Chapter 8 - The Family Court
The final battle took place three months later in family court.
Julian had managed to scrape together enough borrowed money for a sleazy defense attorney. He petitioned for joint custody of Leo, claiming I had maliciously hidden the pregnancy.
I sat calmly beside Marcus at the plaintiff’s table.
“Your Honor,” Julian’s lawyer argued. “My client is a victim of his former fiancée’s crimes. He simply wants the right to be a father to his biological child.”
The judge, a stern woman with zero tolerance for nonsense, peered over her glasses.
“Mr. Vance,” the judge said to Marcus. “Your response?”
Marcus stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. “Your Honor, Mr. Julian Sterling willingly signed a complete and total relinquishment of all marital and future claims during the divorce—a divorce he expedited due to his belief that my client was infertile. Furthermore, he is currently under federal indictment as a co-conspirator in wire fraud.”
“I didn't know she stole the money!” Julian interrupted, slamming his hand on the table.
“Silence!” the judge barked.
Marcus slid a thick stack of papers toward the bench.
“We have filed for sole legal and physical custody, terminating Mr. Sterling's parental rights entirely, based on financial abandonment and moral turpitude. He has no income, no residence, and is facing federal prison. He is unfit.”
The judge reviewed the documents for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, she slammed her gavel.
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“Petition for joint custody is denied with prejudice,” the judge ruled. “Sole custody is awarded to the mother. Mr. Sterling, you are ordered to stay five hundred yards away from the child at all times. We are adjourned.”
Julian collapsed into his chair, burying his face in his hands, completely and utterly broken.
