Chapter 20 20
Chapter 20 20
Aria’s POV
What?
A total failure?? How dare Derek watch his lawyer say something this demeaning against me? A mixed feeling of anger and hatred flooded my mind while I tried to calm myself down in the courtroom.
Turning around I searched for Derek’s eyes, but intentionally he refused to look in my direction.
The courtroom became noisy with people murmuring loudly from the background, everything I suffered while staying at Derek’s mansion flashed through my mind.
Without any hesitation I sprang up from my chair, Alpha Kane tried to calm me down, but it was futile. “Derek! How dare you attempt to tarnish my image in court? You sit there and watch your lawyers tell a great lie before the court without stopping them.” I thundered staring daggers at him.
Slowly he redirected his gaze at me while his forehead furrowed. Ignoring every other person in the courtroom, I focused on Derek since I was so upset and wasn't even thinking straight anymore.
“Oh! A cat caught your tongue now?” Kane tugged at my dress softly signaling me to take my seat, but then I ignored him completely and continued.
“I'm Lily’s mother, I carried her in my womb for nine good months, and you hire lawyers to come in here to call me incompetent! I've always been there for Lily even on days when you missed her doctor's appointment, it was always me who would drive her to the hospital and back. Just one time, I requested your help to pick her up from school due to the unavoidable traffic. Your lawyers took it as a good case to present before the court. Wow! So much for being a father figure!!” I yelled, glaring at him while I heaved uncontrollably.
His lawyer went further to provoke me more,
“Miss Aria, if I may ask what were the measures you took trying to be with your daughter that day? Or is this traffic story a Lie? Are you trying to avoid taking responsibility for your actions?” Derek’s lawyer retorted firmly staring at me blankly.
The courtroom suddenly became quiet as everyone was waiting for my response.
My eyes fixed on Derek I knew what he was trying to do, Derek told his lawyers to twist this story to make me look like a careless mother, but then I do not back down from a fight so easily.
“You are such a vicious Liar, Derek, that’s why you would sit there and watch your Lawyer spew rubbish from his mouth. Lily is my daughter, and I've been a good mother to her!! Tell them or are you so scared I would win the case.” I thundered standing a few inches away from Derek.
What left me baffled was my hands were in the air almost grabbing Derek’s collar, anger coursing through my veins when I felt Kane’s hands firmly around my waist pulling me backward away from Derek.
“Calm down Aria, you don’t want the judge to see you as violent if we want to win this case.” Kane whispered in my ears while holding me still.
This caused a great commotion in the courtroom, the voices grew louder as people kept calling me names. Derek sat there with an evil smirk on his lips, instantly I became more infuriated.
“Order!!” I heard the Clerk’s voice resonating in the courtroom while I tried to calm myself.
“Miss Avery, What’s the meaning of this barbaric act? If you love your daughter, Lily, you ought to be on your best behavior in court. But like we have all seen, you chose to be violent and attack Mr. Derek here, I think you should wait outside until the proceeding is over. Someone should please escort her out before I get the security to do so!” her voice held so much anger.
Alpha Kane bowed silently and carried me gently out of the court, but then I was never going to give Derek a chance making me look like a loser. I kept yelling with tears streaming down my cheeks,
“I'm Lily’s mother and I deserve to have full custody of my daughter. She is my little princess.” I screamed while he carried me to the door.
Immediately I figured out, leaving this courtroom without properly presenting my case meant that certainly, Derek was going to win against me.
Basically, I could never imagine my life without Lily in it, she was my everything, my sunshine and I wished to always be there for her when she needed me.
Stopping abruptly in my tracks, I yanked Kane’s hands forcefully from my waist and I knew I was going to apologize for that later but right now, I must rectify the situation.
“Your honor, please hear me out!!” I shouted from behind. Her attention was redirected towards me instantly, “What is it, Miss Aria?” she inquired sternly.
Clearing my throat, I replied, “I apologize for my sudden outburst earlier in the court, disrupting the court process, it was never my intention to do something that unethical, but my emotions got the better part of me.”
Glancing at Derek I continued calmly, “I'm sorry Mr. Derek for all the harsh words I used in addressing you and your lawyers, I’m just feeling hurt your honor. I plead you let me stay until the end of the court proceedings, I simply want my daughter back that’s all.”
Gradually the commotion in court died down, but then the judge announced sadly, “Due to the actions of Miss Aria during the proceeding this case has been adjourned. The next trial will be communicated, and I hope Miss Aria will be in her best behavior.” she said sternly.
Immediately she stood up, the clerk shouted, “Court!!” signifying that everyone should stand up.
We stood up while the judge moved out of the court briskly followed by her officials. Kane held me gently, handing me his napkin, “Are you okay?” he asked softly, staring at me with care.
Wiping my eyes I nodded affirmatively, we walked towards Lawyer Chris who was obviously disappointed by my actions and did not try to conceal it.
Derek stormed past me with his lawyers hot on his heels, he indeed was a monster.
Sighing I said to Kane, “Please can we go home? I just want to be alone.”