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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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Only one thing mattered, which is the truth. And in a few minutes, the courtroom would finally begin to hear it.
The courtroom slowly began to fill.
At first, it was only the quiet shuffle of a few additional people entering through the back doors.
A court clerk carrying a stack of files.
Two assistants whispering to each other as they found seats behind the lawyers' tables.
A few members of the public who had managed to secure limited seating for the hearing.
The quiet murmur of voices echoed softly against the wooden walls.
But the calm tension in the room remained.
At the defense table, Francesco Lee sat upright in his chair, hands resting together on the table in front of him.
Beside him, Leah Williamson sat quietly, her posture composed but attentive.
She could feel the nervous energy in the room.
Across the courtroom, Sofia Carter leaned slightly toward her lawyer, whispering something quietly as the man flipped through a thick binder of documents.
Behind Francesco, Jorge Mendes sat in the gallery seats, watching everything carefully with the calm expression of someone used to high-stakes negotiations.
But even he understood that today was different.
This wasn't about contracts.
Or transfers.
This was about reputation.
And truth.
At the front of the room, the court clerk suddenly stood.
Her voice carried clearly through the courtroom.
"Please rise."
Immediately, the entire room stood up.
The side door near the judge's bench opened.
But before the judge entered, another group walked in first.
The jury.
One by one, twelve jurors filed into the courtroom.
They came from different backgrounds.
Different ages.
Different professions.
A middle-aged woman with reading glasses.
A younger man in a dark jacket.
An elderly gentleman who walked carefully but confidently toward the jury box.
Each of them took their assigned seat quietly.
They looked around the room with curiosity and seriousness.
Some glanced briefly toward Francesco.
Others looked toward Sofia.
But none spoke.
The gravity of the situation was clear.
This case had already made headlines across sports media and social platforms.
And now it was in their hands to help determine the truth.
Once the jury had settled, the courtroom door opened again.
This time, the judge entered.
An older man with silver hair and a stern but thoughtful expression stepped up toward the bench.
The entire courtroom remained standing until he sat.
Then he gave a short nod.
"Please be seated."
Everyone sat down.
A moment of silence followed.
The judge looked across the room, reviewing the two sides.
First, the plaintiff.
Francesco and his legal team.
Then the defendant.
Sofia and her lawyer.
Finally, he glanced toward the jury.
"This court is now in session," he said calmly.
The clerk announced the case name formally.
The judge adjusted the papers in front of him.
"This hearing concerns a defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Francesco Lee against Ms. Sofia Carter."
He looked toward both sides.
"Are both parties ready to proceed?"
Francesco's lawyer stood first.
"Yes, Your Honor."
Across the room, Sofia's lawyer stood as well.
"We are ready, Your Honor."
The judge nodded.
"Very well."
He leaned slightly back in his chair.
"Counsel for the plaintiff, you may begin."
Francesco's lawyer stood and walked toward the center of the courtroom.
He was calm.
Confident.
But not dramatic.
He spoke with the careful tone of someone presenting facts rather than emotions.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began.
"This case is not about celebrity."
He gestured briefly toward Francesco.
"It is not about football fame or public attention."
He paused.
"This case is about truth."
He slowly walked a few steps.
"My client, Mr. Francesco Lee, was publicly accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship and dishonest conduct."
He looked toward Sofia.
"These accusations were not only false."
"They were broadcast widely across media outlets and social networks."
He turned toward the jury again.
"Within hours, my client's reputation was under attack."
He paused for emphasis.
"Millions of people were told a story."
"But today we will show you that story was fabricated."
He raised a document slightly.
"Our team has gathered witness statements."
He placed the document down.
"We have CCTV footage from the location where the incident allegedly occurred."
Another document.
"We have timeline analysis confirming the sequence of events."
Then he looked toward the jury again.
"And most importantly, we have testimony from individuals who were present that night."
Francesco watched quietly as the lawyer continued.
"We will demonstrate that Mr. Lee did nothing more than help someone who nearly lost their balance."
