25. Trial

LARA'S POV

The day had finally arrived when those responsible for my husband's accident would pay for what they had done. The lawyer had told us we had every chance of winning it since Emerson had been a great help to us by telling us what had happened.

At this moment, we were in the kitchen having breakfast, and I could tell how Cameron is looking at me, probably trying to make sure I'm okay since today was 20 years since my father's death and even though a lot of time had passed. It wasn't easy to forget seeing your father die in front of you when you were nine years old.

I also know the moment Bianca realized what day it is, she would be more focused on me than anything else, and that wasn't what we needed today. What we needed was everyone focused on the trial and ending this whole nightmare.

An hour before the trial started, we left so we had time to prepare for whatever happens, but I think more than anything it's because Cam wants to have time with me to calm me down. When we arrive, Bianca and Eli go inside to meet our lawyers while Cameron stops me at the entrance. "Are you feeling better?" He asked and I nodded, because it's true I felt better than this morning and I didn't want him to worry about me right now. "I am, seriously," I assured, and he nodded. "Alright. Anything and let me know" she said, and I nodded even though I wasn't going to stop the trial because of that, maybe I would go out with Eli to get some air, but I wouldn't stop the trial.

"I will do it, but let's go inside," I asked, and my husband nodded, putting an arm over my shoulders, bringing me closer to him and giving me a kiss on the temple. No more than half an hour later, the trial began, and Eli and I were sitting in the second row of benches, since at this point, I didn't want to be in front of everything. I wanted them to focus on the case and not anything else.

Eli had taken my hand and never let go, and after almost two hours, I felt a cramp in my abdomen, which made me squeeze Eli's hand, more than anything out of surprise than because of the pain itself and she looked at me "Are you okay?" She asked and I took a deep breath "I think I had a contraction" I whispered, and I could see how her is eyes increased to their normal size "Are you sure? Tell me you don't think you're going to give birth today" she asked, and I shrugged "Okay, okay. We shouldn't be alarmed, maybe it's one of those contractions that happen sometimes. Has this ever happened to you?" She mumbled and I denied. "Ok. Let's go to the bathroom and we'll see what happens" she thought, and I nodded because I could see how some people were already starting to turn in our direction, probably wanting us to shut up.

Before closing the door to the room, I could see how Cameron looked back with a worried face when he saw me at the door, so I smiled at him to try to stop him from worrying anymore and the agent closed the door behind us. When we entered the bathroom, Eli closed the door and shifted her focus to me. "Any more contractions I should know about?" She asked pacing back and forth and I denied "Maybe it's nothing. In our classes they said it can happen. What's more, it didn't even hurt" I assured, trying to calm my best friend "You squeezed my hand Lara, I suppose it did hurt you" she responded, almost sure I'm going to admit it hurt me "It hasn't. If I did it, it was because it surprised me, nothing more"

"Okay, I can understand that and I think it's best we go back home to make sure you don't give birth here" she pointed out and I denied "I don't want to leave before the trial is over" I responded and she denied "I know you don't want to, but it's the best. We'll wait for today's session to end and then we'll leave" she insisted and even though it's not my favorite thing in the world, I understood her point of view, so I ended up agreeing "Okay, but not before the end of the session." session" I insisted and she nodded "Not before the session ends." my best friend stated "Ah, one more thing before we leave. I don't want Cameron to know anything about the contraction" I said, and she frowned. "Why?" She asked curiously. "Because I want him to focus on the trial and the contraction I had is nothing." Eli thought about it for a few seconds and ended up nodding. "This whole thing better be over before the kids are born, and if Cameron finds out, he'll stop everything." she said and I nodded, because we both knew that's what would happen.

When we came out of the bathroom, we could see both Cameron and Bianca looking worried and both Eli and I frowned "What's wrong? Has the session already ended?" my best friend asked, and they both denied "So what's wrong?" I asked this time "They have called you to testify" my sister revealed, and I frowned even more "But I'm not on the list" I said remembering what the lawyer had told us "I know, and that's why our lawyers are taking care of that. You don't have to get on if you don't want to."

I nodded, because I knew I had a chance, but I also know Gallagher's lawyers must have thought they would destroy me up there or something, which I know won't happen. "Where are the lawyers?" I asked curiously and Cam frowned. "Why do you want to know?" my husband questioned "I could talk to them before they decide something" I replied and both Bianca and Cameron frowned and my sister is going to protest if Eli didn't stop her "If that's what she wants to do, let her do it. You know she'll do it anyway" she pointed out and it's at that moment that our main lawyer appears next to us "Do you think I can talk to you for a moment alone, Lara?" He asked and I nodded starting to walk in his direction when I noticed Cameron behind me.

"Honey, wait here," I asked with a small smile on my face. "Can't I come with you?" He asked and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh "Of course you can, but I promise you it's okay. Eli will tell you whatever you want to know, but I assure you and promise that I'm fine" I insisted, and he nodded "Fine. I won't be far away when you're done."

