Chapter 29 Chapter 29
Of course!
Lucien hired every top lawyer, leaving us with barely anyone.
Adrian tried to reach out and use his sources to hire a competent lawyer, but every time he found someone, they would decline the case the next day.
Lucien was doing it!
He wasn't ready to play fair.
In the end, I reached out to Michael, the man who had previously handled my father's business affairs.
I never wanted to look back on my past, but I was left with no other option.
After that incident years ago, I had disappeared like I never existed and cut off all ties. Most people thought I was dead.
Most of the people thought I died.
When I told him everything, from the start to the end, he was shocked and a bit scared because of Lucien's involvement but then got ready to fight the case for us.
Everyone stood up when the judge entered. My heart started pounding loudly in my chest. I felt a warm hand on my knees which made me realise how badly I was shaking out of nervousness.
Adrian squeezed it slightly. I looked at him and he gave me a nod of assurance.
I let out a deep sigh.
For the hearing, we had to shift back to our previous home. Aurora was happy to be back in her own place. For now, I have left her in daycare while we are in court. I don’t want to involve my baby in this mess or traumatize her. She shouldn't have to see this.
Suddenly, the air turned cold. A silence spread through the room, deeper than when the judge entered.
Lucien walked in.
He was dressed in his black suit with his hair perfectly gelled. He was carrying that arrogant smirk on his face which was meant for only me to see.
But my eyes? My eyes were on his chest.
My breath hitched in my throat when I saw Aurora’s strawberry clip tucked into the lapel of his coat. He was carrying it around proudly, like a trophy, close to his heart.
How did he get it?
Did Aurora give it to him?
I swallowed hard.
But before I could think of anything else, I heard the judge.
"Order, order." My head snapped toward him. "Let’s begin the court proceedings."
Lucien's lawyer stood up, looking every bit like a legal shark. He spoke about legality, timelines, and parental rights. After him, my lawyer presented an argument about Aurora's age, her emotional dependency on me, and her stability. Both lawyers engaged in bickering until the judge slammed his gavel down.
"I have heard enough of you," he spoke in a thick voice. "Now, I want to hear from the parties involved directly. Please step into the witness box."
My heart did a somersault in my chest as I inhaled a deep breath and stood up while Lucien was already moving towards the stand with deliberate and confident strides.
We were inches apart as we approached the boxes. The scent of his expensive cologne hit me, a scent that used to mean home but now only meant danger.
"Good luck, Cynthia," he murmured, so low that only I could hear. "You're going to need it."
Lucien was asked to speak first.
He placed one hand on the witness box. His posture was composed as if he weren’t standing in a courtroom but addressing a boardroom.
“I loved her,” he started with a cold and emotionless voice “With everything I had.”
He was looking straight into my eyes but I didn't react.
"I never forced her into anything. She stayed with me pretending she loves me too. But the only thing she loved was money"
He inhaled sharply.
"I didn't bother her until I learnt the truth"
My fingers curled tightly around the witness box. Didn't he bother me before knowing about Aurora?
Such a liar!
"The truth, that I have a daughter."
A murmur swept through the courtroom while we continued to stare at each other.
"She hid her existence from me and even now, she denied me the right to see her, to meet her, or hug her"
His jaw tightened, and his eyes turned dark. I could hear low murmurs in the courtroom about how wrong I did to Lucien.
"I have equal rights to my daughter. I lost the early years of her childhood, the right to be a father, because of her. But not anymore. I want my baby back"
Deep silence spread in the court for a few moments. Along with the judge, all eyes now turned to me.
But my eyes were still on him.
"Love?" I asked, chuckling softly, "It wasn't love. It was a possession and even now he wants Aurora, just because he considers her as his possession"
A flicker passed through his gaze but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
“I was young when I met him. He manipulated me so carefully, that I didn’t realise I was losing myself. He controlled my choice, my voice, my freedom!"
The courtroom stayed silent.
“When I finally saw the truth, his truth..." My eyes stung when I remembered that day "I ran from him, to save myself"
My throat tightened but I pushed through.
“And my baby.”
After a long silence, the judge asked me.
"Which truth?"