Chapter 396 His Choice

At Matthews Industries,

Although nobody was allowed to enter or exit the building, Casper was allowed inside as he was the chairperson of the organization.

Despite knowing he might not be able to exit of his own will, Casper's priority was still his company. He was ready to lose his sleep or sleep and live in the company.

"What is going on?" Casper asked one of the secretaries who was downstairs to receive him.

The secretary reported as he followed Casper, "Chairman Matthews, the internet facility has been terminated from the server room. Hence the operation of the whole headquarters is shut down.

The managers and directors are summoned to the meeting halls and their mobile phones are seized.

The employees are panicking by interpreting as the company will go under crisis due to Alvin Matthews attacking the company." He was speaking in a breath as they entered the elevator and pressed the button.

Casper sniggered silently. Everyone would think of the raid as a revengeful attack. Once Gianna gets bail, then nobody would believe in Skylark. Thus anything happening to the Matthews Industries will directly affect Alvin and Skylark.

Has Alvin gone nuts to let this happen when his money was in the company?

Well, he pitied Anya for pulling herself and Alvin into the messier situation.

Of course, he didn't realize he and his wife were in deeper trouble, especially if Gianna was proven guilty.

The secretary continued without knowing thoughts of Casper, "As for the officers, they have fetched all the financial records. By deciphering their conversation, the main team is looking for particular project details while the rest are skimming through the rest."

Casper furrowed after hearing, 'a particular project.' Did Anya get something when she hacked into the Matthews network?

Casper felt his goosebumps under the warm thick coat when he recalled Anya controlling all the digital devices and appearing on all the digital screens. He had never felt anything spine-chilling than that moment in his life.

Getting over the creepy experience, He focused on the problem at hand. He couldn't think of any project which could be suspicious. And he was sure all the projects were faultless in finance data.

The secretary continued, "Vice-president Benjamin is resting in his office due to low blood pressure so CFO is handling the situation. The CFO had instructed the juniors in the legal team but they aren't..."

Inefficient and inexperienced to act on time. They were confused about their work without the senior guiding them.

The secretary knew many will be fired so he skipped that part and continued, "CFO demanded Lawyer Wales to get the paperwork done for the continued operation of the company."

Non-operational Headquarters would affect all the branches and keep numerous works on hold. They might even manage the day but they had no idea when they could begin the operation in the company.

Casper clenched his teeth and exited the elevator. He dropped a message to lawyer Wales to reach the company as soon as the court ends.

He paused and turned around. He instructed the secretary, "Get all the employees to the recreational areas and keep them busy." It was important to keep the nerves of the employees calm.

Once the secretary went to handle it, Casper had just turned around when an officer confiscated his mobile. He got busy with the emergency meeting with the management and brainstorming started to find out about the project.

Casper noticed CFO, Chief Financial Officer uneasily shifting on his chair. He was one of the most trusted employees so Casper called him aside and questioned sternly. "Are you hiding something?"

Casper could see the CFO was conflicted and anxious when he didn't meet his eyes. His tone turned cold when he hissed through his teeth, "What is it?"

The CFO felt his heart jump to his throat before he confessed, "On Saturday night, Vice-president Benjamin had used company resources (Trucks) and a few million. I received the news that he had modified those numbers in a project after the raid began." He never got a chance to check it as their week just started and the raid began.

Casper's expression turned darker. He couldn't believe Benjamin used company money. Even if Alvin and Anya or Earl didn't file a complaint, this money usage could lead the focus to a case against his mother.

To save his mother, he will have to lie to the officers. Lying means admitting that they are doing money laundering. That will lead to a complete shutdown of the company for days to weeks. Officers will thoroughly go through all the projects of the company.

Now the question is, should he save his mother and the reputation of the family or protect his company?

He realized the gravity of the situation, stopped pitying Anya, and continued to learn how sly his son was.

.....

At the Court,

There was pin-drop silence in the hall. The judge noted some points after Wales confidently gave his points and also the closure of his statements.

Whereas Abbot waited for the justice to breathe and turn to him. He received a file from his assistant as he stood up, "Motive!?" He mused with a sly smirk on his face.

"Your Honor, Mr. Wales is right. Mrs. Gianna Sallow Matthews, grandmother of Zane Owen Matthews has no reason to harm him."

Wales and Gianna: "..."

Elder Collins and the butler Oliver looked at each other without understanding what Abbot was doing.

Abbot glanced at Gianna and asked, "I have a few questions for Gianna Matthews."

Obtaining permission, Abbot calmly asked Gianna, "Mrs, Matthews, do you love your sons?"

Gianna's expression changed at the first question. Her mind messed up, wondering where Abbot was getting at by his point.

Wales knew the history of Matthews so he stood up before Gianna said anything odd, "I object, your honor. Mr. Abbot is asking useless questions."

The judge hammered the table and bluntly said, "Objection suspended." It wasn't just about Gianna and Zane but about Gianna and Alvin's family.

Abbot thanked the judge and probed, "Mrs. Matthews, I will repeat the question for you. Do you love both of your sons?"

Gianna lied clenching her fist, "Yes."

Abbot expected Gianna to be shrewd to catch on to his question. Since Gianna fell into the trap, he started to confuse her, "Do you hate your second son for leaving the country?"

Gianna furrowed hearing the question. "No." She lied.

Abbot slowly increased the pace of his question to panic Gianna, "Then you must really hate your second son for marrying a girl of his choice?"

Gianna felt her heartbeats rising with the question. One wrong response could ruin everything, "No." She curtly responded.

"Do you hate Anya Owen for taking your son away from you?"

"No."

Suddenly Abbot slowed down and asked calmly. "As per Mr. Wales's statement, why would your second son try to hurt you?"

"I-" Gianna was completely blank when she got that question. She wasn't ready for the lie.

Abbot asked again without letting her think, "There should be a reason, what is it?"

Gianna: "..."

Could she tell the truth? No.

Wales objected and was suspended again.

"Mrs. Gianna Sallow, there must have been a conversation or some words from Alvin Matthews. What were those?"

Wales thought Abbot was trying to seal Gianna's lips as they wouldn't be revealing Alvin's real birth mother. So he looked at Gianna to smartly handle the questions.

After a long silence, Gianna tried to lie, "He- he was angered for not giving him the CEO position of Matthews Industries."

Abbott scoffed in his mind. Why would Alvin want his father's company when he was doing much better on his terms?

Still, he played on Gianna's words to see how deep she might dig her grave. "It wasn't your decision. Then why will he be angry at you?" Abbot continued to pressurize her.

Gianna felt like she was being pulled into a whirlpool of questions. Her responses were raising different questions. "H- He asked for my help. I didn't help him."

Isn't it common in families for brothers to fight for power? So Gianna was sure her response was smooth.

"Why are you biased towards your second son?"

Gianna: "..."

"Shouldn't you support both the sons equally?" Abbot continued to trap her in her responses.

Wales and Liam's backs stiffened when they discerned what Abbot was trying to reveal about Alvin's birth truth through Gianna's mouth. Liam was anxious while Wales started praying Alvin doesn't want the truth out.