Time Might Not Be on Our Side
“I want her to suffer, Logan,” Cedric spat, his tone dark and venomous. “She robbed me of the most important years of my son’s life. Seven years, Logan! Seven fucking years!” He slammed a fist against the stool, the sound reverberating through the penthouse.
Logan leaned back, his expression calm yet calculating. “To clarify,” he said, his voice steady, “you were contractually married to Sophia, correct?”
“Yes,” Cedric confirmed, his gaze unwavering.
“Good. Let me see the documents.” Logan extended his hand expectantly.
“Give me a second,” Cedric muttered, pushing himself up from the stool. His footsteps were heavy as he crossed the room to a tempered glass table in the corner. He picked up a neat stack of documents, the weight of them feeling symbolic in his hands. Returning to Logan, he handed them over without a word before retaking his seat.
Logan flipped through the papers methodically, his eyes scanning the pages with precision. A few times, he let out quiet hums or faint head shakes, his expression unreadable. Cedric sat in silence, his leg bouncing restlessly as he waited.
Finally, Logan placed the documents on his lap, his fingers interlaced. Before he could speak, Cedric’s impatience boiled over. “No bullshit, Logan. What are my chances of winning this case? Can I get Michael and Sophia back into my arms?” His voice was low but laden with desperation.
Logan let out a slow, deliberate sigh. His gaze met Cedric’s, unflinching. “No bullshit? It’s almost impossible.”
“Impossible?” Cedric repeated, his voice rising as he shot up from the stool. He ran both hands through his hair, pacing the floor like a caged animal. “What the hell do you mean impossible?”
“With these documents, you have a fighting chance,” Logan clarified, his tone firm but empathetic. “But winning Sophia back? That’s not something the law can enforce. As for Michael, you’re his biological father. That gives us a foothold, but it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
Cedric stopped pacing, his hands dropping to his sides. He turned to face Logan, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. “So what you’re saying is, I might get my son, but Sophia is out of reach?”
“Exactly,” Logan replied, his tone as blunt as Cedric demanded.
Cedric exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he sank back onto the stool. “Okay, then. What do we do now?”
“We press charges,” Logan began, pausing briefly. The silence was palpable, heavy with unspoken implications. “But I would advise against it.”
“What?” Cedric exclaimed, shooting to his feet again. “Why the hell would you advise me not to press charges? She stole my son, Logan!”
Logan raised a hand, motioning for Cedric to calm down. “Relax. It’s just advice. The final decision is yours.”
“Then explain your advice,” Cedric demanded, his tone sharp.
Logan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Because right now, you’re not in the financial position to take this on. Let’s be realistic, Cedric. Your ex-partner Natasha took over 50% of your assets in last year’s divorce. You’re still paying alimony for your other children. A high-profile case like this could drain whatever resources you have left.”
Cedric’s fists clenched as Logan continued.
“Not to mention, Sophia and her new husband— these people are billionaires, Cedric. They have the financial means to drag this case out for years. Meanwhile, you’re already on thin ice with the Ivry Hall College board. Half of them want you gone. A scandal like this would only strengthen their case against you, possibly costing you your position as Vice Chancellor. If that happens, you lose your main source of income. Bankruptcy would be inevitable.”
“Fuck!” Cedric roared, gripping his hair so tightly it seemed as though he might rip it out. “So, what you’re saying is, I’m fucked either way?”
“Exactly,” Logan said calmly. “The risks are high, Cedric. My job is to make sure you understand them.”
Cedric slumped back onto the stool, his shoulders heavy with defeat. “So what would you have me do?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
“Settle things with Sophia out of court,” Logan advised. “Negotiate. Try to find common ground. Because if this goes to court, there’s no telling what they might have against you, that could easily tilt the case in their favor.”
Cedric’s jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with anger and despair. “Negotiate? After what she’s done?”
“It’s not about what’s fair, Cedric,” Logan said, his voice firm but not unkind. “It’s about being smart. You have to think long-term. For your own sake.”
Cedric leaned back, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers he so desperately sought. The weight of Logan’s words pressed down on him, suffocating yet undeniable.
“Fine,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I ask,” Logan replied, standing up and straightening his suit. “But don’t take too long. Time might not be on our side.”
Cedric nodded silently, his mind already racing with possibilities and the bitter taste of his options. The sound of Logan’s footsteps faded as he left, leaving Cedric alone in the vast, empty silence of his penthouse.