It's impossible. Only my daughter, my son, myself, and the doctor can go into my husband's room. Please believe me." Ann defended.

The chief judge knitted his brows again, waved the file, and said, "Authenticate it." The assistant nodded and took the file. Evette jumped up and yelled, "Why do we need to authenticate it? It's all fake. I assure you."

Who does she think she is? Does she assure me? What do I do as a judge then?

For the first time, Ann realized that she had truly underestimated Nathalia. She had always thought that Nathalia was just a naïve girl who only relied on other's help, who had been under their control. What she didn't know was that all these ideas were Nathalia's.

Now, she saw that Nathalia herself was a tough girl. In any situation, even in the court, she remained calm and clear. With such important proof with her, her appearance had not betrayed her excitement and self-assurance.

For most people, it was frightening enough to just speak in court.

Ann panicked, thinking it's too late now. I should have gotten rid of her long ago. I wish I had killed her back then.

"Nathalia, you are fabricating documents. It's breaking the law." Ann defended feebly.

The corner of Nathalia's lips tilted up slightly, half sneering and half smiling. Is she still trying to threaten me?

Sean stood up, bowed at the judges, and said, "Respectable judges, I have some questions to ask Mrs. Carter." As a lawyer, he had the right to do so.

"Go ahead." The judges were favoring Nathalia subconsciously.

Ann's lawyer started to panic, thinking, this is not going well.

In a formal suit, Sean looked professional and imposing. "Mrs. Carter, I've heard that you and your husband have a very good and loving relationship. Is that so?"

Ann reminded herself to be careful of what she said. She contemplated for a little while before she answered with a hint of arrogance in her tone, as she glanced at Nathalia coldly, "Of course. Who doesn't know that we are a loving couple in town?"

The crowd heard the tone and despised it. What's that to be arrogant about? Who cares?

What the crowd didn't understand was that it was in Ann's nature to show off, to brag, to grab attention.

Sean then pointed at Nathalia, who was seated next to him, "Mrs. Carter, how do you feel towards my client? Do you blame her? Do you hate her?"

Of course, I hate her! Ann almost said it out loud, but luckily, she collected herself and said, "No, no, no. I've always loved and cared for her, but she's never learned to appreciate it. She's so evil..." Ann went on shouting out the bad things Nathalia had done since she was little. Stealing, robbing her brother and sister of their favorites, beating them... anything she could think of. She talked of Nathalia as if she was the extreme of evilness.

And as Nathalia's step-mother, she had suffered so much but continued to take care of her and love her. Everyone, including the judges, let out a silent sigh, wondering how much more she could go on. She had apparently crossed the line.

Nathalia smiled gently but victoriously. I guess I have overestimated her at all.

It was true that Ann used to be very calculating and clever, or she would not have earned herself the title of 'Mrs. Carter's, however, in the past years, she had been spoiled too much, and gradually, the sense of arrogance expanded in her while her sense of alertness had dropped.

She had reached the peak of her ego identity with fortune and power, followers, and admirers, and her attitude changed. She thought she had complete control, and the whole world should look up upon her.

Sean couldn't help interrupting her continuous complaining, "Mrs. Carter, you are lying. Last time when Zack Carter beat my client, what did you do? How did you react? You watched it, and you enjoyed watching it. What's more, you held a party afterward. If this is what you call love, I don't think anyone can bear such heaviness of love."