Mrs. Wilson was startled, immediately denying the point:

“These are just speculations between my husband Ivan and me.”

“Speculations?”

Eric raised his voice, “Speculations cannot convict someone. The video played by the defense attorney in court is also mere speculation. If my client faces such malicious conjecture simply because of her outstanding appearance, I consider it unfair. We are raising the defamation damages to 500,000 dollars in court precisely for this reason!”

Eric voluntarily presented evidence to the court – these days’ news reports had been fixated on digging into Xia Xiao Lan’s private life rather than discussing the actual copyright case.

What should have been a straightforward copyright case was being deliberately twisted into scandals about romantic affairs and power-for-favor dealings.

If Eric didn’t point this out in court, how else could he clear the mud thrown at Xia Xiao Lan?

“My client has suffered severe emotional and psychological damage. She has a stable relationship with her fiancé in China, which she has never tried to hide. These false accusations are all invalid evidence. Therefore, I request the court to summon our other witness, Mr. Harold Wilson.”

Mrs. Wilson’s face stiffened.

Harold had returned to America?

Impossible.

She had just spoken with her husband this morning. Ivan had wanted to trick Harold into coming to America, but Harold’s interest in Xia Xiao Lan seemed to have faded, and he remained unmoved. Just this morning, Ivan had seen Harold return to the hotel surrounded by bodyguards. How could he possibly have made it to the New York court to testify in such a short time?

Mrs. Wilson couldn’t help but look at Xia Xiao Lan.

Xia Xiao Lan showed no trace of surprise.

Did Xia Xiao Lan know beforehand?

Had she known what points Myers would use to attack and prepared Harold in advance to return to America and testify?

Had Harold deliberately played tricks to mislead Ivan—

Xia Xiao Lan had worked so hard to deceive her!

Myers’ gaze kept sweeping over her. Mrs. Wilson knew it was Myers’ surprise and reproach – Myers had repeatedly confirmed with her that Harold wouldn’t appear in court. Despite the risk of being sued for defamation later by a wealthy tycoon, Myers was willing to take that risk as long as they won today’s case.

Yet the wealthy tycoon who was supposed to be in China had appeared in court!

The male protagonist of the alleged “power-for-favor deal” had shown up.

Harold appeared on the witness stand.

The newspapers might write whatever they wanted, and Myers might grasp at straws, but neither the judge nor the jury members knew what Harold looked like. Many were seeing this scandal-embroiled tycoon for the first time.

He wasn’t particularly old.

Extremely handsome.

Very imposing.

Such a man wouldn’t lack female companions – how many women would be moved by just a wave of his hand?

He probably didn’t need any ‘power-for-favor deals’!

“Mr. Harold, knowing your busy schedule, we greatly appreciate your appearance in court to testify.”

“You’re welcome. Proving Miss Xia’s innocence is also proving my innocence. I’ve been traveling abroad recently, but my assistant in America has informed me about what’s been happening in New York these days.”

“Do you acknowledge those reports?”

Harold swept his gaze across the courtroom, his eyes not deliberately lingering on Xia Xiao Lan.

Compared to Matthew Carlton, who had blushed and become flustered under Myers’ questioning, Harold could be considered extremely practiced.

If one swears to tell the truth, must one tell the truth?

Even if he had any deals with Xia Xiao Lan, he could deny it all in court!

Moreover, there wasn’t anything between them.

“Which reports?”

“You mean the suggestion that I sponsored Cornell University’s School of Architecture’s first C·W Architecture Design Competition for Miss Xia’s sake? I don’t know how such a rumor started. Last year, due to embezzlement by a hotel manager, Wilson Hotels faced some operational challenges. To avoid affecting Wilson Hotels’ new project in Washington, the hotel naturally had to take certain measures. After consideration, the hotel chose to collaborate with Cornell University’s School of Architecture to organize a design competition, enhancing Wilson Hotels’ cultural foundation. Simultaneously, we also partnered with Cornell’s School of Agriculture, hoping to provide the highest quality ingredients for our hotel guests. These two initiatives were launched concurrently and weren’t one-time events but long-term collaborations.”

“This year, the second C·W Architecture Design Competition is already in preparation… If, as the rumors suggest, the C·W Architecture Design Competition was organized for Miss Xia’s benefit, it should have been discontinued this year since Miss Xia has already left Cornell University. Sponsoring a competition requires significant expenditure – having a competition exist solely for one person makes absolutely no sense!”

Harold made the lies sound like the truth.

This was how businessmen operated.

The C·W Architecture Design Competition was indeed organized for Xia Xiao Lan.

But who knew this besides Harold himself?

Even Xia Xiao Lan didn’t know. Harold wasn’t some immature fool who would broadcast to everyone that he’d spent money on a woman, or try to gain favor by flaunting it in front of her.

He had simply wanted to find an excuse to get close to Xia Xiao Lan at the time, and the C·W competition had served its purpose.

That was enough.

Besides, the money he spent hadn’t just achieved this single goal – businessmen are shrewd and don’t make losing deals.

The C·W Architecture Design Competition would indeed continue this year, expanding statewide, and next year it would go nationwide. This had always been Harold’s plan.

“The first C·W Architecture Design Competition was fair. The judges included not only professors from Cornell’s School of Architecture but also architects from Foster and American P&W firms. Regardless of where these rumors originated, I will sue the rumormongers until they’re completely bankrupt!”

“Witness, this is a courtroom, please mind your language!”

The judge interrupted timely, but Lisa and Myers still felt involuntarily nervous.

In America, threatening words from congressmen weren’t scary – some even dared to stand against the federal government. But when wealthy people spoke, everyone paid attention… Talk about the law? The law serves America’s wealthy! Formidable lawyers like Eric who specifically represented the poor were absolute minorities.

Myers stared intently at Harold, like a vulture:

“The witness denies having an improper relationship with the plaintiff. Mr. Harold, do you dare deny in court that you have no special feelings beyond friendship for the plaintiff? I mean, the kind of admiration and affection a man has for a woman, willing to do anything for her, including concealing things from her and providing inappropriate assistance for her career—”

“Objection!”

“Sustained! Defense attorney, mind your questioning method!”

The judge showed slight displeasure – this was already Myers’ umpteenth leading question. Though the judge showed no bias, lawyers couldn’t treat the judge as a fool, repeatedly testing boundaries!

“It’s fine, I can answer this question.”

“First, I have no relationship with Miss Xia beyond friendship. We have never been alone together in any private setting. The alleged power-for-favor deal is an unfounded rumor!”

“Second, I do not have romantic feelings for Miss Xia, neither in the past nor present.”

What makes a successful businessman?

—A successful businessman can not only deceive others but even deceive himself!

Xia Xiao Lan’s current predicament was indeed partly due to his inappropriate words and actions back then. Helping her resolve this difficulty was the right thing to do.

Besides, he had only spoken about the past and present, not making any promises about the future.

After winning the case, he could always develop feelings again.