He gestured lightly toward Sofia.
"And yet that moment was twisted into a narrative of betrayal."
He paused again.
"False accusations damage lives."
He looked toward Francesco briefly.
"And today we intend to prove exactly that."
The lawyer returned calmly to the table.
Across the room, Sofia's lawyer stood next.
He adjusted his jacket slightly before speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began.
"My colleague speaks about truth."
He walked slowly forward.
"And truth is exactly what we are here to examine."
He gestured lightly toward Sofia.
"My client shared her experience with the media."
He paused.
"She believed what she described was real."
He looked toward the jury.
"This case is not as simple as labeling someone a liar."
He turned briefly toward Francesco.
"There were photographs taken that night."
He raised a copy.
"Images showing close interaction between the two parties."
He placed it on the stand.
"The public saw these images."
"And they raised questions."
He looked back toward the jury again.
"My client responded to those questions honestly from her perspective."
He paused.
"And while the plaintiff claims defamation…"
He gestured slightly.
"We will ask you to consider whether my client simply shared what she believed to be the truth."
He nodded respectfully toward the judge.
Then returned to his seat beside Sofia.
The judge looked toward Francesco's lawyer again.
"You may call your first witness."
The lawyer stood again.
"Your Honor, before witness testimony, we would like to present preliminary evidence."
"Proceed."
The courtroom lights dimmed slightly as a screen was lowered near the front.
A video file appeared.
Francesco leaned forward slightly.
He already knew what it was.
The CCTV footage.
The lawyer spoke calmly.
"This video was obtained from the security cameras at the restaurant where the incident took place."
The footage began playing.
The grainy camera angle showed the entrance area of the restaurant.
Several people moving around.
Then the moment.
Sofia stepping backward slightly.
Her heel slipping on the floor.
Francesco reaching out instinctively to catch her before she fell.
The entire interaction lasted less than three seconds.
The room remained silent while the footage played.
Then the video stopped.
Francesco's lawyer looked toward the jury.
"This is the moment that sparked the accusations."
He paused.
"As you can see…"
He gestured toward the screen.
"My client prevented someone from falling."
He allowed a few seconds of silence.
"Nothing more."
The defense lawyer stood again quickly.
"Objection, Your Honor."
The judge looked down.
"On what grounds?"
"Interpretation of evidence."
The judge nodded.
"Sustained."
Francesco's lawyer raised his hands slightly.
"Of course."
He turned back toward the jury.
"The footage speaks for itself."
Next came the witness testimonies.
One by one, several football players who had been present that evening provided recorded statements.
Names appeared on the screen.
Alexis Sánchez.
Kyle Walker.
Olivier Giroud.
Andrew Robertson.
Each described the same moment.
A near fall.
A quick catch.
Nothing more.
The consistency of their accounts created a clear narrative.
Even some jurors began quietly exchanging glances.
Because the story they were hearing inside the courtroom sounded very different from the headlines they had read earlier in the week.
Across the room, Sofia's lawyer continued taking notes.
But it was becoming clear that Francesco's legal team had come prepared.
Very prepared.
Francesco sat quietly beside Leah, listening to the proceedings.
Leah leaned slightly toward him.
"They're doing well," she whispered.
Francesco nodded faintly.
His eyes stayed focused on the courtroom.
Across the room, Sofia shifted slightly in her chair.
The confident composure she had earlier seemed slightly more fragile now.
Because the evidence presented so far wasn't ambiguous.
It was clear.
And the jury could see it.
The judge glanced toward both legal teams.
"This court will take a short recess before continuing witness testimony."
He tapped the gavel once.
"Court is adjourned for twenty minutes."
The room slowly began to stir again.
The moment the judge's gavel tapped the wood and the words "Court is adjourned for twenty minutes" echoed through the room, the atmosphere shifted.
Not dramatically.
But noticeably.
