Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 93

Off to a Good Start

Off to a Good Start

Chapter 93

Ana’s POV

Rodney and I knew that, despite the jury being warned, we were certain that a few members of the jury would believe the lies that had been told. We expected it. As the opening statements were made, I heard a slight movement behind me. I turned to see Charlie passing Roger’s cell phone back to him. That’s odd. I guess Roger needed to say something. I know that he didn’t have Charlie’s number.

We were starting with Regina, as her trial was cut and dried. It would be the easiest of the three. Christine Arnold took the stand, and Rodney started off by showing a copy of the actual deed to the home. She testified that she had sold me both my apartment and the villa in question. She also testified that she had sold them both for me, at my request, before I bought my latest home.

The proof was all there. Bank statements, the electronic transfer to pay off the home in full. Everything was in order, proving that I had purchased the home, with no funds from Roger. No funds had been provided to me by Roger. Everything inside, and concerning that home, had been purchased by me. I wanted to ensure they had nothing to come back on me with after the trial. I’m not doing this again. This was a warning for them to

stop.

They had damaged not only my reputation, but my company’s as well. That was going to cost them, as the lost revenue would be passed on to Sasha and Joyce, as it was their words that caused the issues. I’m going to make sure of that. Regina hadn’t made very many slanderous remarks. She was more of a background presence, as she let her mother and Sasha run the show. The man who had given her the ‘prank‘ deed, Tommy Jones, took the stand next.

He was anxious. We could all tell that he didn’t want to be here, but he was the only one who could tell the court what happened between him and Regina. Rodney started off slowly. Confirming that he was the one who made the fake deed up, which allowed me to be arrested. He gave short answers. He didn’t want to say or do anything that could jeopardize his job. He was already on his final warning, and he knew he had to be

careful.

“Mr. Jones, can you tell us in your own words why you gave Ms. Cook that fake deed?” Rodney asked.

“She said she needed it for a prank on her soon–to–be sister–in–law. She didn’t like her very much and said she wanted to cause her some embarrassment. That was all she told me they were using it for. It was never intended to be made public. I even noted on it in fine print that it was not a valid deed. I made sure that she knew not to show it around. She said she understood, but then I saw the news. After that, it went viral. That was never supposed to happen. Regina knew that, but she still did that to me. Letting me take the fall for her actions. I was almost fired for her little prank,” Tommy replied, glaring at Regina.

“You knew it was serious business, and illegal, to make up a fake document like that, right? So why did you

do it?” Rodney responded.

“Regina was my girlfriend. We have been on again, off again, for over the last two years,” Tommy replied.

“No, we weren’t, Tommy,” Regina shouted out.

“Order in the court. Please control your defendant, counselor,” the judge demanded.

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Off to a Good Start

“I’ll rephrase, your honor, Sa, Mr. Jones, you believed that you were in a long–term relationship with Ms. Cook?

“Rodney asked.

“Yes, we have been together

Over the last two years, like I said, but we were on and then off again, She made sure that I knew that she didn’t want to marry me. She said that we were just having a good time together,

with no strings attached. I wanted more; I wanted to marry her, but she refused. After I got in trouble over the

property deed incident. She cut all ties with me. She was embarrassed to be seen with me after that. I loved

her, but she lied to me. She told me that I shouldn’t have fallen for it and that it was my own fault. She treated me like I was stupid. That was my own fault for doing something illegal, but I trusted her,” he admitted. He was visibly upset and mourning the loss of their relationship.

This poor man didn’t even realize that he never knew who she actually was. She gave him the version he

wanted to see, but I knew her. She wasn’t gentle or kind. She was bossy and manipulative. He was much

better off without her, even if it didn’t feel like it at the moment.

Once Rodney was complete with his questioning, Regina’s attorney got up. I had noticed that Joyce had been

writing things down for him as Tommy spoke. I was looking forward to seeing what she had come up with to

try to twist things around.

“Mr. Jones, isn’t it true that you were the one who offered to help Regina? Wasn’t it your idea to do this, to

help Regina get back at Ms. Caldwell? Regina was just upset and venting to you, as a friend. But weren’t you

the one who suggested that you could do this for her in the first place?” their attorney, William Blake, asked.

