enjoyebooks Chapter 585 - 556: Los Angeles Trip (Part 2)
Chapter 585 - 556: Los Angeles Trip (Part 2)
According to the arrest report, Sienna Thornton quickly summarized the case.Zane Forrester, at dawn on January 17th, Los Angeles time, used violence to coerce the victim into sexual relations, resulting in the victim returning home with massive bleeding and falling into a coma. The police received a report from the victim’s roommate, immediately went to the scene, and found several pieces of evidence. With both the victim’s roommate’s testimony and physical evidence, the police arrested Zane Forrester at 12:30 p.m. on January 18th.
Since Zane Forrester can’t be seen now, the lawyers are unclear about the situation at the time of the incident, what to do next, whether to plead not guilty, or to reach a plea bargain with the prosecution to seek a reduced sentence. Since Zane Forrester, at the time of his arrest, said that this matter absolutely must not be notified to Franland, the lawyers can only gather here and wait for Simon Forrester to come over and take charge.
After Sienna Thornton finished reading the arrest report, she looked gravely at her watch, explaining the current situation to Simon Forrester: "At the latest, before noon tomorrow, the prosecution will file charges. Tomorrow afternoon, we will apply for an expedited trial so that we can quickly enter the arraignment procedure, strive to bail your dad out, and conduct an investigation to collect evidence. If the results of the investigation and evidence collection are favorable to us, we can try to persuade the prosecutor to dismiss the motion during the pretrial motions."
Simon Forrester listened carefully, processed what Sienna had said, and confirmed again: "If the motion can be dismissed, does that mean there’s no need for a trial?" His voice, unused for a long time, was raspy and thick with thought.
Sienna Thornton nodded.
Simon Forrester swallowed, murmuring, "Then there’s still hope to keep this case from being exposed."
Once the trial procedure begins, this case is bound to be exposed, and Sylvia Langley far away in Franland will soon know. By then, even if the trial ends with Zane Forrester being acquitted, the various speculations and rumors stirred up during this period will be difficult to manage. This matter might even affect Sienna Thornton, who is currently on the rise.
Simon Forrester dared not imagine such a situation.
Just as he felt completely helpless, waiting for the arraignment procedure to arrive, Sienna Thornton suggested gathering everyone who had contact with Zane Forrester on the night of the incident for a talk.
At that time, Sienna hadn’t even eaten lunch. She had been dealing with Zane Forrester’s case almost immediately after getting off the plane. Simon Forrester, worried she couldn’t bear the exhaustion, took her to a nearby restaurant for a simple lunch during the intervals when those people were coming.
It was a very simple American lunch, and Simon Forrester didn’t have much of an appetite, lost in silent thought for a while, then suddenly asked Sienna Thornton: "Since my dad is still detained, should we wait a few days to see him and ask in detail about the night of the incident to investigate more effectively?"
In fact, he couldn’t bear to see Sienna too tired, so he wanted her to rest well for these two days. Pregnant women are prone to fatigue, and coupled with her severe morning sickness, arriving in Los Angeles without even acclimating to the time zone before diving into high-intensity work, Simon Forrester really feared for her and the child she carried.
Sienna understood his intentions and reassured him: "You see, I haven’t vomited at all since getting off the plane; it’s good for me to stay busy, otherwise, doing nothing makes me feel like vomiting. Being in work mode suits me best."
Simon Forrester didn’t immediately reply, biting his lip while looking out the window before shifting his gaze back to her face, putting down the fork, and tightly grasping her hand.
She saw the veins on his temples pulsing.
"If my dad really committed a crime this time, won’t your future in the department be affected as well?"
Sienna Thornton was slightly surprised.
Zane Forrester’s case came so suddenly; she only wanted to share Simon Forrester’s worries and hadn’t had time to think about how this situation might affect her. When it happened, she instinctively wanted to fight alongside Simon Forrester. But now that Simon mentioned it, she realized that if Zane Forrester were truly convicted, her advancement in the Treaty and Law Department and in the Ministry might just about end here...
Yet facing such a matter, she’s sure to stand with Simon Forrester and the Forrester Family. To let go and walk away was unreasonable, and she couldn’t do it.
She smiled, nonchalantly cutting her fish steak, speaking softly, "No, in the department, I’m recognized for my capability. The value I create is evident to everyone; they won’t abandon me because of your dad’s case, don’t worry!"
After speaking, seeing Simon still looking uneasy, she added: "But on the flip side, if I were really to be discarded by the Ministry because of this then, at worst, I would resign. Honestly, the current job is too busy, too pressured, and the salary isn’t high. If they’re going to give up on me even as it stands, then there’s nothing to regret; plenty of law firms and companies would want me."
Her disdain was so sincere, almost making Simon Forrester think she truly felt that way. He was deeply moved by her thoughtfulness. With his biological father involved in such a mess, no amount of money could ease the panic, but being of one mind with Sienna Thornton made everything seem solid and certain.
After a simple lunch, they returned to the law firm’s conference room, where all those who had contact with Zane Forrester on the night of the incident had arrived. It included several senior overseas Forrester executives, two lawyers, and Zane Forrester’s assistant.
They learned that the reason Zane Forrester was at that hotel that night was to discuss a case with these people. Sienna Thornton suggested everyone consider Simon Forrester as Zane Forrester on the night of the incident and reenact what happened that night.
...
"That day was a Tuesday; your dad was at that hotel because he had scheduled a meeting with a V-Country oil company to discuss a breach of contract early the next morning. So, the night before, he gathered everyone for a rehearsal of the next day’s negotiation agenda."
Sienna Thornton walked Simon through the afternoon’s reenactment of the pre-incident setting, deducing that the reason Zane Forrester didn’t stay home but went to the hotel was not for carousing or sexually assaulting a woman, but for an on-site rehearsal.
"Do you remember how, when we used to go to school, any major exam had us visit the exam site a day early to get familiar, just like when you grew up and took driving tests?" Sienna said, "Your dad’s actions were quite reasonable. First, he placed great importance on the next day’s negotiation; secondly, due to that importance, he went early to ’familiarize himself with the venue.’ Based on these two points, it provides evidence that he did not go there specifically for the victim that night."
Simon Forrester was noncommittal: "Even if that’s the case, so what? The police arrest report clearly states the victim indeed suffered from a violent assault. Whether he planned to go or not, if he acted on impulse, it’s still a crime."
By then, both had already eaten dinner and bathed, sitting in the living room of the hotel suite. The coffee table and floor were littered with piles of documents, most from the night of the incident and the meeting Zane Forrester led. Sienna Thornton was keen to see if any clues could be found within.