Outside the courthouse, a massive crowd had gathered, and a group of reporters were eagerly waiting.
"Is the news really this slow lately?" Hannah was uncomfortable with the crowd, and aside from Jack, she still avoided physical contact with most men.
Jack thought back. If the pandemic that lasted for years in his original world hadn't happened, there probably wouldn't be any big news in America until the end of the year, when the presidential election would begin.
In other words, there wouldn't be any major scandals until the second half of the year. However, a violent law enforcement incident had recently taken place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A Black drug dealer and former robber named George Floyd had died during the police action. Although it sparked some protests and clashes, it hadn't escalated too much.
Since this was a different world, Jack had breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the news online. Maybe this world's America would face such a day eventually, but as a law enforcement officer himself, the later that day came, the better.
After passing through security and presenting their identification, Jack and Hannah entered the courtroom smoothly. As Jack habitually searched for a seat in the back, he was surprised to see the elderly Hunter couple sitting in the middle, smiling and waving at them.
Next to Hunter and Didi sat reporter Dupree, Wesley, and the bald giant Frank.
"Why are you all here?" Jack asked quietly, puzzled. Shouldn't they be busy rescuing Joe Mason?
"Wesley found the lawyer. He's the plaintiff's lawyer, so we came to do a little 'scouting,'" Didi explained softly, after exchanging a quick hug with Hannah.
Curious, Jack glanced at the plaintiff's table, where two men in suits sat upright. They were both white and had their backs to him, making it hard to see their faces. One appeared to be middle-aged, and the other was younger, probably the older man's assistant.
"That's Harvey Specter, the best lawyer from Pearson Specter Law Firm," Wesley whispered.
Jack was slightly taken aback. The name of the law firm and the lawyer sounded so familiar.
Just then, the younger man turned his head and exchanged a few words with the middle-aged man. Jack realized with a jolt, "Isn't that Mike Ross? So, the other one must be Harvey Specter." He had watched two seasons of Suits after all.
Jack then glanced at Uncle Cage, who was sitting at the defendant's table. Wow, Uncle Cage looked incredibly young, not a day over 30, and just as handsome as ever—almost as good-looking as Jack himself.
The innocent and lovely Yvonne, whom they had met the day before, sat to Uncle Cage's left. On his right was the defense attorney, an unremarkable bald older man.
Jack sighed inwardly. This case was already over before it began.
With the jury and the judge present, the trial officially began. This highly publicized divorce case in New York had now entered its third session, and, according to routine, this would likely be the last.
At the judge's request, Uncle Cage, or rather Charlie Lane, was called to the witness stand. After placing his hand on the Bible and swearing in, he began to answer questions from the plaintiff's lawyer.
Harvey Specter adjusted his tie, left the plaintiff's table, and approached Charlie.
"Mr. Lane, when you proposed splitting the lottery winnings equally with Miss Biasi, did you force your wife to agree?"
This type of question had undoubtedly been rehearsed with Charlie before the trial. His expression remained neutral as he calmly replied, "I simply said we should do the right thing."
Harvey blinked and moved to the next question. "Mr. Lane, were you carrying a gun at the time?"
"Obje—"
"Objection, leading question! Charlie is a police officer," the defense attorney interrupted just as Charlie was about to answer.
"Objection sustained. Plaintiff's lawyer, please rephrase your question," the judge said, tapping the gavel before motioning for the trial to proceed.
Jack noticed the elderly defense lawyer clutching his chest as he sat back down, clearly rattled. If Charlie had answered "yes," even if he clarified that he had just come home and hadn't had time to put away his gun, it would have left the jury with the impression that his wife had agreed to split the money under duress.
"This lawyer is slick," Hannah muttered softly, clearly understanding what had just happened.
After a series of unimportant questions, Harvey suddenly threw in a bombshell.
"Mr. Lane, during your years of marriage, did you ever lay a hand on your wife?"
"Of course not. Never," Charlie replied firmly, shaking his head.
"You are under oath, Mr. Lane," Harvey cut him off loudly before he could continue.
Charlie hesitated for a moment. "Okay, once, I grabbed her arm to stop her from—"
"No further questions, Your Honor," Harvey said, cutting him off before he could finish.