The tight silence that had hung over the courtroom during the arguments began to loosen. Chairs scraped quietly against the floor as people stood. Lawyers leaned toward their assistants to exchange notes. A few jurors stretched their shoulders before being guided by the bailiff toward a private jury room.
At the plaintiff's table, Francesco Lee exhaled slowly.
He hadn't even realized he had been holding his breath.
Beside him, Leah Williamson shifted slightly in her chair and looked at him.
"How are you holding up?" she asked quietly.
Francesco rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've played Champions League knockouts that felt less intense than this."
Leah smiled faintly.
"At least there's no extra time."
Behind them, Jorge Mendes leaned forward slightly in his seat.
"Actually," Jorge said, "courtrooms sometimes feel like extra time."
Francesco glanced back at him.
"That's comforting."
Their lawyer returned to the table carrying a folder and a bottle of water.
"So far, everything is going exactly how we expected," he said calmly.
Francesco nodded.
"The footage helped."
"It helped a lot," the lawyer confirmed.
He glanced briefly across the courtroom toward the defense table.
Sofia Carter sat quietly beside her attorney, whispering to him while they reviewed documents.
"They'll push back in the next phase," Francesco's lawyer added.
"How?" Leah asked.
"Witness credibility."
Francesco raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
The lawyer closed the folder gently.
"They're going to argue that your witnesses are biased."
Jorge nodded slightly.
"Because they're his teammates."
"Exactly."
Francesco leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Well… they were there."
"Yes," the lawyer said calmly. "But the defense will try to suggest that friends protect friends."
Leah folded her arms thoughtfully.
"So what happens next?"
"Now," the lawyer said, "we keep presenting facts."
He looked toward Francesco.
"And you stay calm."
Francesco smirked slightly.
"That seems to be the theme of the week."
Court staff soon began guiding people out of the main courtroom for the break.
The hallway outside became busier.
Footsteps echoed against marble floors.
Quiet conversations took place in small clusters.
Some journalists who had managed to gain limited access inside the building were already whispering updates into their phones.
But Francesco and his group were escorted to a small private conference room near the courtroom.
Inside, a simple table had been prepared with bottled water and light refreshments.
Sandwiches.
Fruit.
Coffee.
Nothing fancy.
Just something quick before the trial resumed.
Francesco sat down in one of the chairs and stared at the sandwich in front of him for a moment.
"I'm not even sure I'm hungry."
Leah picked up an apple.
"You should eat something."
Jorge grabbed a coffee.
"She's right."
Francesco sighed slightly.
"Fine."
He picked up half a sandwich and took a small bite.
The room was quiet for a moment while everyone ate.
Leah glanced at him again.
"You did well in there."
Francesco raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Jorge leaned against the table with his coffee.
"Sometimes saying nothing is the smartest move."
Francesco chuckled quietly.
"Jorge's life philosophy."
The lawyer looked up from his notes.
"Actually, it's good courtroom strategy too."
He pointed lightly at Francesco.
"Right now the evidence is doing the talking."
Francesco nodded slowly.
Across the table, Leah finished her apple.
"What happens if they bring new witnesses?"
The lawyer looked thoughtful.
"They might."
"From Sofia's side?"
"Yes."
Jorge folded his arms.
"Anyone who was at the nightclub."
Francesco frowned slightly.
"There weren't many people close to us when it happened."
The lawyer nodded.
"True."
"But they may bring someone who claims they saw something different."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"You mean someone who supports Sofia's story."
"Exactly."
Francesco took another bite of his sandwich.
"Well," he said calmly, "they can try."
Twenty minutes passed quickly.
Soon a court officer knocked on the conference room door.
"The hearing will resume in five minutes."
Everyone stood up.
Francesco straightened his jacket.
Leah adjusted the sleeve of her blouse.
Jorge picked up his briefcase.
Then they walked back down the hallway toward the courtroom.
Inside, the jurors were already returning to their seats.
The courtroom filled once again with the quiet seriousness of legal proceedings.
When the judge entered again, everyone rose.
"Please be seated," he said.
The gavel tapped once.