“No, that’s incorrect. I didn’t offer to do that for her. She had asked me several times over the course of a

week, but I refused. She asked me again, as we were about to sleep together, and I caved. I shouldn’t have

agreed, but I was too turned on to deny her. She swore to me that it would only be used for fun. She would

make sure that no one else found out about it. Then, the next thing I knew, Regina was going viral, waving it

around and holding it directly in front of the camera. I saw it on TV before it went viral. I got in a lot of trouble

over it, yet she wants to blame it all on me,” he vented angrily.

“Ms. Cook said that you two were never in a relationship. That you wanted to be in one with her, but she always rejected your advances,” Attorney Blake rebutted.

“Well, she’s lying to you then, and I have the texts to prove it. I already turned them all over to Attorney Briggs

if you would like to see them. We were in a relationship, no matter what she says. Regina told me she loved me, and I foolishly believed her. If needed, I can also tell you about the birthmark she has on her right butt

cheek if you need more proof. I believe I have a picture of it saved in my phone as well,” Tommy replied in

anger. He was sick of Regina now, and he wasn’t trying ot cover for her anymore.

The courtroom was absolutely silent for about fifteen seconds before someone in the very back started laughing, loudly. One of the reporters had found it hilarious, and his laughter caused half the courtroom to

start laughing along with him. Regina was sitting between her mother and Sasha, and her face was red as

the dress that she was wearing. Her attorney was looking at her in shock; he hadn’t anticipated this. It looked

really bad, and he already knew that Rodney was going to bring up the texts on redirect, as Tommy had

mentioned them in his answers to the questions. He was angry, but he hadn’t known they had that. He thought this would be an easy case and a chance to make a name for himself.

“Order in the court. I will not allow any more disruptions from the gallery. Please conduct yourself properly,” the judge stated. He gave the reporter, who had started laughing, a hard look.

I couldn’t blame him. It was funny, but I really worked hard not to react to his words. I knew that they really

Off to a Good Start

thought that things were going to go their way today. They should have come up with something better than

they had. It was obvious that within a two–year timeframe, he would have proof. I’m pleased with how quickly

this is working out in our favor.

“Counselor, do you have any further questions for Mr. Jones?” the judge asked.

“Not at this time, your honor,” attorney Blake replied.

“Redirect?” the judge asked, looking at Rodney.

“Yes, your honor. I would like to go over the evidence that Mr. Jones just mentioned. We have detailed messages printed out from his cell phone provider, dating back to the beginning of their relationship. I would like everyone to note page 59. Ms. Cook started to tell Mr. Jones that she loved him, and it shows that it wasn’t referenced towards a friend. I have copies for everyone to go over before I proceed.” Rodney announced before handing the paperwork over to a bailiff.

The sound of pages getting flipped filled the courtroom. Most went directly to the page Rodney had told them to visit. Others started reading from the beginning. Counselor Blake went directly to page 59 and then began reading from there. Rodney gave them about ten minutes to review the proof for themselves. Towards the end, you see the texts of her begging him to make the fake deed.

It was just as he said; there was no refuting it. We had to go first to show the burden of proof, but I wished she had gone up there and lied. I know, it was petty, but Regina has been a thorn in my side from the start. She’s just like her vicious mother. She doesn’t deserve my forgiveness. Her getting that fake deed was the very reason that I had been arrested.

That led to me being brought out in handcuffs, in front of the whole city, as it was recorded live, as breaking news. I was glad that no one knew who I was at the time, but that information had resurfaced after my reveal as a Caldwell. I wasn’t going to let any of them off the hook. It was my turn to let them squirm before they were dealt with today.

Everything that he said was right there in front of their own eyes. He kept telling her no, but she didn’t let that stop her. She even thanked him for doing it for her, and promised to “Blow his mind” the next time they were together. There was no question about it. Regina had been insistent about getting that paperwork. Tommy was allowed to step down, as the evidence was clear.

“I would like to call Regina Cook to the stand,” Rodeny requested.

Regina slowly stood up and walked to the witness stand. As she was being sworn in, I saw her staring at her mother. I knew she wanted direction on what to say. Anything other than the truth was going to land her in jail for a fun–filled vacation, which she didn’t want. I was curious as to what she was going to say. Regina took her seat and faced her mother. Joyce looked pissed. I’m sure she didn’t anticipate the trial going like this. She thought they were going to snowball me. Now, her daughter’s very own words were destroying her carefully crafted house of cards. Rodney and I weren’t going to stop until they came crashing down on her head.