"That was a clever move," Wesley muttered, admiring Harvey's strategy, only to get smacked on the head by Aunt Didi.
As murmurs filled the courtroom, Yvonne Biasi was called to the witness stand next.
Harvey once again approached, standing in front of the fragile-looking Yvonne. He paused briefly, glancing back at the plaintiff's table, where Muriel Lane sat, and for a moment, his expression turned strange.
"Ahem!" Mike Ross, sitting at the plaintiff's table, gave a loud cough to snap his boss back to attention.
"Apologies, Miss Biasi. Could you please describe your financial situation before Mr. Lane offered to share half of the lottery winnings with you?"
"I was struggling to make ends meet, but it wasn't going well," Yvonne replied softly, sounding like a completely different person compared to the energetic woman they had seen at the café the day before.
Harvey shrugged, turning to face the jury. "And it's true that you had $12,000 of credit card debt at the time?"
"That was my ex-husband's debt. He took my credit card," Yvonne quickly explained, only to be interrupted by Harvey.
"Just answer yes or no."
Yvonne, clearly smarter than Charlie, responded carefully. "Technically, yes, but I never used that money."
"So, on the same day you declared bankruptcy, Mr. Lane showed up at the café and promised to give you half of the lottery winnings, correct?" Harvey pressed on.
Yvonne took a deep breath and glanced at Charlie at the defendant's table. "Yes, but that was just a coincidence."
"A coincidence," Harvey repeated, his tone laced with disbelief.
"Yes, a coincidence," Yvonne forced a smile.
"Now, could you describe your relationship with Mr. Lane at the time?" Harvey asked, stepping closer, hands clasped in front of him.
"There was no relationship. It was only the second time we had met, and he came to the café to find me," Yvonne said, turning to the jury in an attempt to convey her sincerity.
It was in vain, as Harvey's next question cornered her.
"Then please describe your relationship with Mr. Lane now."
Yvonne hesitated for a long moment, her lips trembling before she finally mustered the courage to confess in court, "I love him more than anything in this world."
A buzz of whispers filled the courtroom, forcing the judge to bang his gavel several times to restore order.
"Oh, I love this girl," Aunt Didi clasped her fingers together under her chin, her face glowing with joy over the love story unfolding.
Hannah had stars in her eyes too, while the men around them all rolled their eyes in unison. The case was doomed—no way it could be won now.
Sure enough, Harvey hit the final blow. "So that day, when you ran to the hotel to meet him, which was captured by reporters, was that also the reason he left his wife?"
"Objection, irrelevant!" the defense lawyer stood up again, shouting.
"Motive," Harvey replied coldly.
"What motive? Charlie had already been kicked out of his house by his wife. The marriage was already over!" the defense lawyer fumed, only for the judge to dismiss his objection.
But Yvonne had already caught on. Though she looked furious, she still spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
"If you're trying to imply that I'm a—"
"Miss Biasi!" the judge warned her, reminding her that it wasn't her time to speak.
"Your Honor, he's trying to paint me as a—a—" She paused, unable to say the word.
"A liar! This man, along with those reporters!"
"Miss Biasi, control your emotions," Harvey stepped in, covering for her outburst that could've been considered contempt of court.
"I've worked hard to overcome the misfortune my ex-husband brought upon me, and then I was unexpectedly given this opportunity. I met a kind, loving, and honest man who changed my life. This is not about the money. He made me believe in the goodness of humanity again, and I won't allow you to twist our relationship and tarnish this love!" Tears streamed down Yvonne's face as she spoke.
Harvey was silent for a moment before he asked in a low voice, "Were you divorced at the time?"
Yvonne froze, looking around helplessly.
At the defense table, the balding lawyer looked like he was in agony, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.
Next to him, Charlie, who had been in a daze since Yvonne's public declaration of love, wore a strange smile, completely oblivious to what was happening.
Realizing she had fallen into Harvey's trap,
Yvonne finally slumped her shoulders in defeat.
"No."
The courtroom erupted in noise again, and the judge had to pound his gavel repeatedly to bring the discussion back to order.
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