"This court is back in session."
The judge looked toward Francesco's lawyer.
"Counsel, you may continue."
Francesco's lawyer stood and approached the center of the courtroom again.
"Your Honor, we would like to continue presenting witness testimony."
"Proceed."
More statements were introduced.
Additional individuals who had been present that night described the same moment captured in the CCTV footage.
The narrative remained consistent.
A slip.
A catch.
Nothing more.
Several jurors took notes carefully.
One juror—a middle-aged man near the front—replayed the video in his mind as he listened to the descriptions.
Across the courtroom, Sofia's lawyer leaned back in his chair.
Then slowly stood.
"Your Honor."
"Yes?"
"I would like to address the credibility of these witnesses."
The judge nodded.
"You may proceed."
The lawyer stepped forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began calmly, "you have heard testimony from multiple individuals today."
He gestured lightly toward the screen.
"But there is an important detail we must consider."
He paused.
"Many of these witnesses are friends of the plaintiff."
He turned toward Francesco briefly.
"They are teammates."
He began pacing slowly.
"They share locker rooms."
"They travel together."
"They celebrate victories together."
He turned toward the jury again.
"So we must ask a very simple question."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Would friends protect each other?"
A few jurors exchanged small glances.
The lawyer continued.
"It is natural for people to defend those they care about."
He gestured lightly toward the witness statements.
"And while these testimonies may be sincere…"
He paused again.
"…they may also be influenced by loyalty."
Francesco's lawyer stood quickly.
"Objection, Your Honor."
The judge looked down.
"On what grounds?"
"Speculation about witness intent."
The judge considered for a moment.
"Sustained."
Sofia's lawyer nodded politely.
"Of course, Your Honor."
Then he turned back toward the jury.
"I simply ask that you consider all possibilities."
He returned to his table.
Sofia leaned slightly toward him.
"Are we calling her?" she whispered.
The lawyer nodded once.
After a moment, Sofia's lawyer stood again.
"Your Honor, the defense would like to call a witness."
The judge looked toward him.
"Who will you be calling?"
The lawyer glanced toward the gallery.
"A witness who was present at the nightclub the evening of the incident."
He paused.
"And someone who is familiar with both parties."
Francesco felt Leah glance toward him.
The lawyer spoke clearly.
"The defense calls Ms. Rachel Donovan."
A woman seated near the back of the courtroom stood up slowly.
She walked toward the witness stand.
Francesco recognized her.
She had been at the nightclub that evening.
A friend of Sofia's.
But also someone who had briefly spoken with his group that night.
She took the oath and sat down.
The defense lawyer approached her.
"Ms. Donovan, can you tell the court how you know Ms. Sofia Carter?"
Rachel nodded.
"We're close friends."
"And were you present at the nightclub the night of the incident?"
"Yes."
The lawyer nodded.
"Did you see the interaction between Ms. Carter and Mr. Lee?"
Rachel hesitated slightly.
The entire courtroom seemed to lean forward.
"Yes," she said.
"And what did you see?"
Rachel took a breath.
"I saw Sofia stumble."
The lawyer waited.
"And?"
Rachel continued.
"And I saw Francesco catch her."
A small ripple moved through the courtroom.
The lawyer frowned slightly.
"Did you observe anything else?"
Rachel thought carefully.
"No."
Francesco felt Leah squeeze his arm slightly under the table.
The defense lawyer tried again.
"Did their interaction appear… intimate in any way?"
Rachel shook her head.
"No."
The courtroom grew very quiet.
Even Sofia looked surprised.
The lawyer cleared his throat.
"Did Ms. Carter say anything to you afterward?"
Rachel hesitated again.
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
Rachel looked slightly uncomfortable.
"She said the fall was embarrassing."
The lawyer paused.
"And did she claim anything else happened?"
Rachel looked toward Sofia briefly.
Then back toward the lawyer.
"No."
A quiet murmur spread through the courtroom.
Because the testimony had not gone the way the defense expected.
