Chapter 270

Serena's POV

"No," she said firmly. "Eleanor would never harm herself."

"Are you sure?"

Quinn's expression softened as she explained: "We've known each other since we were kids. Years ago, we read about a suicide case in the news, and she made me promise something. She told me very seriously that no matter how bad things got, she would never take her own life. She said if that thought ever crossed her mind, she would tell me first. She made me promise that if anything happened to her without warning, I should assume it was murder and seek justice for her."

"That was so long ago - would she still remember that promise?" I couldn't shake my concern.

"She knows I remember, so she won't forget either," Quinn said with conviction. "Besides, remember what she told us? We're her last lifeline. The fact that she hasn't reached out means she's still managing on her own."

I nodded slowly. Quinn had known Eleanor far longer than I had - she would understand her better.

"I'll try my best to track her down," Quinn assured me. "If I hear anything, you'll be the first to know."

"Thank you."

"The hearing's about to start. We should head in."

"I didn't expect to see you here," I remarked, suddenly realizing it was unusual for Quinn to attend Lucas's hearing.

"Professional interest," she replied with a slight smile. "I wanted to observe the proceedings."

Of course - I'd momentarily forgotten Quinn was an attorney herself. The memory of her commanding presence during her own recent court case flashed through my mind.

Together, we walked through the heavy wooden doors into the courtroom. Spencer Sherwood seemed to glance back at Quinn, but ultimately remained silent. She focused all her attention on the courtroom proceedings, deliberately avoiding looking in their direction.

As people gradually filed into the courtroom, my gaze fell on Lucas. My heart clenched at the sight of him - he had lost weight, his once-strong frame now appearing alarmingly fragile. His handsome features were drawn with exhaustion, dark circles shadowing his eyes. I struggled to maintain my composure, fighting back the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

Spencer couldn't contain his frustration any longer. "What has Lucas been through in there? Hasn't anyone from the Harrington family tried to help?"

Drew remained uncharacteristically quiet, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by obvious concern.

"The Thorne family is watching everything closely," I explained quietly. "It makes intervention... complicated." The words felt bitter in my mouth.

Spencer looked at me, then thought better of whatever he was going to say. After all, this was the path Lucas had chosen for himself. None of us could argue with that.

When Lucas walked to the defendant's stand, he was directly facing me. The moment he lifted his eyes, our gazes locked. I felt tears welling up, but he managed a slight smile - that familiar, gentle upturn of his lips that had always been his way of trying to comfort me, even in the darkest moments.

"I can't believe he can still smile at a time like this," Spencer muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

Quinn turned to him sharply. "Keep quiet. We need to maintain decorum in the courtroom." Her tone made it clear she thought he was being too talkative.

Spencer rolled his eyes but finally fell silent.

Once all the preparations were complete, the court officer's voice rang out: "All rise! The United States District Court for the Southern District is now in session, the Honorable Judge Wilson presiding."

Everyone stood as the judge, wearing traditional black robes, entered and took his place at the bench. "Please be seated," he instructed. After everyone had settled, he briefly reviewed the court procedures, including maintaining silence and turning off all mobile devices.

"Court is now in session," the judge declared.

What happened next sent ripples of surprise through the courtroom. The prosecution's attorney was revealed to be Benjamin Kennedy, the eldest son of one of the most influential families in Massachusetts and the brother of Kennedy Rowan - who happened to be Rachel Thorne's fiancé. Benjamin Kennedy was renowned as one of the most formidable attorneys in the country, with an undefeated record. However, this marked his first appearance as a prosecutor, a fact that caused visible unrest in the courtroom.

My anxiety intensified. Having Benjamin Kennedy personally handle this case seemed fundamentally unfair to Lucas. The Kennedy family's involvement was likely influenced by their connection to Rachel Thorne. How could such an obvious conflict of interest be permitted?

Quinn must have sensed my rising panic. She leaned close and whispered, "Try to stay calm. The prosecutor's role is primarily to present the facts of the case. Generally, they don't determine the final verdict. There's a fundamental difference between the prosecutor and the plaintiff's attorney. The plaintiff's lawyer advocates for their client's interests, while the prosecutor typically focuses on establishing the truth."

But what if this particular prosecutor had no interest in revealing the truth?

"Let's see how it plays out," Quinn murmured in my ear. "If there's any obvious bias, we might be able to petition for a different prosecutor. This case has significant public attention - media pressure could work in our favor."

I nodded, knowing we had no choice but to wait and observe.

I glanced at Lucas again. He must have recognized Benjamin Kennedy - the man's face was regularly featured in various media outlets. Yet his expression remained perfectly composed, showing neither anxiety nor distress.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to maintain composure. I had to admit, despite everything, he cut an impressive figure - tall, handsome, with that dangerous combination of refined elegance and sharp intelligence that made him such a formidable prosecutor.

I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on us, the quiet rustle of reporters' notebooks, the barely contained energy of spectators hoping for drama.

Benjamin Kennedy stepped forward, his voice clear and authoritative as he began his opening statement: "Your Honor, on February 13th, the federal authorities received multiple complaints regarding the defendant Lucas Harrington's activities between 2018 and 2021. While operating his business interests in the United States, Mr. Harrington allegedly conspired with defendants Grayson Chen and Samuel Hunt to manipulate various markets through deceptive practices."

I watched Lucas's face carefully, but his expression remained impassive, his shoulders straight and proud. Even now, facing these accusations, he maintained that quiet dignity that had first drawn me to him.

Benjamin continued, his words measured and precise: "Through concentrated capital advantage and privileged information, the defendants engaged in a complex scheme of artificial trading patterns. This systematic deception led 83 investors to make uninformed decisions, resulting in losses totaling $12.5 billion. Furthermore, evidence suggests their involvement with an international criminal organization, Korsen, in illegal monetary transactions amounting to an additional $7.5 billion."

The gallery behind me erupted in whispers. I could feel the shock rippling through the courtroom, but I kept my gaze steady, focused on Lucas. He sat perfectly still, his profile sharp against the dark wood paneling of the courtroom.

Judge nodded deliberately. "The indictment is properly filed. Please submit the government's evidence to the court."

I watched as the court clerk, a young man in a crisp dark suit, carefully carried the evidence folders to the judge's bench. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, the sound mixing with the nervous energy in the room.

"Your Honor," Benjamin announced, "the prosecution requests to call our first witness, a victim and key informant in this case."

At the judge's nod, I saw Finn Burton approach the witness stand. The middle-aged man's face was lined with bitterness, his expensive suit hanging loosely on his frame as if he'd lost weight recently. The moment his eyes landed on Lucas, his composure shattered.

"Harrington, you bastard!" he shouted, his face contorted with rage. "I'll kill you for what you did! You destroyed everything - my family, my life..."