Chapter 833: Max Bailey Testifies Victor's mouth opened and closed, but no words cout. If there was anyone in the room who didn't want to see Max Bailey, it was him. This man was the thread connecting the Dyer family, the Gill family, and the Bailey family. Did Tina bring him here just to clear the Dyer family's name? Could it really be that simple? "Victor, say something!" Vivienne prodded him with a dissatisfied tone after waiting for an answer. Yet instead of his usual soft-spoken reassurances, Victor pushed her away harshly.
"Be quiet. I don't have tfor you right now!" His tone was cold and emotionless, leaving Vivienne so furious that she stomped her feet in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ella Bailey, casually resting her head on her hand, watched the scene unfold with great amusement. Her red lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Miss Walker, how could you forget your old flame?" she taunted. "If I remember correctly, before you latched onto my father, wasn't it Max Bailey who was your ticket to luxury? What, you don't recognize your old benefactor anymore?" "You... you're saying he's Max Bailey?!" Vivienne exclaimed, her voice trembling.
For a moment, she forgot to spar with Ella. Her pale hand shook as she pointed at the man standing firmly in the witness box, a man who hadn't spared her a single glance. Struggling to speak, she stammered, "How... how is that possible? Wasn't he locked up by the X Bureau? How could he be here?!" Vivienne turned again to look at the man on the stand. It wasn't entirely her fault for failing to recognize him. Years had passed, and the rough-and-tough image of Max Bailey had long faded from her mind.
During those years, Vivienne had lived comfortably as the lady of the Bailey family, and Max's transformation in prison was substantial. Not recognizing him was almost to be expected.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtVivienne clutched her chest with trembling hands, her face turning as pale as a ghost. Her eyes darted around the room until they landed on Kelly, who was staring at Jared with a lovestruck expression.
A wave of panic surged through Vivienne's heart. No, this couldn't be happening! He was just here to testify. Once the trial was over, he would be sent back. Tina, no matter how resourceful she was, couldn't possibly know about that. Vivienne gripped the fabric over her chest tightly, her panic growing. She didn't notice the pair of eyes that had been watching her intently all this time.
Ella Bailey's sharp gaze lingered on Vivienne, her beautiful eyes narrowing with suspicion. Vivienne didn't look like someone who had just seen an old lover. Her expression was more like someone facing a debt collector. Could it be there was a secret between her and Max Bailey? Ella considered it briefly but didn't dwell on the thought for long.
Dismissing her suspicions, she focused on the stand, where Max Bailey had taken his place as a witness. With his arrival, Tina's side had assembled all their key witnesses.
The judge gave a nod, prompting Samuel Parker and a few other researchers to step forward. Samuel spoke first. "Your Honor, we heard David Van's testimony earlier. He's lying!" Samuel declared firmly.
"Back then, as core members of the research team, we attended meetings and even negotiated with Mr. Dyer together. There was absolutely no opportunity for any private dealings," he added.
John Williamson, standing beside him, directed a glare at David Van and scoffed. "Mr. Dyer was such a good man. How could he possibly neglect the safety of his clients and suggest increasing the dosage? Lettell you, out of all of us, Mr. Dyer was the most skilled doctor! David Van couldn't even compare to him. A genius like that would never do something so reckless." David Van's face flushed with shame. His nervous hands fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve as he bit his cracked lips, his chaotic thoughts hidden behind a stoic expression.
"What are you waiting for?!" A low voice hissed in his ear.
Startled, David turned slightly to see Luke Gill. The younger man's sinister expression hadn't changed. "If I get convicted, you can forget about ever seeing your wife again," Luke warned.
At the mention of his wife, David's pupils flickered with momentary hesitation.
"I... I don't know how to refute them," David whispered, his voice barely audible, as his eyes darted toward Samuel Parker.
Luke sneered, his smile cold and unnerving. "That's not my problem. Whether you act or not is up to you." "I..." David's expression froze. Pain and conflict flashed in his eyes before they finally settled into a dull calm.
"I object!" he suddenly shouted, cutting off another witness mid-sentence.
The judge turned to him. "Defendant's witness, do you have something to add?" David scratched his disheveled hair, his murky eyes glancing briefly at his former colleagues.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Mr. Dyer... he did approachprivately back then. According to him, increasing the dosage would enhance the drug's effectiveness," David began hesitantly.
"And... not everyone had an adverse reaction to the herbs in the formula. That's why Mr. Dyer felt confident. But he didn't expect the drug to cause problems so soon after its release."
"David Van!" John Williamson roared, his fury palpable. "You ungrateful bastard! If it weren't for 't for Mr Diver, who knows where you'd be right now-probably digging through trash somewhere! Do you think someone with your lack of skill back in school could've landed a job without him?" "You have no conscience! The chairman shared all his knowledge with you, and this is how you repay him? After more than a decade, you're still trying to ruin him! Aren't you afraid of being skinned alive when you die and face him in the afterlife?!" The judge gave a gentle warning. "Plaintiff's witness, please remain calm." But John Williamson was too enraged to listen. If Samuel Parker hadn't held him back, he might have lunged at David Van right then and there.
Samuel patted his shoulder, pulling him aside. "Calm down before you give yourself a stroke. David Van, you know the truth about what happened back then. We're here today to clear Mr. Dyer's name. If you have any shred of decency left, you'll keep your mouth shut." Samuel's sharp gaze bore into David Van, whose once-imposing demeanor crumbled under the weight of his guilt. Meeting Samuel's disdainful eyes, David felt a pang in his chest.
Before he could respond, Samuel turned back to the judge.
"Let's talk about something recent. Just three days ago, Luke Gill tried to bribe us. He offered ten million m dollars to get us to pin the blon Mr. Dyer. Your Honor, they say an honest man fears no shadow. If Luke Gill is truly innocent, why is he so desperate to manipulate the outcof this trial?"