Kingsley's POV
It wasn't until the judge and jury took their seats that Freya removed her mask and hat, her eyes scanning the gallery.
"Luna Freya!"
Jeremy nearly let out a yelp.
The group of spectators behind us couldn't hold back their gasps the moment they saw Freya's true face.
Freya was undeniably stunning; otherwise, I wouldn't have been drawn to her the first time we met.
But now I'd disappointed her and lost her, my Luna.
Some keen-eyed reporters had already recognized Freya!
I gazed at Freya at the plaintiff's table, clenching my fists to resist the urge to pull her towards me.
After the initial shock, I turned my attention to Finley, her attorney, who stood beside Freya, and my expression darkened.
In Athana, there were plenty of lawyers; Freya couldn't have found Finley, who had just returned home, with such precision even if she had been searching for someone to file a lawsuit.
The court discipline was read aloud, and the trial officially commenced.
Finley displayed the collected evidence on the large screen while elaborating on each piece.
A significant portion of this evidence consisted of the abusive and defamatory language used by those accounts against Starry.
The words used were so cruel that they went beyond the bounds.
Finley stated, "The defendant party used the internet as a shield, and for an extended period, engaged in indiscriminate abuse and cyberbullying against my client. In last July, my client had even reached a breaking point, and her emotions spiraled out of control for a brief period, leading to an overdose of sleeping pills, even diagnosed as a depressive state..."
I clenched my hand and stared at the diagnosis on the screen for a moment.
It was the first time I had seen this diagnosis; Freya had never mentioned this to me.
What happened last July?
I rifled through my memories quickly and finally recalled that last July was when we had their most significant argument.
We had been mated for over two years without conceiving a child, and everything had been fine until Freya had suddenly become very anxious. I would come home late after work, hoping to spend some quality time together, but she would be preoccupied with counting the days, pulling me into the same room to have sex with her.
Before this, Freya didn't show any eagerness to have children, so this kind of transformation is very unsettling for me.
I believe that a child should not be the outcome of a couple seeking amusement but rather a responsibility of parenting.
Not to mention that Freya's body was still not in good state, and she was still quite young to be a mother at that time. I simply didn't think it was the best time for us to have a child given our current situation.
We had a significant disagreement about having a child, which led to a major argument.
I had no prior knowledge of her taking sleeping pills or receiving this diagnosis.
Was that the time?
I felt a lump in my throat.
It was true that Freya had concealed the fact that she was Starry, but she never hid her feelings from me. I just failed to notice them.
She didn't conceal it all that well, and if I had been more attentive, I wouldn't have been blindsided by all of this today.
Once Finley had presented his case, the judge allowed the defense attorney to speak.
The lawyer hired by the defendant is also highly formidable. He directly questioned the timing of Freya's diagnosis.
Freya's diagnosis dates back to July of last year, whereas the abusive messages from the defense mainly occurred after January of this year. Therefore, he argued that Freya's depressive symptoms were not directly linked to the defense's statements.
With that stated, the defense attorney turned his attention to Freya. "Your Honor, I request permission to ask Miss Freya, the plaintiff, a question."
My heart skipped a beat. The defendant's lawyer was known in the industry as the kind of lawyer who could be easily bought to turn things around with enough money.
The defendant's lawyer locked eyes with Freya and asked, "Miss Freya, may I inquire whether you underwent a depression evaluation prior to last July?"
Freya remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "No."
The defendant's lawyer quirked the corner of his mouth and said, "From what I understand, Miss Freya's mother has been bedridden for several years. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that her prolonged state of distress is due to her mother's terminal illness and the immense psychological pressure she's been under, coupled with possible hereditary factors. This is unrelated to my client."
I tightened my expression as I stared at the defendant's lawyer with an emotionless, cold, and somber expression.
"Objection!" Finley composed himself and retorted, "My client's mother was hospitalized after a car accident seven years ago, diagnosed as being in a vegetative state, and received numerous critical notices over the past seven years. If my client's depression were indeed related to her mother, how could it suddenly manifest after six years? Furthermore, there is no reliable data indicating a genetic link to depression."
Shortly after, the judge called for a ten-minute recess.
I stood up, intending to approach Freya, feeling like there was so much I wanted to say to her. However, just as I reached her, Freya suddenly covered her mouth, almost as if she were about to vomit.
My face darkened, and I couldn't help but check myself for any unusual smells. After confirming that I didn't have any strange odors, I looked up and realized that Freya had vanished, leaving Finley alone at the scene.
I furrowed my brow and approached Finley, asking, "Where's she?"
"She went to the restroom," Finley replied.
I turned my head, ready to go after her, but Finley stopped me, saying, "Alpha, there are many reporters here today. She's already a public figure. If you go to her now and get photographed, it could have consequences. Have you considered that?"
I paused.
Finley whispered, "Don't worry, I won't let her lose this lawsuit."
I turned my head to gaze into Finley's eyes.
"When did she approach you about the lawsuit?" I inquired.
Finley pursed his lips and replied, "Before the party."
My expression darkened a few shades. "You knew she was Starry all along. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Alpha, I'm a lawyer, and she's my client. Protecting my client's privacy is a fundamental professional requirement."
I clenched my fist, my voice unconsciously lowering a few notches. "Finley, stay away from her. Freya is mine."
Finley, who had been adjusting his sleeve, suddenly looked up. He regarded me calmly and replied, "I always did so, ever since I knew that she was your mate. But now, she's not, and it's you who should stay away from her."
The moment reminded me that he had once been a warrior too, and we had fought side by side on the battlefield.
My wolf growled angrily as he felt Finley's defiance and disobedience.
At this moment, I could hardly restrain myself from tearing out his throat.
I looked at him coldly, feeling my wolf stir as someone coveted his mate. "But I haven't accepted her rejection; she's still mine."
After a moment, Finley averted his gaze and asked another question. "Do you know how Freya's mother passed away?"
My fingers curled.
It was a question I didn't dare to pursue thoroughly since the funeral.
However, when the question resurfaced, I felt a sudden hesitation about learning the truth.
Finley's voice was solemn. "She wasn't entirely without vital signs when we found her, and it was Freya herself who removed her oxygen mask."
"She's your mate, and you're supposed to protect her for the rest of your life instead of hurting her. Since you can't do that, you shouldn't be involved in anything concerning her in the future."
With that, he turned and left the courtroom without waiting for my response.
I remained where I was, my face tense.
Want me to give up on her? Unfortunately, I couldn't do it.