Chapter 6: The Sworn Testimony

Disgraced Newport Heiress Rebuilding Life After Bankruptcy Forced Onto Public Charity Gala Auction Stage by Ruthless Neighbor Fighting for $45 Million Estate Rights Until Estranged Sibling Intervenes

Chapter 1: The Gilded Block

Chapter 2: The Public Stand

Chapter 3: Demanding the Deeds

Chapter 4: The Judge Intervenes

Chapter 5: Lucas Returns

Chapter 6: The Sworn Testimony

Chapter 7: Fraud Exposed

Chapter 8: Newport Reacts

Chapter 9: Julian’s Threat

Chapter 10: United Front

Chapter 11: Auction Halted

Chapter 12: Two Years Later

Lucas’s legal counsel, a stoic man with a neatly trimmed beard, handed the bound document to Lucas. Lucas, in turn, presented it directly to Judge Ellsworth, bypassing Julian entirely.

Julian Pembroke surged forward, his face contorted with rage. “You cannot accept that, Judge! It’s a sham! A desperate ploy!”

Judge Ellsworth held up a hand, silencing Julian without even looking at him. He took the document, his gaze still fixed on Lucas. “Mr. DeWitt, what exactly is this you’re presenting?”

“It’s a sworn affidavit, Your Honor,” Lucas explained, his voice calm and steady, “from Mr. Alistair Finch. He was the original attorney and architect of the DeWitt Family Trust in 1978. He drafted the specific clauses pertaining to the main estate’s inalienability.”

Alistair Finch. The name resonated deep within me, a ghost from my childhood. He had been a kindly, meticulous man, long retired, who I hadn’t thought of in years. My own legal team had dismissed him as too old, too frail to be of use.

Judge Ellsworth’s eyes widened slightly. “Alistair Finch? He’s still with us?”

“Indeed, Your Honor,” Lucas confirmed. “And his memory, though somewhat fragile, is remarkably clear on certain key details of the trust’s construction, especially when confronted with the original documents.”

Julian stammered, his usual smooth composure completely gone. “This is absurd! Finch is senile! His testimony is inadmissible!”

“His testimony was taken under oath, with legal representation present, and video-recorded,” Lucas countered, his voice cutting through Julian’s increasingly desperate protests. “And he confirms several crucial facts concerning the transfer of the mortgage lien.”

Judge Ellsworth, ignoring Julian, carefully opened the affidavit. The ballroom was completely silent now, every eye fixed on the stage. The only sound was the rustle of pages as the Judge began to read.

Julian’s face was a mask of furious disbelief, but he was powerless to stop it. The gavel lay forgotten on the podium. My brother had just forced a complete halt to Julian’s carefully orchestrated public auction. The game had changed.

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