Chapter 8 - The Courtroom Slaughter
The family court hearing was a bloodbath.
Julian showed up in a wrinkled suit, looking ten years older. Beatrice sat behind him, glaring daggers at me. But I didn't care. I was wearing a sharp, tailored crimson suit. I looked like power.
Julian’s lawyer tried to argue that I was vindictive and trying to alienate him from his children.
"Your Honor," Evelyn stood up, absolutely radiant in her element. "We submit Exhibit A into evidence. An audio recording of Mr. Vance visiting his wife in the ICU."
When the recording played in the silent courtroom, Julian shrank in his chair. Hearing his own voice callously dismiss my near-death experience, and hearing him threaten to use his wealth to steal my children, completely disgusted the judge.
"Mr. Vance," the judge said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You abandoned your wife in active labor to go shopping. You threatened to ruin her life. And you are currently under federal indictment for fraud."
The judge slammed his gavel.
"Full legal and physical custody awarded to the mother. Mr. Vance’s parental rights are temporarily suspended pending the outcome of his criminal trial. Alimony and child support will be drawn directly from the liquidation of his frozen assets."
Beatrice stood up, screaming in the courtroom. "She's a gold digger! She planned this!"
"Bailiff, remove that woman," the judge ordered.
As they dragged a kicking and screaming Beatrice out of the courtroom, Julian looked at me. His eyes were hollow, completely broken.
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"You took everything," he whispered.
"No, Julian," I said, my voice steady and cold. "You threw it all away. I just made sure you couldn't pick it back up."
