She took the stand against legal advice.
She described herself as a widow protecting the company Victor built.
She said Julian’s survival threatened hundreds of employees.
The prosecutor asked:
“Why encourage your son’s relationship with Seraphina?”
“I did not encourage it.”
The photographs said otherwise.
Family dinners.
Holiday invitations.
Private messages reminding Grant to “keep the Bellamy girl close.”
Mavis finally admitted she believed marriage might give the Holloways access to dormant Bellamy assets.
“Did you love your daughter-in-law?” the prosecutor asked.
Mavis looked at me.
“I tried to teach her how our family worked.”
“That was not my question.”
“She was weak.”
The prosecutor paused.
“Mrs. Holloway, Seraphina controlled a billion-dollar corporation while you ordered her to wash dishes.”
A few jurors looked toward me.
Mavis’s mouth tightened.
“That proves deception, not strength.”
“No. It proves you believed kindness and restraint were weaknesses.”
Mavis did not answer.
