Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Joyce’s POV

Claim

“You can’t do that, William. No one asked for those videos to be shown. Why would you do that? Are you trying to ruin us? Aren’t you supposed to defend us?” I cried out.

“I am defending you, Joyce. You and Sasha assured me again just last night that the videos were never threatening or slanderous. That you didn’t intentionally defame the plaintiff. I’m just trying to prove that what she alleged never happened. They’re part of the chain of evidence in this trial. I’m going by your own words. I want everyone to see that the videos in question weren’t that bad. Most of the jury has never even seen them. I know that for the jury to make an informed decision, they need to have all the facts. I’m trying to diligently defend you. How else are they supposed to determine who was actually at fault here?” he turned towards us and asked. His face was the very picture of innocence. I see what’s happening now. He intends to ruin us, and I can’t stop him.

“You can’t do that to us, William. You’ve seen the videos, haven’t you? Don’t you know what’s on them?” Sasha snapped out.

“What’s on them? You mean evidence against you? I haven’t had the opportunity to see Mrs. Billingsley’s videos. They were submitted the day before the trial. I haven’t seen them. Why would I? You are my client’s, honest and upright. You and Joyce had already assured me, and the jury, that they were not an issue. The whole trial was because you were just trying to retrieve your designs. You remember, from the woman you said stole them. The woman whom you both said had caused you a great deal of frustration, as she used her powerful name to silence you. No sense in wasting the opportunity, right? You can clear everything up. How could showing you politely asking Ana for the designs back possibly make you two look worse?” he asked. A frown marred his forehead as he pretended to be puzzled by our

outbursts.

My eyes moved to the judge as I realized what we had done. Her face was impassive, but the moment she saw me looking at her, she smiled. “That was your one opportunity. There will be no more interruptions. I warned you both. Now I’m issuing a final warning to you both. Don’t do it again,” she stated coldly.

What followed was hard to see. I knew it would be when William said, Let’s start at the beginning. Which meant the day I had her arrested. It was embarrassing. What was shown on TV and in videos was just a carefully selected segment that we had approved. We had been out there for over half an hour, just saying whatever we wanted to, about Ana. I forgot the terrible things we said in the video’s entirety. We looked bad. We made terrible claims and

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slandered Ana throughout.

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The same with the second video. We had doubled down at that point. She hadn’t been able to stop us before, so why be afraid of her? I took a discreet glance at the jury. I needed to know what they were thinking. I wish I hadn’t. They were looking at us like we disgusted them. I had forgotten the vile things we said to her. At the time, I thought she deserved them. Watching it now, I regret everything. There was no excuse for this. We said those hateful words, and it felt like each comment was another nail in my coffin.

We taunted her, and my shame was complete now. We looked bad. He even had them play the video from her wedding, after they provided proof that we had been asked not to come. My signature was very clear, indicating that I had signed to receive the letter. I couldn’t declare I hadn’t known. It was like the entire universe was against me. I was charged with filing a false police report and fraud for the fake deed. Why isn’t anything working out for us?

Sasha was fuming as she watched Ana arrive at work in ‘her‘ car. Maybe if she hadn’t blown through so much of Roger’s money, it might have been hers. I smiled thinking about it. I knew she hated the fact that the Porsche she wanted now belonged to Ana. I looked at her and grinned. She deserved that. She was the one who kept pushing for us to continue to go there. She insisted on doing so, as seeing Ana in that car pushed her over the edge. I was glad that she was about to lose it again. I hoped the judge threw the book at her when she did.

Then I heard what I said. My implication that Fashion Forward had bought stolen designs. I could feel Sasha now looking at me, and grinning back. I was the main person condemning the company. Which means that when they come for their money. They’ll be coming after me. Sasha hadn’t said much against them. Why didn’t I just shut my mouth? I could have gone to my car and left. Why in the hell did I stay?

I was so angry I couldn’t hold back that day. Sasha had encouraged me to attack the company. Now I know why she stepped back. She totally set me up. She had knowingly done that to me. She was the instigator who worked me into a frenzy and let me loose on Fashion Forward. She might not have known Ana owned it, but she knew they wouldn’t let us walk away. Not after making all the false claims we had.

