Chapter 145: The Trial Begins

Adrian's trial began almost a year after Freya first discovered the hidden contractor evidence. By then, her life had changed enough that walking into the courthouse felt like revisiting an older version of herself.

The prosecution's case was complex. It covered financial fraud, obstruction, illegal data practices, witness intimidation, and conspiracy surrounding the attempt to recover David's ledger.

Freya was called primarily to authenticate family materials and explain how certain evidence was discovered.

Her attorney prepared her carefully.

Adrian's defense attempted to portray her as financially motivated because of civil claims and recovered Stonebridge assets.

Freya almost found the strategy nostalgic.

Once, money had defined how everyone saw her.

On the stand, she answered only what was asked.

Yes, she benefited financially from recovered family assets.

Yes, she was Louis's wife.

Yes, she wanted Adrian held accountable.

None of those facts changed bank records, server logs, David's ledger, or Adrian's own notes.

The defense asked whether Freya had dramatically changed her behavior after Stone Holdings collapsed.

Louis's expression hardened from the gallery.

Freya remained calm.

"People change," she said.

The attorney pushed. "Overnight?"

"Sometimes one day changes everything."

That was the closest the courtroom would ever come to hearing the truth.

Serena testified later about the hidden sleep prompts. Melissa explained the research system. Mercer described Northwind's modernization and admitted his own ethical failures.

Thomas's testimony was brutal because the defense attacked every compromise he had made.

Thomas did not deny them.

His willingness to admit wrongdoing made parts of his testimony stronger.

Peter and Martin described the plan to intimidate David.

The prosecution did not claim Adrian ordered murder. Instead, it argued that he knowingly participated in a criminal effort to recover evidence and then helped conceal the network after the fatal result.

Freya appreciated that precision.

During a break, Adrian passed within sight under security escort.

Their eyes met.

He no longer looked like a man who controlled everyone's ending.

He looked tired.

Freya felt no triumph.

Only distance.

When she returned home that evening, she changed into comfortable clothes and reviewed an Awake Stories production schedule.

The contrast was almost absurd.

Court in the morning.

Audiobook deadlines at night.

But perhaps that was what moving on actually looked like.

Not forgetting.

Simply refusing to let the worst part of the story occupy every page.

Freya's testimony lasted less time than the media predicted because prosecutors kept their questions narrow. She was grateful. The courtroom did not need her entire life story. It needed specific facts: where the key was found, how the safe-deposit box was opened, and how her parents' documents were preserved.

Freya's testimony lasted less time than the media predicted because prosecutors kept their questions narrow. She was grateful. The courtroom did not need her entire life story. It needed specific facts: where the key was found, how the safe-deposit box was opened, and how her parents' documents were preserved.

Freya's testimony lasted less time than the media predicted because prosecutors kept their questions narrow. She was grateful. The courtroom did not need her entire life story. It needed specific facts: where the key was found, how the safe-deposit box was opened, and how her parents' documents were preserved.

Freya's testimony lasted less time than the media predicted because prosecutors kept their questions narrow. She was grateful. The courtroom did not need her entire life story. It needed specific facts: where the key was found, how the safe-deposit box was opened, and how her parents' documents were preserved.

Freya's testimony lasted less time than the media predicted because prosecutors kept their questions narrow. She was grateful. The courtroom did not need her entire life story. It needed specific facts: where the key was found, how the safe-deposit box was opened, and how her parents' documents were preserved.