Chapter 5 - The Legal Bloodbath
Julian was a cornered rat, and cornered rats fight dirty.
Two weeks into my hospital stay, his high-priced defense attorney—paid for by his shady loan sharks—filed a massive civil suit against me. They claimed I had orchestrated the takeover while suffering from "pregnancy-induced psychosis" and demanded an immediate psychiatric evaluation to deem me unfit to control the company or the children.
They also petitioned the court to suppress the assault charges, claiming I had faked the injuries to steal the firm.
Marcus walked into my hospital room, looking grim. "They are playing dirty, Elena. They bribed an intern at the hospital to leak a fake psychiatric report claiming you're unstable. The tabloids are eating it up."
I looked out the window at the city skyline. "Let them."
"Elena, if a judge buys this, he could grant Julian temporary custody of the twins when they are born, just to spite you."
I turned to Marcus, my eyes flashing. "Julian will never touch my children. Do you have the flash drive?"
Marcus nodded, pulling a small silver drive from his briefcase. "Everything you gave me."
"Good. Tomorrow is the preliminary hearing. I want you to enter it into evidence. Don't tell them what it is. Just let them play it in open court."
The next day, I was wheeled into the courtroom via a secure medical transport, an IV still hooked to my arm. The room was packed with reporters. Julian sat at the defense table, wearing a borrowed suit, looking smug. He thought he had me backed into a corner.
His lawyer stood up, waxing poetic about my supposed "hysteria" and Julian's stellar reputation.
When it was Marcus's turn, he simply walked to the A/V desk and plugged in the flash drive.
"Your Honor, the defense claims my client is delusional and fabricated the assault to steal a company. I submit exhibit A. Audio recorded from Mrs. Hayes's Apple Watch during the night in question."
The courtroom fell silent as the audio played.
First, the sickening CRACK of my head hitting the floor. Then, Julian's cruel laughter. "Up," Julian's voice hissed clearly through the speakers. "Stop milking this pregnancy and make my guests some drinks."
Gasps echoed through the gallery. But it wasn't over. The audio continued, capturing something even more damning.
"Don’t embarrass me tonight. These people decide whether my fund survives. If this deal goes through, I can finally transfer the offshore accounts and leave this miserable bitch with nothing."
Julian’s face went entirely white. He had just confessed, on tape, to premeditated financial fraud and hiding marital assets.
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The judge slammed his gavel. "Mr. Hayes, your motion is denied. Furthermore, I am revoking your bail on the grounds of severe flight risk and overwhelming evidence of fraud. Bailiff, take him into custody."
Julian lunged across the table, screaming my name, but two armed guards tackled him to the floor. I watched him being dragged out in handcuffs, my face a mask of pure, unbothered ice.