It hit me. Ana could have stopped us, told us who she was, but she didn’t. My brain reminded me that we wouldn’t have believed her anyway, and that’s true. If Erika Carrington or Seth

Caldwell hadn’t told me themselves. I wouldn’t have believed it either. I was intent on

punishing her and her bodyguard fiancé that day, never knowing who they were. I was finished. I knew that now, but if I’m going down, so is Sasha. I won’t let her have a good life when mine is imploding. Her egging me on has resulted in losing everything I love, including my husband.

Sasha really thinks that rubbing her stomach like there’s a genie inside will save her. Oh, no,

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Claim

Sasha. That won’t be happening. Not with my daughter already in jail. If I go down, Sasha will be going down too. I wanted her to worry. I wanted her to realize that when I testify against her. If I’m doing this, I’m not leaving anything out. I have proof of what Sasha had done. Towards the end, I started to realize she was using me. I started getting evidence the day Roger and Scott moved out.

I started recording conversations between us. I never told her I was doing it; I just needed a little insurance. I did it right in front of her. Acting as if I were checking my phone as she approached, I put it face down on the table. The audio is crystal clear. They can verify the recordings, if needed, but I was going to wipe that smirk right off her face. This is war. I might have started this, but Sasha quickly took over. I now know that it was because she wanted those designs so much.

Ana stepped down. I was glad that the videos would stop now. William sat next to me, and when I leaned over, he just arched his eyebrow at me. I guess he figured I was going to yell at him for what he did, but I knew we had royally pissed him off for him to do what he did. I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was done with both of us. He was surprised when I spoke in a low tone.

“Put me on the stand next. I’m not letting Sasha land me and Regina in prison without bringing her with me. I have evidence, in my phone that I want to show you. It’s proof that she’s the one who insisted on keeping after Ana to get the designs back,” I told him.

“Your honor, I would like to request a moment of your time with opposing counsel,” William

asked.

“You may both step forward,” she replied.

I could see that Ana looked confused, as did Rodney. They probably thought this was a last–ditch effort. It was, but not to clear my name. I just wanted Sasha to pay for leading me here. I was smarter than this. I knew how the game worked, and yet she got me. I fell for it, and there’s nothing left for me to do. I have to accept the punishment I deserve. After they spoke, William returned to the table and gave me a small nod. I guess they were willing to listen to my recordings.

“We will go to lunch, and reconvene at two this afternoon. Mrs. Joyce Cook and Mrs. Sasha Cook will take the stand this afternoon,” the judge advised.

Sasha spared no time getting out of the courtroom. She was nervous, and she should be. She knew I was up to something, but she didn’t know what it could be. I spared no time telling William something else.

“Sasha had a fan approach her after he was made a juror on this case. He was supposed to cause a mistrial, so we could get off easy. But he went to lunch yesterday, and never returned,

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“I told William.

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“They already figured that out. That’s one of the new charges against her. She will find that out this afternoon. We’re going to the judge’s chambers to listen to your recordings. The judge will then decide whether to allow it or not. It just depends on what you have. You know this won’t let you off the hook, right?” William asked.

“Yes, I know. But Sasha pushed me to this. I had pushed for Roger to marry her, and look what she did to me. She was the one who kept pushing for us to retrieve those designs. If I had known they didn’t belong to his company, I would have left it alone. I was trying to repair what I broke. I never realized everything that Ana had done for him. Roger let us think he had done this himself, with capital from Ana. None of this would have happened if I had only known who Ana was. She could have married Roger and had a happy life if I had just left them alone,” I stated.

“I’m glad that you’re finally seeing the error of your ways,” Scott responded from behind me.

I headed towards him. I needed a hug, but he stepped away. Hadn’t he come over to tell me this was all a mistake? That he missed me and wanted me back.

“Joyce, I’ve given you plenty of chances to stop what you were doing. I warned you several times, yet you continued to do as you pleased. I just watched you trying to destroy Ana with your words on those videos. You can’t seriously think I would want you back after seeing what you did. If anything, I hope our divorce gets completed even faster. I finally see who you’ve become, and I can’t even recognize the woman I married anymore. You spent time chasing the respect of others. You turned your back on me and our marriage. I’m glad you’re providing evidence against Sasha, but our divorce proceedings will continue. I’m sorry, Joyce, but I no longer love you like I did before. You made this decision, not me,” Scott said.

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