THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 432: Congratulate You In Advance

Steffan’s voice tightened. "It was when I regained my memory," she heard Steffan repeat to her utter dismay.

"I realized she’d taken advantage of my condition and pretended to be my wife, she even tried to keep me from regaining my memories."

"Wait... did you say you’ve regained your memory?" Mr Callaghan asked, finally catching on.

"Impossible!" Dolly screamed barely after Mr Callaghan finished speaking.

Her face was as white as a sheet of paper as she gaped at Steffan who was now looking at her like a big joke.

There’s no way he has regained his memory. Not after all the drugs she’s been giving him to take. Maybe it was part of his plan to derail everyone before telling them that they were actually married.

"What’s impossible, you tramp?" Shouted Lauren’s mother. "Did you think he’d never regain his memory?"

"Order! Order! Order in court," the bailiff shouted as everywhere went up in an uproar.

"But you regained your memories. If indeed she gave you those drugs as you claim, how was that possible?" Mr Callaghan asked as he tried to hold onto the last straw.

"That’s because I didn’t take them."

"What? You didn’t take them? You were not meant to recover your memory. It was perfect the way we were," Dolly wailed frantically. She had completely gone berserk and was no longer thinking straight.

"This is my last warning to you, Thompson, anymore misbehaving from you and I’ll have you removed from this courtroom," the judge warned sharply.

But Dolly was too far gone and her anger was now boiling over. She pointed accusingly at Steffan, her face red with fury. "You agreed, Steffan! You promised! You said you would stand by me! Why are you doing this to me? After everything I did for you? You haven’t regained your memory. You can’t regain your memory!"

The courtroom buzzed with murmurs as people exchanged shocked glances. Mr Callaghan rose quickly, moving toward her to calm her down.

"Dr Thompson, sit down, please," he hissed under his breath, but she shoved him off with such strength that he would have fallen if not for his agility.

"No! No, I will not sit down!" Dolly snapped, glaring at him. "This whole thing is a farce! It’s a conspiracy! And you’re not doing your job! You’re supposed to defend me!"

The judge’s voice rose above the noise, his tone final and unwavering. "Dr. Thompson, this is your last warning. One more word out of turn, and I will remove you from this courtroom. Sit. Down."

Mr Callaghan reached out again and tried to calm her down but she smacked his hands away.

"Get your miserable paws off me. You’re nothing but a complete failure. You can’t even do a simple job of defending one client. What use do I still have of you? How did you even qualify as a lawyer? You should be working as a bricklayer!" She barked, transferring all her aggression on the poor lawyer.

Mr Callaghan, who was seething with anger but couldn’t even retort as he stepped back. If not for his sick mother, how would he have agreed to take up a case against the renowned Ms Moore?

He knew from the start that he was bound to lose but he didn’t want to outrightly refuse this nutcase. Now he was in a fix, but there was nothing he could do. He only hoped he could get someone who could save his mother.

"Orderly, I want her out of my court!" ordered the judge.

Breathing heavily, Dolly stood frozen, She shot one last venomous look at Steffan as she was led out of the courtroom.

After Dolly was escorted out, the courtroom settled into silence.

"The court will go on a thirty minute recess during which the members of the jury will decide on the verdict. When we return we shall hear the final verdict," the judge said as he stood to leave.

Everyone left the courtroom afterwards and as they got outside, Mr Callaghan quickly cornered Cheryl before anyone could get the chance to talk to her.

"Ms Moore, I want to congratulate you in advance for yet another victory."

"Oh, it’s good you already know the fate of your client. But what baffles me is why you still chose to go against me when you know your case was a lost course," Cheryl said as she studied the junior lawyer before her.

It wasn’t that she was older than Mr Callaghan but because he was her junior in terms of achievement.

"I had no choice. I am in dire need of something only she can give."

Cheryl’s interest was piqued but she kept her curiosity well hidden as she shrugged nonchalantly. "I see... but of course, it’s none of my business," she said hoping he would take the opportunity to give at least a clue.

"It’s not like that, she will be sentenced and I doubt she’d be of any help in prison. Not to talk of her temper, she wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me," Mr Callaghan said helplessly.

"Here you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere," Lauren’s voice broke through their conversation.

"I guess I have to take my leave now," Mr Callaghan said and left the two women alone to talk.

Lauren’s gaze followed him until he was out of sight, then she turned to Cheryl.

"He is so pitiful," Cheryl said before Lauren could ask her what she was discussing with Dolly’s lawyer.

"Why do you say so? Was he making an appeal?"

"Not really, but he looks like someone who’s at his wit’s end."

"Of course, he is. What was he thinking when he accepted Dolly’s case? He should have followed the examples of his other colleagues who clearly turned her down," Lauren smirked. She was in no mood to pity anyone who was helping Dolly even if it was to earn a living.

"Apparently Dolly promised to help him with something if he’d won the case."

"And what could that have been?"

"He never got to say. But I feel it’s something very important to him which he was made to believe only Dolly could pull off."

"That’s their business. So what do you think of the case so far?"

"There’s nothing to think about. It’s a done deal. I forgot to mention, he congratulated me in advance."

"He did?. He’s quite sensible," Lauren said with a thoughtful expression.

"Of course he is. Not everyone is bold enough to want to confront me in court but I guess he thought for a brief moment he could because of his wisdom."

"Will Dolly be allowed back into the court after the recess?"

"I doubt," Cheryl said, "but it still depends on the judge."

"Does that mean the judgement will be passed in her absence?"

"Most likely," Cheryl nodded but that was not the outcome Lauren had envisaged. That wouldn’t give her the satisfaction she’s been looking forward to.

"I’d have loved to see her face when she is condemned, to probably life imprisonment. It would have been the best reward for all the trouble she had caused everyone. Maybe she might even give us an earth shattering display to last us for a lifetime."

Cheryl took a moment to consider Lauren’s words, her mouth pouted as she donned a thoughtful look. "That can be arranged if you want."