I gave him a kiss before leaving with the lawyer and once we were far enough away from the rest, he began to speak, "I know you're not on the list of witnesses, but I think your testimony can help us. They believe you'll do something to help them with the trial. They will want to make you look guilty for something, probably something has to do with what happened to you and Gallagher. Do you think you can give your testimony?" He asked and I nodded "I can, but it would have to be today. Tomorrow I won't be here" I informed him, and he frowned. "Why?" He asked "Because today I had a contraction, and even though it doesn't mean my children will be born today, I prefer to be at home in case it happens sooner" I admitted and he nodded "Okay, I can fix something with the judge. If I understand correctly, he's also expecting a child. I think you can understand the situation more"

I nodded and he went towards the judge's office, I suppose, while I went to where my husband and the rest were. Not much later, we were told we had to go back in, and I was called to the stand, one of Gallagher's attorneys in front of me. "Mrs. Edwards…" he started, but I shook my head with a smile on my face. "Gallego" I said simply, and he frowned. "Excuse me?" He asked confused, "Mrs. Gallego. "I never took my husband's last name" I responded even though that's something everyone knew. "Okay, Mrs. Gallego, do you know the man sitting on the right?" He asked and I nodded "It's Matt Gallagher" I said, and he nodded "And how do you know him?" He questioned "We were teammates and then we were rivals in F1, even though it's something everyone knows" I pointed out and he nodded "Your Honor, I would like Mr. Harris to get straight to the point" asked our lawyer "I agree, I don't understand where you're going with this, Mr. Harris" the judge supported and he nodded. "Mrs. Gallego, as everyone knows, you were in court in a case against my client, right?" He asked and I nodded. "It is, what I don't understand is what it has to do with this case" I said, trying to understand where he's going with all of this.

"According to previous witnesses, you were the one who suggested Mr. Gallagher may have had something to do with your husband's accident, when everyone knows my client cannot go near a Formula 1 car after his trial against you" he pointed out and I nodded, because I already knew that "So how come you are saying my client is to blame for her husband's accident when he can't get close to a car?" He asked and I tried to contain my anger at this moment. "As far as I know, you don't have to get close to a car to get it damaged," I responded, shrugging my shoulders. "What do you suggest?" He asked and I denied "I don't have to suggest anything, the evidence says what is necessary" I pointed out and he nodded "Evidence you yourself could have put incriminating my client" the lawyer responded, and I could see how Cameron tensed.

"That is impossible, Mr. Harris, because as the person in charge of the investigation committee showed, everything is on videos, it is impossible I did something to incriminate your client and it was not seen in the images," I reported. "It's not very easy to manipulate images" he pointed out and I nodded "It may not be the most complicated for a computer scientist, but I can assure you I'm not good at manipulating videos as you're suggesting"

"But could it be you are accusing my client for all the hatred you have against him? At the end, he never went to jail for what he supposedly did to you on the track" he pointed out and I rolled my eyes "It wasn't, but in that trial you like to remember so much, it was proven your client manipulated my car and indeed, caused my accident that ended in a significant injury" I pointed out "Your Honor, Mrs. Gallego is saying things have nothing to do with this case" protested Gallagher's lawyer and which made our lawyer suddenly stand up from his chair "But it's you, Mr. Harris, who insists on remembering that trial."

"Your protest is denied, Mr. Harris" the judge said, making a big smile appear on my face. "Any more questions, Mr. Harris?" Because the truth is I'm hungry and I would like to go eat something" I responded, "Any more questions you have of value with the case, Mr. Harris?" the judge asked and the man denied, walking towards his chair. "Anything you have to ask, Mr. Castillo?" the judge asked, and our lawyer denied "You can come down, Mrs. Gallego," the judge said with a small smile on his face, and I got off. As I passed Cameron's side of the table, I gave him a big smile and walked out of the room with Eli behind me.

Once outside, Eli stands next to me, and we start to leave the building. I could tell she wants to ask something, but I can't figure out what it might be, "What do you want to ask?" I finally asked, "Are you okay?" She questioned and I nodded with a smile on my face "I am. Isn't it obvious? I knew what they were trying" I pointed out and Eli denied "I'm not talking about what just happened" my best friend replied and this time I frowned "What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. "Because of what day it is" she murmured, and I stopped dead in my tracks, because for the first time today, I hadn't had the accident somewhere in my mind, which I want to suppose is a good thing.

"Shit, I shouldn't have said anything" Eli murmured next to me, and I denied "No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine, really, I just wouldn't want to think about that right now" I said, and she nodded "Okay. How about we go eat something?" She asked with a big smile on her face "What are we waiting for?" I asked and she laughed as she took me to what she said was the best café in all of Paris.