Chapter 109: Chapter 109

Third Person’s POV

A few days later, the trial against Mr. Ian Grim commenced. Surprisingly, Jake Dawson, despite his deep sorrow over the loss of his son, received a lifetime sentence. The trial concluded smoothly, but it was evident that Mikhail's demise was a result of Ian's deceitful plan. Jake, harboring no sympathy for his acquaintance, saw no reason to protect Ian's reputation. In fact, he desired a more severe punishment for him. Consequently, Jake bravely disclosed the truth in court, leaving Ian with little opportunity to refute the allegations.

Nevertheless, Ian remained seated in the courtroom, delusionally believing that he still had a chance to escape his fate. With an unsettling lack of remorse etched on his face, he anxiously awaited his verdict, his wrists bound by handcuffs.

The prosecutor declared, "I intend to summon Wayne Jetts as a witness, your Honor."

Sebastian took his place on the witness stand and glanced at the spectators. Among them, he locked eyes with Agatha and Lanceil.

The prosecutor administered the oath to Sebastian, signifying his commitment to speak the truth.

Raising his hand, Sebastian stated, "I affirm that the testimony I provide will be truthful and complete."

The prosecutor began, "Six years ago, the GhiY96 aircraft bound for Guangzhou crashed near Wuzhou."

The prosecutor displayed images of the incident on the large screen. Wayne and Brett, both in the audience, gazed at the photos of the plane crash with identical expressions of sorrow. They shared the pain of losing their families in the tragic event.

“With 132 passengers and crew on board, the aircraft crashed and ignited a fire in the mountains of Guangxi. Sadly, there were no survivors, and the airline expressed deep sorrow for the loss of the passengers and crew. The fire department, working to contain the blaze on the mountainside, reported no signs of life amidst the wreckage. The CAAB confirmed that the plane lost control over Wuzhou, carrying 123 passengers and nine crew members. However…”

The prosecutor then revealed a picture of a man captured on government CCTV.

“The pilot of GhiY96 was last seen in China five years ago.”

Whispers filled the courtroom. Ian, who caught sight of the man on the screen, clenched his jaw as he shot a fierce look at his attorney. They should have prevented the prosecution from obtaining this information, but their plan had been thwarted by an unknown party.

"If the plane crash was indeed an accident, then why did the pilot, who was supposed to be deceased, miraculously survive? Unless he was responsible for the incident and managed to escape before the crash."

"Your honor, my client is merely making an assumption," Ian's lawyer countered. "There is no concrete evidence linking him to the man in the photograph."

"They won't find him because Ian Grim killed the pilot before they had the chance," he added.

"Prosecutor Kevin, please refrain from making assumptions about the incident without complete evidence," the judge reminded sternly.

The prosecutor nodded in acknowledgment and approached Wayne. "In that case, I have a question for our witness, Mr. Wayne Jetts. Did your family board the GhiY96 plane on the day of the incident?"

Wayne took a deep breath before responding. "Yes, they were on the plane, heading for their vacation."

"Did you notice anything unusual prior to the incident?"

"Yes, the day before, my mother received a gift. It was a red dress. We were unsure of the sender, but since it was her birthday, she happily accepted it and even wore it on the day of the incident."

“Can you remember how the dress looks like?”

“I do. It’s vivid in my head.”

“How is it look like?”

“It is a red dress with a white floral pattern and black laces at the hemline.”

The prosecutor addressed the judges once more, stating, "Regarding the passengers, the suspect's wife..." He gestured towards Ian Grim and proceeded, "Mrs. Susan Grim was declared deceased as a result of the plane crash. Forensic analysis confirmed that her body was severely disfigured, but her family was able to identify her due to her attire; a red dress adorned with a white floral pattern and black laces at the hemline. Strangely enough, it was the exact same dress that Mr. Wayne's mother possessed at that time. Could this truly be a mere coincidence?"

Wayne's hands tightened into fists beneath the table as he absorbed the information.

Suppose it is indeed a mere coincidence. It is plausible for individuals to wear identical dresses simultaneously in a particular location. However, Mr. Ian Grim adamantly refused to undergo a DNA test and identified his wife's lifeless body solely based on her attire.

He handed a document to the judge and waited for him to review it.

"The document clearly indicates that Mrs. Grim was falsely listed as a passenger on flight GhiY86. She was listed ILLEGALLY." He turned to Wayne and inquired, "Mr. Wayne Jetts."

"Yes, sir?"

"Are you still searching for your mother's missing body?"

Wayne nodded. "They found my sister's and father's bodies, but my mother's remains are still missing."

"A missing body and a woman wearing the same dress after being falsely registered as a passenger. What could this signify?" He turned to the judge and requested, "Your honor, I request to bring in the next witness. Mr. Ian's eldest son, Lanceil Grim."

Lanceil rose from his chair and made his way to the witness stand, where he engaged in a silent exchange with Wayne. As Wayne stepped down, they shared a nod of understanding before Lanceil took his place.

Ian grimaced as he observed his son taking the oath before the prosecutor resumed questioning.

"Several days ago," the prosecutor began, "the Grim family reported that Mrs. Susan Grim was discovered alive beneath the house. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Lanceil replied, his hands clenched beneath the table. "We uncovered a hidden basement in our home. It was my brother, Vincent, who rescued our mother."

"How many years had passed since your mother's supposed burial?"

"Nearly five years."

"Which implies," the prosecutor fixed a stern gaze on the defendant. "That Mr. Ian Grim concealed his own wife in the basement for five years!"

Lanceil shut his eyes firmly, his body trembling with rage towards his malevolent father.

"Why did you conceal your wife and create the illusion of her being deceased?" he inquired directly to Ian.

Ian's attorney forcefully struck the table and exclaimed, "Your honor! He is making yet another assumption!"

"Your honor!" the prosecutor countered. "I simply wanted to demonstrate where the crimes originated."

"Continue," the judge instructed.

The prosecutor nodded and once again approached Lanceil. "Mr. Lanceil's wife passed away after visiting the mansion's wine storage. Is that correct?"

Lanceil nervously bit his lower lip, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Yes."

"How did she die?"

"They claimed... she took her own life."

"Did you believe it? Did you believe that your beloved wife would take her own life?"

Tears gathered in the corners of Lanceil's eyes. There was a part of him that accepted it, and a part of him that rejected it. Nevertheless, today, he was convinced. Lanceil was convinced that Olive's death was caused by his father.

In response to Lanceil's silence, the prosecutor grasped the remote control and prepared to play the pre-recorded audio.

"Your honor," the prosecutor addressed the judge. "One of Mr. Ian's associates, Maxine Lee, confessed. She was brought up by Ian himself. She was apprehended at the mansion. And she confessed... before she died."