Chapter 380: Even More Explosive Than This?
Who is Rosie Sullivan? She was Fiona Vaughn’s famous assistant back when Fiona was the top anchor at ASC Television!
Now that the transfer account has been linked to Rosie Sullivan, plus the timing of the transfers, it’s clearly something Fiona Vaughn herself can’t avoid responsibility for.
"Who would have thought... If it wasn’t under Fiona Vaughn’s orders, why would Rosie go to such lengths?"
"Rosie’s already quit. She made plenty in showbiz over the years, and after resigning she’s completely dropped out of sight. Some say she emigrated overseas—who knows where to even look for her!"
"A real modern-day Rashomon case! I thought it was just an affair turned murder, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes!"
The reporters in the gallery enthusiastically whispered to each other, their eyes darting frequently to Fiona Vaughn.
...
How could Fiona Vaughn endure being scrutinized like that? Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, tears sparkling in her eyes, her expression bewildered and helpless.
"You... Cecilia, you can’t just accuse me out of nowhere. I don’t even know Winston Zane—how could I possibly order Rosie to send him money?"
"Everyone knows Rosie is my former assistant. If I truly wanted to send money to that person, why wouldn’t I pick a safer way, like paying cash to cover my tracks?"
Hearing this, many in the crowd began to frown.
Yeah, having your own assistant handle a shady transfer is way too obvious. If anyone wanted to investigate, there’d be no way to clear your name.
...
Cecilia Vaughn noticed how the reporters in the gallery had all been fooled by Fiona Vaughn’s act, and the corners of her mouth curled into a cold sneer.
"Fiona Vaughn, so you mean someone set you up? Do you really think I would bribe someone just to nearly get myself assaulted and locked up for three years just to frame you? Doesn’t that price seem just a little too steep?"
Mentioning her own past of going to prison for murder, Cecilia’s almond-shaped eyes darkened for an instant. But swiftly, her voice regained its steadiness, as if those memories no longer affected her.
"The witness I’ve brought today said she saw a young woman who matched your build and features, and who left your former assistant’s contact information. None of this is fabricated!"
Cecilia shot a cold glance over; as she did, Winston Zane reflexively shrunk his head in fear.
"I... I really do think, the one who bribed me that day was Miss Fiona Vaughn..."
Winston Zane, with his shifty eyes and cowardly, petty demeanor, drew more than one frown from the assembled journalists.
No one could believe a guy like that would be involved in any shady deal with someone as angelic as Fiona Vaughn.
...
Fiona was so infuriated by Winston’s words that she nearly spat blood. Her breathing faltered; the once-bright, affectionate eyes were now cold and venomous as she glared at Cecilia Vaughn.
"Cecilia! You’re just slandering me because I stole Tyson from you! How could you do this to me?!"
Seeing Fiona’s tear-streaked, fragile yet vicious face, Cecilia remained fearless, enduring her scrutiny with ease.
She glanced at her own attorney.
Soon after, the attorney spoke up on her behalf.
"The plaintiff requests to call another key witness to the stand."
Another key witness?
Could there be someone even more explosive than Winston Zane?
As the crowd looked on in confusion, Cecilia silently mouthed a name in Fiona’s direction.
—Rosie Sullivan.
Her?
But before the trial began, Fiona had specifically asked Tyson Law to check Rosie’s whereabouts. All they found was an exit record. There was no sign of her ever returning to the country, and her current location couldn’t be pinned down.
How the hell had Cecilia managed to track down this crucial witness in just one day and bring her to the courtroom?
The blood drained from Fiona’s face in an instant.
She’d actually thought through every possible scenario for today’s trial, planned out plenty of escape routes. If Winston Zane was just the appetizer, then Rosie Sullivan was unquestionably the grand finale.
If Rosie wasn’t in the country, or at least not in Stellerton, she’d still have time to take care of this woman.
But if Rosie actually showed up, Fiona’s situation would be the absolute worst-case scenario.
And this, Fiona Vaughn understood even better than Cecilia Vaughn.
She saw Cecilia’s proud and graceful silhouette across the courtroom, and her own hands clenched into fists as a taste of blood rose in her throat.
She hated Cecilia’s icy detachment more than anything!
—After all, weren’t they both daughters of the same father? Why did Cecilia get to act pure and aloof, win Tyson’s affection first, and after serving three years in prison, still end up with someone as powerful as Adrian Law?
...
No matter how bitter it felt, Fiona Vaughn could do nothing as Rosie Sullivan’s elegant and capable figure strode calmly into the courtroom.
Every reporter snapped photo after photo, their hearts pounding in their throats.
This was it—now it would finally be decided who was telling the truth and who was lying!
The judge’s gaze was stern and cold as he looked at Rosie Sullivan. Even through the distorted loudspeaker, his voice carried its authority.
"Rosie Sullivan, do you know Winston Zane? What is your explanation for the over one million in his account?"
Under everyone’s anxious gaze, Rosie turned to look at Cecilia Vaughn, and then bowed low to her.
"First of all, I must apologize to Eldest Miss Vaughn. I’m here today to turn myself in. The over one million sent to Winston Zane’s account did indeed pass through my hands, and the reason, just as Miss Vaughn stated, was to collude with Young Master Trent to destroy her reputation..."
The courtroom erupted with shouts at her words.
—No one could have expected the legendary "pure and innocent" Fiona Vaughn to do something so cruel—and to target her own half-sister!
Upon hearing this, Cecilia Vaughn did not relax—there was only deep and overwhelming sorrow.
She looked at Fiona with complete indifference.
"Fiona Vaughn, even your own assistant has fully confessed her role. Are you still not going to admit your crimes and accept justice?"
Fiona’s lips trembled, her delicate face blanched and bloodless.
"If I didn’t do it, why should I admit to anything?"
With that, she looked mournfully at Rosie Sullivan, tears in her voice.
"Rosie, I treated you well—why would you frame me like this?"
...
At this point, with both witness and material evidence, she was still denying it?
Cecilia frowned, convinced that Fiona’s stubbornness alone would not get her out of this.
Yet, just then, a sorrowful voice tore through the silence of the courtroom.
"Fiona knew nothing of this! She really didn’t know—because the true mastermind is me!"