At the plaintiff's table, Francesco's lawyer allowed himself the smallest smile.
Because sometimes the truth came from the most unexpected witnesses.
And now the jury had heard it.
From someone on Sofia's side.
That the moment had been exactly what the footage showed.
Nothing more.
The murmur that followed Rachel Donovan's testimony did not last long.
A single sharp sound cut through the room.
The judge's gavel.
"Order in the court."
The quiet returned almost immediately. Chairs settled. Pens stopped scratching against paper. Even the faint whispers from the public benches faded into silence.
At the witness stand, Rachel Donovan still sat stiffly, clearly aware that her words had just shifted the direction of the entire case.
Across the room, Sofia Carter looked pale.
Her lawyer leaned closer to her, whispering quickly while flipping through his notes again, clearly trying to recover from the unexpected turn.
At the plaintiff's table, Francesco Lee felt Leah's hand still resting lightly against his arm beneath the table.
Leah Williamson gave the smallest reassuring squeeze before pulling her hand back.
Francesco didn't say anything.
But he could feel the tension in his shoulders loosening just a little.
Not because the trial was over.
But because the truth had now come from someone who wasn't on his side.
And that mattered.
A lot.
The defense lawyer cleared his throat again.
"No further questions," he said quietly.
The judge nodded.
"Plaintiff's counsel, would you like to cross-examine the witness?"
Francesco's lawyer stood calmly.
"Yes, Your Honor."
He approached the stand slowly, hands folded loosely in front of him.
"Ms. Donovan," he said politely.
Rachel nodded.
"Yes."
"You stated that you are close friends with Ms. Carter."
"That's correct."
"And despite that friendship, you chose to testify honestly about what you saw that night."
Rachel nodded again.
"Yes."
The lawyer paused, letting the moment sit for a few seconds.
"Just to be absolutely clear for the jury, the interaction between Mr. Lee and Ms. Carter lasted only a few seconds?"
"Yes."
"And Mr. Lee's action appeared to be…?"
Rachel answered without hesitation.
"He caught her so she wouldn't fall."
The lawyer nodded.
"Thank you."
He turned toward the judge.
"No further questions."
Rachel was dismissed shortly afterward.
As she stepped down from the stand, she briefly avoided looking at Sofia.
The tension between them was visible even from across the courtroom.
Once Rachel returned to her seat, the judge looked toward both legal teams.
"Are there any additional witnesses?"
Francesco's lawyer stood.
"No, Your Honor."
Across the room, Sofia's lawyer hesitated.
He glanced at the notes in front of him.
Then shook his head slowly.
"No further witnesses from the defense."
The judge nodded once.
"In that case, we will proceed to closing statements."
The room grew even quieter.
Because this was the final stage before the jury made their decision.
Everything that had been presented from the footage, the testimonies, the arguments would now be summarized for the jurors.
The judge looked toward the plaintiff's table.
"Counsel for the plaintiff, you may begin."
Francesco's lawyer stood slowly.
He walked toward the center of the courtroom again.
But this time his tone carried a little more weight.
Because this was the final moment to speak directly to the jury.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began calmly.
"When this trial began, I told you that this case was about truth."
He paused briefly.
"And over the course of this hearing, we have shown you that truth."
He gestured toward the screen where the CCTV footage had been played earlier.
"You saw the video."
He turned toward the jury.
"You watched the moment that sparked an international scandal."
He let the silence settle.
"A woman stumbled."
He raised one finger.
"A man reached out."
Another finger.
"And prevented her from falling."
He lowered his hand again.
"That is what happened."
His voice remained steady.
"No secret relationship."
"No inappropriate behavior."
"No betrayal."
He walked slowly a few steps closer to the jury.
"But what happened next…"
His expression grew more serious.
"…was far more damaging."
He gestured toward Francesco.
"My client's reputation was dragged through headlines."
He gestured toward the public benches.
"Millions of people believed a story that was never true."
He paused again.
"And why?"
He turned briefly toward Sofia.
