Chapter 8 - The Courtroom Massacre
Two weeks later, Julian actually followed through on his desperate threats.
He filed for emergency full custody of their infant son.
It was a idiotic move fueled by absolute panic and terrible legal advice.
Maya sat calmly in the grand courtroom, surrounded by three of the most expensive, ruthless lawyers in the country.
Julian sat across the aisle, looking disheveled, unwashed, and frantic.
His cheap, strip-mall lawyer looked visibly terrified of the legal titans sitting next to Maya.
The judge slammed his heavy wooden gavel.
"Mr. Sterling, you are claiming that Ms. Hawthorne is an unfit mother?" the judge asked skeptically.
Julian stood up, trying desperately to project confidence.
"Yes, Your Honor, she is deeply unstable."
"She kidnapped my son and ran off with a dangerous military man she just met."
Maya’s lead attorney, a legendary corporate shark named Richard Vance, stood up slowly.
"Objection, Your Honor, that is a blatant fabrication."
"That man is General Alexander Hawthorne, my client’s biological grandfather and one of the most decorated men in this country."
"Furthermore, my client did not kidnap the child, she removed him from a highly hostile and physically abusive environment."
Julian slammed his fists on the cheap wooden table.
"That’s a lie, I provided a loving, perfect home!"
The lawyer smiled like a shark smelling fresh blood in the water.
"A loving home, Mr. Sterling?"
The lawyer aimed a small remote at the courtroom projector.
A large screen illuminated, playing highly crisp security footage from the Sterling mansion.
It showed Victoria screaming violently at Maya, throwing a hot plate of food against the kitchen wall.
It showed Julian sitting on the living room couch, drinking a beer, completely ignoring the horrific abuse.
Julian’s face turned the color of ash.
"Furthermore, Your Honor," the lawyer continued relentlessly.
"We have subpoenaed bank statements proving Mr. Sterling spent the child’s college fund on illegal gambling and high-end escorts over the last three years."
The crowded courtroom erupted into shocked gasps.
The judge looked at Julian with utter, unfiltered contempt.
"Mr. Sterling, is this disturbing evidence true?"
Julian stuttered wildly, unable to form a single coherent sentence.
"I... I was under a lot of incredible pressure at work."
The judge did not even hesitate for a second.
"Full, absolute, and sole custody is permanently awarded to Ms. Evangeline Hawthorne."
"Mr. Sterling, your visitation rights are entirely revoked until you complete years of anger management and intensive rehab."
Julian collapsed into his chair, burying his face in his trembling hands.
Maya walked out of the courtroom, holding her baby tightly to her chest.
Julian tried to chase after her in the long marble hallway.
"Maya, wait, you can't do this to me!"
Before he could get within ten feet of her, Colonel Vance stepped out of the shadows.
He shoved Julian incredibly hard against the cold stone wall.
May you like
"You lost the game, boy," Vance growled dangerously.
"Go back to the dirty gutter where you belong."
