Chapter 36 Chapter 36
I kept staring at Lucien because I couldn’t believe what he had just said.
The words echoed in my head.
The money used for my daughter’s surgery was mine.
For a second, I thought I misheard him.
“What nonsense is this?” My lawyer shot to his feet, outrage lacing his voice. “What are you implying? Do you have any proof to support such a claim?”
Lucien didn’t look at him. For him, it didn't even matter.
“Hold your horses, little boy,” Lucien’s lawyer said lazily, adjusting his cuffs. “We don’t make claims without proof.”
The calm arrogance in his tone made my stomach churn.
He lifted another folder from the table and walked toward the judge with slow and deliberate steps.
“My Lord,” he began smoothly, “this file contains the withdrawal records from Mr. Lucien Thorne Vaughn’s personal account.”
The entire courtroom stiffened.
“And,” he continued, placing another document beside it, “the deposit records for Aurora’s surgery.”
My heart started pounding in my ears.
“The serial numbers on the notes withdrawn and the notes deposited match perfectly.”
The judge adjusted his glasses and began flipping through the documents.
Murmurs spread across the courtroom. My fingers tightened around the witness stand.
Of course, they would match.
The money was Lucien’s.
But I earned it.
I earned every single note.
I sold my pride for it.
I swallowed humiliation for it.
While he enjoyed every bit of it!
"My lord" Lucien's lawyer continued "this proves that my client, Lucien Thorne Vaughn, saved his daughter's life while she..."
He just chuckled and let the words hang in the air.
"My lord, now everything is clear who is more capable of keeping the child safe," he added.
"No, my lord!" I shouted "This is wrong. The money may be withdrawn from Mr. Vaughn's account but I earned it. It was my money"
Now the tears started stinging my eyes. I blinked them back. If I cried, they would think I was weak.
I was seeing my entire world crumbling right in front of my eyes.
My Aurora!
“Earned?” Lucien’s lawyer tilted his head slightly. “Would you like to be more specific? How exactly did you earn Mr. Vaughn’s cash? How did you obtain those notes?”
My eyes snapped to Lucien who was now smirking.
Smirking!
He knows it.
He knows everything yet he is doing this.
He planned everything.
I fell silent.
How can I tell about that night?
“She has no answer, My Lord,” his lawyer said calmly. “Speculations and emotional claims cannot override documented financial records. We request the court to conclude the matter.”
Lucien has that Victorious smirk on his face. I wanted to kill him right now.
"Do you have anything to say?" The judge asked.
"My lord, that money was earned by me. Please believe me" I almost cried "I.. I ..."
"The court needs proof" he said.
It won't be a big deal if Lucien has already bought him.
"Please give me some time." I requested
“That would only prolong an already decisive matter, My Lord,” Lucien’s lawyer cut in. “The child’s stability is at stake.”
The judge, wrote something on the paper before announcing, “In light of the evidence presented and considering the financial stability and capability of Mr. Vaughn, this court grants temporary guardianship of Aurora to Mr. Lucien Thorne Vaughn until further review.”
For a second, I didn’t understand what he said.
Temporary.
Guardianship.
To Mr. Vaughn.
The air was sucked out of my lungs.
"NO!" I shouted but my cry went unheard. “No… no, you can’t...”
“The court is adjourned.”
The judge slammed down the gavel. It felt as if he had announced a sentence of death for me.
Everyone started leaving the court except Lucien and me.
The first thought that crossed my mind was of Aurora. I need to assure her safety before this devil reaches her.
I don't care what the court says!
Aurora is mine and mine alone.
I can't let anyone just come into my life and take her away.
I ran out of the court while Lucien stayed at his place. My fingers fumbled with my phone as I rushed down the courthouse steps. I dialed the daycare but they didn't answer.
I drove faster than I should have. My vision blurred, but I didn't slow down. By the time I reached the daycare parking lot, my hands were trembling so badly I almost couldn’t unbuckle my seatbelt.
I ran inside.
The expressions of the receptionist changed as soon as she saw me.
“Where is she?” My voice came out hoarse. “Where is Aurora?”
She stood slowly.
"Ma'am... Her legal guardian took her"
My whole world shook.
"How could you handover my daughter to anyone!" I shouted
"Th... They showed us the order" she swallowed hard "They have just left to..."
Before she could complete herself I was already running out and this is than I saw a woman with my sleeping Aurora in her arms.
I rushed to her but before I could reach her I collided with a hard chest.
I stumbled back but composed myself soon. I looked up to find Lucien.
He was already here.
Of course!
"Move from my way!" I said sternly.
His smirk widened as he folded his arms to his chest.
"Lucien, move away! I want my daughter" I shouted.
"Yours?" He chuckled "She is mine now. Biologically and legally. I have court ord..."
Unable to control myself, I lunged forward and grabbed his shoulder.
His bodyguards move forward but he raised his palm, stopping them in their places.
"Shove your court orders where the sun doesn't shine!" I said through clenched teeth. "I don't care. Aurora is mine and mine only!"
The amusement vanished from his face and it was replaced by rage. He held my wrists and slowly pulled my hands away from his collar.
"Aurora is now mine. Take her away if you have power"
He slightly pushed me away but I quickly composed myself.
"You ruined me, my father, and Adrian. What else do you want Lucien?" I shouted at the top of my lungs "She is just an innocent child. Don't do this to her. She needs me"
"Whatever I am doing, is good for her" he came back "I am going to keep her safe, safer than you could ever have!"
"You have no heart, Lucien! You are a monster!” I shouted "It is you from whom she must be protected"
He just chuckled, mocking me.
"Give her to me, Lucien. She can never accept you!"
"I will make her!" He spat "by hook or by crook"
And then he turned around and walked to the same car in which a woman had taken my sleeping girl.
I ran behind him but his security team blocked my path.
“No! Lucien! Please!” I screamed.
But he was already in the car and it started moving. The bodyguards also sat inside their cars.
I ran behind the car like a man woman.
My heels snapped off on the asphalt so I kicked them away and ran barefoot. The rough ground cut into my soles.
“Stop! Please, stop!”
But they didn't.
The rain began to pour again, mixing with the salt of my tears. My lungs ran out of oxygen.
I pushed my body until my muscles screamed, and the car became a small dot. I reached out with my trembling hand, trying to grab the air, trying to pull her back to me.
“Don’t take her...” I whispered but my voice disappeared into the wind. “Please... don’t...”
My body gave out. My knees buckled and I hit the wet road hard. I tried to crawl but the world began to spin.
My eyes closed and the last thing I saw was the pinky finger of my right hand.
'Promise me mommy, you will come back for me' Aurora's words echoed in my head.
And then everything went dark.