"Because someone chose to turn an embarrassing moment into a public accusation."
The courtroom remained completely silent.
"We presented witnesses."
He raised a hand slightly.
"Not just friends."
He looked toward the jury box.
"But someone from the defendant's own side."
Rachel Donovan's testimony hung in the air.
"She confirmed exactly what the footage showed."
He took one final step back.
"The facts are clear."
He looked directly at the jurors.
"This case is about responsibility."
He paused one final time.
"And today, you have the opportunity to restore the truth."
The lawyer nodded respectfully and returned to his seat.
Across the courtroom, Sofia's lawyer stood slowly.
His earlier confidence had faded slightly.
But he still carried himself professionally.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began.
"My colleague has presented a compelling narrative."
He walked forward slowly.
"But I ask you to remember something important."
He turned toward the jury.
"My client never claimed to be perfect."
He gestured toward Sofia.
"She spoke about an event as she understood it."
He paused.
"Human memory can be flawed."
He continued pacing slowly.
"Moments happen quickly."
"Perceptions can be different."
He raised the photograph that had circulated in the media earlier.
"This image…"
He held it up.
"…was the basis for public speculation."
He lowered it again.
"My client responded to that speculation."
He sighed quietly.
"Perhaps mistakes were made."
He glanced toward Sofia.
"But mistakes are not always crimes."
He turned back to the jury.
"I ask you to consider whether this situation truly deserves the consequences being requested."
He returned to his table.
The judge folded his hands together on the bench.
"Thank you, counsel."
He looked toward the jury.
"Members of the jury, you will now retire to deliberate."
The bailiff stood.
"Jury, please follow me."
One by one, the twelve jurors stood and exited the courtroom.
The door closed behind them.
And suddenly the room felt strangely empty.
The waiting began.
Francesco leaned back slightly in his chair.
For the first time all day, there was nothing left to say.
Nothing left to argue.
Only waiting.
Beside him, Leah leaned slightly closer.
"You did everything you could," she said quietly.
Francesco nodded.
"I know."
Behind them, Jorge sat with his arms folded.
"They saw the evidence."
Francesco's lawyer added quietly.
"I would be very surprised if the verdict goes the other way."
Across the room, Sofia sat stiffly in her chair.
Her lawyer spoke quietly to her, but she barely seemed to respond.
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
The courtroom clock ticked slowly on the wall.
Thirty minutes.
Then forty-five.
Finally, the side door opened again.
The bailiff stepped in.
"Jury returning."
Everyone stood.
The jurors filed back into their seats.
Their expressions were serious.
The judge looked toward the foreperson.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
The foreperson nodded.
"Yes, Your Honor."
The entire room seemed to hold its breath.
The clerk took the paper and read it aloud.
"In the matter of defamation filed by Mr. Francesco Lee against Ms. Sofia Carter…"
She paused briefly.
"We the jury find in favor of the plaintiff."
A wave of quiet reaction spread through the courtroom.
Francesco felt Leah grab his hand tightly.
But the clerk continued reading.
"The defendant, Ms. Sofia Carter, is found guilty of knowingly making false accusations that caused reputational harm."
Sofia's shoulders dropped.
The clerk finished reading the final part.
"The court orders the following penalties: three years of imprisonment and a financial penalty of one million pounds in damages to the plaintiff."
A louder murmur spread through the room.
The judge raised the gavel.
"Order."
He looked toward Francesco.
"Mr. Lee, this court recognizes the damage caused by these false accusations."
Then he turned toward Sofia.
"Ms. Carter, the consequences of defamation are serious."
The gavel struck once.
"This court is adjourned."
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Leah wrapped her arms around Francesco.
"You're free," she whispered.
Francesco closed his eyes briefly.
Days of pressure.
Rumors.
Headlines.
Doubt.
All of it lifted in that single moment.
Behind them, Jorge finally allowed himself a small smile. Justice had spoken, and the truth had won.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 18 (2016)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, and 2016/2017 Champions League.
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9