"Objection," Pierce said sharply.

Her voice cut through the courtroom with enough force to pull several jurors from the strange haze Damian’s calm voice had placed them under.

"The defense is attempting to argue facts not yet introduced into evidence."

Judge Vance adjusted her glasses slowly while staring toward Damian.

"Watch your wording, Mr. Hill."

Damian nodded politely.

"Of course, Your Honor."

His voice remained smooth and respectful yet somehow Pierce felt mocked by that calmness.

It irritated her.

Everything about this man irritated her but it also attracted her in a weird way. He stood there facing federal prosecution involving millions of dollars, political corruption and a suspicious death yet carried himself like a man attending a charity dinner.

Damian slowly turned back toward the jury.

"My apologies," he smiled faintly. "Perhaps the prosecution would prefer we allow evidence to speak for itself."

Pierce’s eyes narrowed instantly. That line sounded harmless but it was bait and she knew it.

Unfortunately she had already committed too deeply to retreat now.

"We call Ethan Hayes to the stand."

Buzz!

The courtroom shifted instantly and reporters sat up straighter. Several jurors exchanged glances.

Even Delaney stiffened beside Damian as Ethan slowly rose from his seat. The man looked awful up close.

His suit hung awkwardly over his body like he had lost weight recently. His eyes remained bloodshot while sweat gathered visibly near his temples despite the courtroom air conditioning.

As he walked toward the witness stand, Damian quietly watched him with unreadable eyes.

Pierce approached confidently.

"State your name for the record."

"Ethan Hayes."

"Mr. Hayes, what was your relationship to Alderman Delaney’s campaign?"

"I worked... logistics and outreach."

Pierce nodded calmly.

"And during your time working for Alderman Delaney, did you ever interact with Elena Vargas?"

Ethan hesitated briefly.

"Yes."

Pierce immediately stepped forward.

"Tell the court about those interactions."

The courtroom remained completely silent now and Ethan swallowed hard.

"She... she was causing problems for the zoning project."

Pierce nodded.

"And what were you instructed to do?"

Damian quietly crossed one leg over the other. His pink eyes glowed faintly beneath lowered lashes.

Ethan’s breathing became uneven and I Pierce noticed immediately.

"Mr. Hayes?"

"She was being difficult," Ethan muttered.

Pierce pressed forward.

"Did Alderman Delaney instruct you to pressure Elena Vargas into silence?"

"Yes."

Several jurors stiffened instantly and Pierce’s confidence returned immediately but Damian’s smile remained.

"There it is," she said while turning toward the jury. "Direct intimidation tied to a federal witness."

Delaney clenched his jaw tightly beside Damian. Meanwhile Damian looked almost bored.

Pierce continued carefully.

"Did Alderman Delaney express concern about Elena Vargas testifying before the grand jury?"

"Yes."

"And what happened afterward?"

Ethan’s hands started trembling visibly. Damian finally moved.

Slowly he rose to his feet.

"Permission to cross examine."

Pierce stepped back confidently.

For the first time all morning, she finally felt momentum returning fully toward her side.

Judge Vance nodded.

"Proceed."

Damian walked toward Ethan quietly with no notes of files. Just those cold violet eyes fixed calmly on the witness.

The entire courtroom unconsciously watched as he stopped directly before the witness stand.

For several seconds he said nothing until the silence itself became oppressive.

Ethan’s breathing worsened with sweat rolling down his neck now under Damian’s gaze.

"Mr. Hayes."

Damian’s voice sounded almost gentle.

"How long have you worked around powerful people?"

Pierce frowned immediately.

"Objection. Relevance."

"I’m establishing witness psychology," Damian replied calmly.

Judge Vance hesitated briefly.

"Overruled."

Pierce’s jaw tightened.

"About eight years," Ethan answered weakly.

Damian nodded slowly.

"And during those eight years how many times have you lied for powerful men?"

He tilted his head slightly.

Buzz!

The courtroom shifted instantly.

Pierce rose immediately.

"Objection!"

This time Damian ignored her completely while Ethan remained frozen.

"How many times?" Damian repeated calmly.

Ethan swallowed hard.

"A lot..."

Damian nodded again like a teacher encouraging honesty from a child.

"And what happens when powerful people need protection?"

Pierce’s voice sharpened dangerously.

"Your Honor—"

"They find someone disposable," Ethan whispered suddenly.

Damian slowly stepped closer.

"Were you disposable, Mr. Hayes?"

Ethan’s breathing became shaky.

"Yes..."

Pierce felt her stomach tighten instantly. She couldn’t tell the direction Damian was going but she was certain something was wrong.

"Because you were disposable, Mr. Delaney’s enemies are attempting to sabotage his image and career through you. Correct?"

Buzz!

Ethan’s body tensed while Pierce’s expression sank.

"What?" She muttered with confusion written all over her expression.

Damian’s eyes glowed faintly pink.

[Persuade Activated]

"Who tampered with Elena Vargas’ brakes?"

Ethan’s entire body stiffened violently and Pierce stepped forward instantly.

"Do not answer that."

Damian finally turned toward her.

"Why not?"

The question hit harder than expected and Pierce hesitated. Unfortunately for her, hesitation killed whatever momentum she was just about to muster.

Damian turned back toward Ethan.

"Who tampered with the brakes?"

Ethan started shaking.

"I..."

"Look at Alderman Delaney while answering."

Ethan slowly turned toward Delaney and the politician stared back with stunned confusion.

Damian’s voice softened further.

"Did Marcus Delaney order Elena Vargas’ death?"

The courtroom held its breath and Ethan broke.

"I DID IT!"

The scream exploded through the courtroom like a gunshot.

People jolted violently and reporters stood instantly. Pierce’s face lost color as Ethan grabbed his own head while sobbing hysterically.

"I DID IT!"

Judge Vance slammed her gavel repeatedly.

"ORDER!"

"ORDER!"

But nobody listened anymore.

Ethan pointed shakily toward Delaney while tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

"HE DIDN’T KNOW!"

The courtroom erupted into complete chaos.

Pierce rushed forward instantly.

"Mr. Hayes!"

"I HIRED THEM!" Ethan screamed louder. "I HIRED THE DRIVER!"

Delaney stared in genuine shock, even he looked blindsided now. Damian remained motionless beside the witness stand like a man observing weather he already predicted days ago.

Pierce grabbed the witness stand tightly.

"What are you saying?"

Ethan’s breathing became ragged.

"She wasn’t supposed to die..."

Buzz!

The courtroom froze again and Pierce slowly stepped backward. Because now even she realized what happened.

Her witness had detonated publicly and Damian had done it with almost surgical precision.

Then Damian delivered the killing blow.

"Your Honor."

His calm voice sliced through the noise effortlessly.

"The defense requests immediate reconsideration regarding all obstruction allegations tied to Alderman Delaney."

Pierce’s attention snapped toward him furiously. Meanwhile, Judge Vance looked equally shaken now. But before she could answer a chair scraped loudly across the floor stealing everyone’s attention as Sofia stood up with tears filled her eyes.

"No..."

Her voice trembled badly.

"No no no..."

Pierce stared at her in disbelief.

Because Sofia was supposed to testify for her ass well. What is going on?

Damian slowly turned toward her and their eyes met briefly before Sofia pointed toward Ethan with trembling hands.

"You made everyone believe Delaney ordered it... how could you?"

Ethan broke down harder.

"I lied..."

The courtroom exploded again and for the very first time since the trial began assistant U.S. Attorney Evelyn Pierce realized she was losing.

Damian, on the other hand, watched the drama he orchestrated play out with amusement in his eyes.