Chapter 224: But You Say I’m Somethin’er Than Somethin’

[FROLO]

"These proceedings seek the truth only. Nothing more. Nothing less," Justice Hoffman said from the other end of the bench as he adjusted his glasses carefully.

"Appearances," Chief Justice Orlov said, and the lead prosecutor stood from the left side of the courtroom.

"For the city, Senior State Prosecutor Maria Rostova, assisted by Prosecutors Bernard Parker and Theo Raymond," the lead prosecutor said, and the prosecutors stood briefly before they took their seats.

From the defense table, a man in a brown suit stood.

"For the accused, Senior Advocate Valentin Smirnov, representing all three defendants," he said, and the judges acknowledged the representations.

"Senior Prosecutor, you may begin," Justice Orlov said.

Prosecutor Rostova stood, glancing toward the courtroom, then at the judges, before her eyes settled on the three defendants on the stand.

"Your Honours, today is not just about one patient or three medical practitioners. Today is about trust. The trust that every citizen puts in practitioners vetted and approved by the state.

"The same medics sworn to value life over everything," the prosecutor began as she stepped from behind her table to the middle of the courtroom.

"The accused betrayed and abused that trust for five years through deliberate deception," she added as she looked at the three defendants who were watching her boredly. It was almost like they were not even bothered by this.

Maybe because there was someone beyond the benches who had their backs?

But would it save them from Sergei Moskowsky?

"The city is determined to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused knowingly falsified medical records, concealed viable pregnancies, and manipulated a family into believing they were mourning tragedies that should never have occurred in the first place."

Katya’s breath hitched while Yaroslav’s jaw tightened as they both looked at the witnesses presented.

This was cruelty at best.

"The city will also prove that these were not random acts and instead were directed and paid for by an individual whose identity will become clear through the court testimonies today."

Masha stared sadly at her son as his friends rubbed his shoulders gently while they listened to the prosecutor.

Mr. Romanov, on the other hand, held her hand gently, squeezing occasionally as if to remind her that she was not alone. That their son was not alone in this.

The journalists whispered lowly, careful not to be kicked out because then they would miss the greatest scoop in history, but was it even about the scoop today, or was it about something far more dangerous?

Something that even they would have fallen victim to with ease, seeing as the practitioners lined up were trusted by the city more than once?

"At the end of the trial, the city will ask the honorable court to return guilty verdicts on every count. Thank you," the prosecutor said before she walked back to her seat.

Justice Orlov then turned to the defense counsel.

"Senior Advocate Smirnov," he said.

The defense lawyer stood, adjusting his tie before he began:

"Your Honours, my clients have made public confessions, and I will not insult this court by pretending that overwhelming evidence does not exist against them," Advocate Smirnov began, getting everyone’s attention.

Clearly, not many had expected that opening from the man.

"However, confession does not erase the motivation behind their confession. The blatant coercion does not answer every legality before the court. So, the defense only asks that every answer be heard before the court concludes.

"Nothing further, Your Honours," he added before bowing slightly and sitting back down.

The Chief Justice just nodded in response.

"Call your first witness," he said, and Prosecutor Rostova stood.

"The city calls Professor Danil Sorokin."

The professor stilled for a moment, as if he had not been expecting this. Like the world had slowly made things real. Like he was slowly realising that everything was about to be brought to light.

And gods, was it a shame.

He looked toward the benches and saw some of his students. Medics he had trained with much grace, who had come to witness him either defend himself or agree to the most heinous of things in medical history.

Slowly, he stood and walked to the witness stand, knowing every camera was following him, every eye was on him.

His eyes particularly settled on the omega who had trusted him for years. The omega who had been nothing but kind to him.

Katya had given him everything he asked for just so the omega could be better. And now, years later, they were standing in the one place that would prove more than the doctor’s sanity could hold.

When he got to the witness stand, he considered stepping back down, but the court officer stood right behind him as if to remind him that this was real. That this was happening. That this...

This was their karma.

Fuck.

Shakily, he helped himself up the rails of the stand, his swollen lips doing nothing for his appearance as the man once revered for his knowledge in reproductive medicine.

He looked worse than quacks did when they were caught.

"Raise your right hand," a court clerk said before handing the professor a small black book.

"Do you swear that the testimony you are about to give before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" the clerk asked.

The professor looked at Katya...

...Again.

"I do," he said quietly, and the clerk stepped away.

"Professor, please state your full name, occupation, and years of practice," the Chief Justice said calmly.

"Danil Viktor Sorokin, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Have forty-two years in medicine, twenty-six years teaching medicine."

"How many doctors have you trained?" Justice Reginia asked.

"Thousands."

Shocked gasps and whispers were heard through the courthouse.

That was a long time to have fates in one man’s hands.

"Thousands..." Justice Reginia said flatly, before continuing, "And yet today, you stand before us as an accused in medical malpractice."

Shamefully, the professor lowered his head, as if he couldn’t keep it as it had always been.

He was fucked either way.

"Proceed, Prosecutor," the Chief Justice said, and she stepped forward, thin file in her hand, only stopping right in front of the witness stand.

"Professor, do you recognize Chairman Katya Romanov?"

The professor turned to Katya, for the third time today, their eyes meeting.

The omega just looked at him blankly, no emotion in those eyes. No anger or even hate, as anyone would have expected. Instead, it was just empty quietness.

"Yes, I do."

"When did you first meet him?"

"Six years ago... He was referred to me after several failed pregnancies."

"Why were you consulted?"

"Because I specialized in recurrent pregnancy loss."

"Did you personally examine him?"

"Yes."

"How many times?"

"Seven."

"Seven examinations... Seven opportunities to tell him the truth. Did you?"

Everyone’s breath held.

Not a sound was heard save for the breathing of the professor.

Yaroslav had not looked anywhere else since the man had begun talking, and the way he was gritting his teeth was enough to tell everyone that a beast was about to be unleashed inside this courtroom.

"No," the professor said, sealing another wave of whispers in the room.

"Silence!" the court marshal insisted.

"Professor... was Chairman Romanov infertile?" Prosecutor Rostova continued.

And the professor...

His grip on the witness rail tightened, his hands turning a different shade of white as his knuckles gave him away.

"No," he said.

A defeated whimper was heard from the second row on the right.

Katya Romanov.