VICTORY AT LAST

The judge walked back into the courtroom and the room immediately turned quiet. She took her seat silently and looked at the jury. It wasn't a guess what the jury would pick. The massive amount of compelling evidence that was shown was more than enough to convince everyone in the room of who was innocent and who was guilty. She turned back to the crowd while hitting her gavel.

"Court is now in session. I have to ask both sides. Does either the prosecution or the defense have anything else to say in this case?"

Both sides of the court shook their heads, no one wanting to come forward and say another word. The judge turned to the jury.

"Has the jury come to a decision?"

A man from the jury stood up.

"Yes we have, your honor."

"Could you read it out for the court to hear?"

The man opened the envelope in his hands and brought out the paper. He looked at it and read.

"In the case of Alarick King versus Grace King, the jury found the defendant, Grace King, guilty of defamation."

The crowd in the room gave a silent but enthusiastic cheer. Finally someone had put this woman in her place after what she pulled last time. The judge hit her gavel once more.

"In accordance with the law, the defendant will pay a fine of a hundred million dollars due to the damages incurred by Alarick and the company. Also the rights and power of the King Corporation should be handed back to the original owner, Alarick King with immediate effect. Congratulations Mr Alarick. That is all. Court is dismissed."

Alarick and Charlotte stood up both smiling at their win that they didn't notice when Grace had tried to run out of the courtroom. Unfortunately for her, the crowd refused her to pass. They blocked her and tried to keep her contained but by some luck she managed to squeeze through the gaps.

Grace emerged outside the courtroom and took a deep breath. The space had been tiny and she had to suck in to get through but at least now she was scot free from both Alarick and the insane crowd. She would go back to the company once she accomplished what she wanted, get all that she could and run. She wasn't going to pay Alarick a dime.

Grace managed to hide from the reporters outside by positioning herself behind a large pillar in the hall. She brought out her revolver and weighed it in her hands. This wasn't what she initially planned but it would have to do. She wouldn’t run without killing Alarick first. She watched the door she had run out from, waiting for Alarick to show his face and once he did she would put a bullet between his eyes. Grace couldn't leave without pulling one over on the man who just very recently ruined her life.

Alarick didn't disappoint as after a minute or so he walked out of the room with Charlotte walking beside him and a throng of people behind him, still congratulating the duo on their win.

Grace ground her teeth as she watched them walk down the hallway. They did this. They made the whole world see her as a good for nothing criminal. Made her look like her father. She cocked the gun and stood out, ready to shoot Alarick in the head when the barrel of a gun was placed on the left side of her skull.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Grace used her peripheral vision to look at who pointed the gun at her and spoke. It was Maurice. He and some of his men had silently surrounded Grace in order to catch her off guard and unarm her. Their plan worked because Maurice reached over slowly and took the gun away from her as other guns pointed in her direction.

"I'm sure you wouldn't be needing that where you're going."

Alarick and the group got closer, each of them having a smile on their faces.

"They caught you already. I didn't know the evidence I handed over to them would be this effective. That was fast."

Grace sneered and moved to attack Alarick when Maurice tutted and brought his gun closer to her. He held his gun to her head as another of his men brought out handcuffs and placed Grace under arrest.

"You'll pay for this Alarick. I'll get out of here and make sure you do."

Alarick smirked.

"I told you I would win this war. I warned you but you never listened. This is what happens to anyone who crosses my family. Remember that while you rot behind bars with your father. This case was just to get my company back, but I knew you would try to kill me again. Now I have several witnesses of your attempt at murder, you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison, I guarantee you that. I set a trap for you and you stupidly fell into it."

Grace kicked out her legs trying to reach Alarick or anyone for that matter. She needed someone to take out her anger on and she needed it quickly. The officer behind her restrained her with both the hand cuffs and his strength. As he walked her away he read her her Miranda rights.

"Grace King, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Alarick King. You are arrested for compliance with a well known domestic terrorist, Dylan McCaffrey among other charges. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. If you have an attorney you will be able to call them. If you do not have an attorney, the state will provide one for you."

Maurice faced Alarick.

"Thanks for the heads up. With all the video evidence and the confession, we could put her away for a very long time. Probably life if we push hard enough. You did good."

Maurice gave Alarick a pat on the shoulder before walking away with his men. Alarick smiled. He and his entourage walked behind the police officers who dragged Grace down the steps of the court house and through the throng of people trying to either take a swing or get a scoop out of her.

Camera shutters flashed and caught every angle of the show. This made for good television and they were hungry to get the news everywhere they could. Grace shouted out profanities and screamed all the way into the police car.

The reporters followed her, leaving Alarick alone with Charlotte at the bottom of the stairs. He turned to Charlotte, looking at her as she watched Grace being driven away by the cops.

"We won. How does it feel?"

Charlotte exhaled loudly.

"Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. We should have done this sooner."

"I agree but it's finally done. We're finally past this bump in the road."

Alarick paused a bit.

"You know we'll be throwing a bit of a party to celebrate winning. I wanted to ask if you would come to the party."

Charlotte turned and looked at Alarick with her honey colored eyes. Her smile disappeared as she wondered if the choice she was making was the right one.

"We aren't friends, Alarick. We did this together for revenge and now that I have a semblance of it, I'll be leaving. Like I said before, I want nothing to do with the Kings, not after what happened."

Alarick had a sad expression on his face but he tried his best to conceal it.

"If that's what you want then I wish you the best. Our home will always be open to you if you ever want it to be."

Charlotte forced a smile, looking into his eyes for the last time, tracing his jawline and engraving his face into her mind before turning away and looking into the street.

"Goodbye, Alarick."

Charlotte wasted no time in walking off, getting into a car and driving away. Alarick watched her go. He sighed and looked back at the courthouse. He would worry about atoning later, right now, Charlotte needed some space and he would give it to her.

In the meantime, he had his company back now. He won.

************

THE END!!!!!

This book is finally completed. There will be an epilogue later where Alarick finally earns Charlotte's forgiveness and ties up some other loose ends, but this is the official last chapter. Like I promised, it's free, and the epilogue will be free as well.

If you came this far in my book, you are awesome. I hope you enjoyed this story.

I already have a new book signed and I post multiple chapters daily. RETURN OF THE FORGETFUL HEIR. Support that book just as you've supported this one. Drop your comments on this chapter and let me know your favourite part of the whole book. Constructive criticism is also welcome.

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