Chapter 265 Defense

Those involved in the case—every Cooper Group staff member connected to the contract and all parties with a financial interest—testified in court. Zander himself confirmed details of the bribery. All evidence against Miguel had been presented, seemingly proving her guilty of tax evasion and bribery. Most in the courtroom believed the case settled. Worsening matters, Miguel had appointed Oscar, an inexperienced, albeit certified, lawyer for her defense, a move perceived as surrender.

Jesse returned to his seat, the air thick with silence. The judge addressed Oscar: "The defendant may begin her statement of defense." Oscar rose, instantly becoming the focus of the room. Few believed he was capable of defending Miguel; a complex lawsuit demanded a seasoned professional, not a recently qualified lawyer. Many anticipated his imminent humiliation, a sentiment shared by Charles.

A stunned silence followed Oscar's ascent. He scanned the gallery, seemingly searching for someone. Hannah, despite her confidence in him, felt a surge of nervousness, her eyes meeting his with a worried glance. "Fuck, could you please stop your PDA?" Susan hissed. Hannah recomposed herself, still affected by the intensity of his gaze.

Finally, Oscar turned, stating, "Your Honor, may I represent the defendant to begin the statement of defense?" The crowd gasped. After the overwhelming evidence, Miguel's guilt appeared undeniable; Oscar's audacious defense shocked them. They wondered at his brazenness, questioning whether he would later face humiliation.

"Silence!" the judge commanded, silencing the murmurs. "Approved. You may begin your defense."

"Thank you, Your Honor," Oscar replied respectfully. He began, "The informer claims the defendant forced him to use expensive materials, breaching the contract. However, Cooper Group directly purchases materials for quality control; the contractor provides only a small portion. The alleged cost for 'Huatan' Apartment is 830,000,000, but a careful evaluation shows the contractor's material cost likely didn't exceed 300,000,000. The informer exaggerated."

Dore retorted anxiously, "I didn't exaggerate! The cost includes labor and site expenses. Do you think 830,000,000 is my net profit?"

Oscar calmly replied, "Mr. Dore, please remain silent until permitted to speak."

"Silence! Please remain silent," the judge reiterated.

"I apologize, Your Honor," Dore mumbled.

Oscar continued, "That's the first point. Secondly, the bribery contract between Dore and the defendant, and the private contract between Zhang and the defendant, both lack official seals or handprints. Under Northfield's Contract Law, such contracts are null and void, rendering them invalid evidence."

"While true, that doesn't prove the defendant innocent," the judge noted.

Oscar didn't argue, instead asking, "Your Honor, may I question the informer?"

"Approved."

He turned to Dore, who, despite trying to remain calm—having heard Oscar was inexperienced—felt a prickle of unease.

"Mr. Dore, you've engaged with Cooper Group twice, correct?" Oscar asked.

"Yes."

"With whom did you work?"

"An employee named Samson in the construction department."

"You hadn't met the defendant then?"

"Of course not. Miguel is the chairman. I couldn't contact him directly without an appointment."

"Then why did the defendant trust you enough to bribe Zander? How did you gain his trust?"

Dore faltered, his prepared answers insufficient. Oscar pressed, "What? You can't answer that?"

Dore, regaining composure, explained, "After hearing about Cooper Group's land purchase, I built connections, negotiating a contract after the purchase. I met Miguel, and after several conversations, he agreed to the project and requested I bribe Zander for a smooth process."

"Did you sign the contract face-to-face with the defendant?" Oscar asked.

Confident in his explanation, Dore replied firmly, "Yes."