The proceedings continued as normal. SEC attempted to be as impartial as they could in this situation. Normally, they would frighten anyone with their position of authority. But this instance was unique. They wished to go and inform the families as soon as the files were placed on the SEC table. Whatever the case, a company like SEC would undoubtedly have connections to influential individuals, just like the families.
However, when they went through all the documents, they discovered files that were critical of the SEC, detailing how the organization had made millions by going after large corporations, accusing many of crimes that they didn't commit, and even in instances where they had ruined many people's lives. The files contained comprehensive information about everyone involved and warned that they would be made public if they failed to carry out their duties properly in this specific instance.
SEC took this case very seriously and regarded it as the most significant case to arise since their founding. They selected the top attorneys and gave them the case. The SEC then produced the papers that Sigret had sent them as soon as the defendant had finished speaking and had even called witnesses.
Both digital and audio recordings were included in the files. There was where the families were shocked. The data weren't what they had expected. One video clip demonstrated how Jenny gave her butler orders to go threaten a man in order to buy his ideas. That alone shouldn't have been important, though. The butler was actually planning to hire some people to do that, according to the video file.
And in order to support that fact, the man she requested to threaten actually did sell the idea of her for a very low price. It would have been acceptable if this had been an isolated incident. Jenny threatened, coerced, and even forced one individual to lose his hands in five additional files that SEC later produced. The audio or video clips contained all of the information.
The families had their eyes wide open. They found it incomprehensible that someone could access the video recordings on their own property. When the proof was presented, the defendant's attorneys weren't prepared for such a dramatic change.
Naturally, he spoke up and claimed that the SEC had broken privacy laws by requesting their own private footages and that their argument would never hold up in court.
"So you believe the videos are authentic?" The SEC's legal team.
"Huh... No I didn't mean that. I just said that the SEC has gone inside without any warrant. They need to be held accountable..." - The defense attorneys. However, the attorney who raised his hand was aware that he had just made a grave error. He unwittingly conceded that the papers were authentic. Now, the court might not inquire as to whether or not the files were altered.
"Your honor, our establishment already knows that footages from private premises aren't admissible at court without a search warrant. So our client would like to say that the video and audio footages here were only received because someone in their own family has forwarded us these. May I present the witness and the one who sent us these footages?" -SEC Attorneys.
The judge nodded his head.
The side entrance was where the man emerged. Someone whom the Cox family knew very well. It was the Cox family's chief valet. Naturally, the Cox family was astounded by the man's look when they first saw him.
"Arthur?!" When Alexander saw the guy, he nearly let out a roar. Arthur, the head butler, just looked at Alexander with nostalgia, pity and a tinge of fear. He simply shook his head before entering the witness stand to accuse Jenny.
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On his bench, Alexander was visibly shaking with rage. David, who had been standing to the side and had been observing everything, was growing more and more frightened. A significant family's valet was able to be used against them by Robin. Never had anything like this occurred. The procedure of hiring butlers was very unique.
The first criteria was that one must be an orphan. This was done because having a family was the biggest liability and danger, and the families didn't want any liability of any kind invading their homes. And each young person was groomed, brainwashed, and made to think that they lived only for their families from the age of 10 to 12. Even then, they would need to clear specific exams to be accepted as one of the family's butlers.
This was a tradition that started even before World War 2 and there had never been a butler who had betrayed their family. He was frightened because this was a first. David rotated his head to look at Robin, who had a composed expression as if nothing going on around him affected him.
Robin appeared more like he was utterly bored and couldn't wait for the proceedings to end. Then Arthur started giving his testimony against Jenny and the things she had done in the past. He was given attentive listening by the jurors and the judge.
The proceedings took a very long time, and Robin was the first individual to leave the courtroom when the break was announced. The families emerged in the meantime, and one of them dialed the Mars family to inform them that Evelynn had passed away before she even arrived to the hospital.
Everyone texted the family their sympathies. The Cox family was still unable to comprehend how their chief butler, who had been working for them for the previous 25 years, had suddenly betrayed them. They wanted to kill the man right now and even contacted the police to do so, but miraculously, the police that had been appointed for his safe guard didn't belong to the category who could be bribed or bought out.
In the whole break they tried every possible mean to kill him in the courtroom itself but there was nothing they could do in such a short time.
The session resumed after the brief pause. The defense attorneys cross-examined the butler, but it became clear in the end that everything he said was accurate and Miss Jenny Cox had in fact used her resources to her advantage. Of course, there were additional files that needed to be reviewed and cross-examined in addition to this one. At least a week would pass during this procedure.
When the day's practice came to a close, the sun was about to set but couldn't be seen because the sky was covered in ominous clouds. When the families emerged, they all had gloomy expressions on their faces, followed by Robin, who had a look on his face that said, "I'm glad this is all over for the day."
Everyone just glared at him but didn't say a word. Robin was on his way to his car when he saw David waiting for him near the open parking spot.
"Mr. Rockefeller, is there anything I can do for you?" Robin enquired.
"Is there any way we can reconcile and let this matter drop?" David asked a query that was incredibly straightforward.
"Oh! Why would you act that way? Aren't you certain that you can win the case? These individuals are not even connected to you." Robin enquired.
"We get it Mr. Kashyap, you are very powerful. If it all we want to make strong friendship with you instead of fighting it out like teenagers." Robin could tell from what David said that this man was a little afraid of him. Perhaps it wasn't that severe, but Robin could already tell that David was starting to loathe him.
"The ball had already rolled when you allowed your daughter to do whatever she wanted." Robin remarked before turning away. He didn't want to speak to him any longer. Even if Robin was ready to forgive the two accused, he would not be able to forgive the things that they had done to people over the years.
David didn't call or threaten Robin anymore and started to walk back to his car. The clouds in the sky abruptly darkened and began to rumble. Out of the blue as David increased his pace to reach the car as he felt rain was going to pour, a flash of lightning appeared in front of his eyes.
The lightning that originated from the clouds above fell on the car of David. David's eardrums nearly ruptured from the force of the lightning. He had to crouch as a result of his body's reaction, and then he collapsed to the ground.
The thunder was so loud that it broke the windows of neighboring cars, and there was debris all over the place. David was fortunate that the glasses did not land on his body because otherwise, his face or body would have been cut.
He stood up from the asphalt after a brief interval. It dawned on him at the moment that the lightning had struck his car. He was met by the same car's driver, who also served as their home's chief butler and his family.