Chapter 129 Chapter 129
Liana's Pov
Everyone was gathered in my Z core office. The tension was palpable from the moment we all sat and the round table looked too small to handle what we were about to discuss. Stanley sat beside me, near enough that I could feel his arm brush against mine from time to time. Serena sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, her face white but calm. My mother sat across from us, and the attorneys spread papers out in front of them, their glasses glinting in the light from above.
Finally, Walter cleared his throat. "I know this is intimidating, Liana," he said gently, his voice carrying the kind of weight you could not ignore. "But I want you to remember that truth has a way of always emerging. What you are doing here is not only for you but for your daughter."
I nodded in spite of the constriction in my throat.
"We've been through everything," another lawyer said as he tapped the papers. "The only missing link is evidence directly connected to Elia Torres. We also know he hit Serena, but we do not have concrete evidence for the court. What we do have is witnesses for his abuse of you. His neglect as a husband and his absence as a father."
I shifted in my seat. "But will it be enough? He… he always finds a way to turn things."
The barrister leaned forward. "Liana, you have more than you think. We have the prenup. We have the agreement he signed when he came to you crawling for a truce, the same agreement he later double crossed you on. That will mean a lot in court."
"And Mason," Stanley cut in, his tone sharp but even. "He can attest that Dominic used him as a mole to attack your tech team. Mason will talk if it comes to that."
I turned my head round, staring at every face that was seated hear because of me and all I saw was gratitude. The barrister pushed the papers over. "We also have that tape of the last call he made. That will help our case, Liana."
I rubbed my hands along my skirt. "And you think the judge will hear? " I said.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I have been in this feild long enough to know that." Walker said.
Mother put her hand over mine. "Liana, listen to him," she said. "We've come too far. Now don't disappoint me, don't lose your nerve."
I swallowed. "I'll try," I said.
The meeting lasted another hour. Each word was like a rock on my chest, but at least I had an image of what tomorrow's battle would be like. When it was finally over, we left the office in silence.
I collapsed onto the couch when we returned to the house, completely exhausted. Stanley kneeled before me, scanning my face.
"You did great tonight," he whispered.
"I felt like I was shaking the whole time."
"You were," he replied with a weak smile. "But you still sat there and you're going to show up tomorrow. That is what matters."
My chest tightened. "What if tomorrow doesn't go so well?"
He took my hands. "Then you still have me, mum, Serena and most importantly, Cam. Do you get it, Liana? Win or lose, you will not be walking alone."
There were tears in my eyes, and I whispered, "Thank you."
He kissed my hands, then stood. "I need to take Serena home now. She should rest."
I looked at Serena. She nodded a little to me, as if she also wanted to reassure me. We said our goodbyes and Stanley led her out.
Mum sat beside me when the door closed. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "You should tell Cam," she said.
I stiffened. "Tell her what?"
"That tomorrow is the final trial."
I rubbed my forehead. "Mum, we've talked about this. Cam is too young to carry this kind of burden now."
"But she is also stronger than you think," she whispered.
“Fine!” I said and headed for my babys room.
Cam looked at me with those calm eyes as u held her hands in mine. She always knew when I was about to have an important conversation.
"Cam," I said softly, "tomorrow we are going to court."
She blinked. "Okay..."
I frowned. "Okay? That is all you can say?"
She shrugged. "I don't know what is happening tomorrow so I don't know what to say.”
I signed, realising my words had been vague. “Remember the case with your dad? Tomorrow is the final trial.”
“Oh…” she wispered and kept quiet for a moment. She had a serious expresion as if she was thinking deep about it and I let her. “You have prepared,” she finally said, “And I know you will do your best for me."
My chest swelled with pride and grief. I reached out and pulled her into my arms. "You amaze me every day baby."
…………
The morning after came all too quickly. We dressed in silence, the weight of the day crushing us and finally headed to court.
At court, we sat together as the battle began.
Dominic's lawyers attacked every word. Our barristers replied with gentle, measured evidence. The air in the courtroom was strained, every sound echoing too loudly.
When the Issue of abuse was raised, motheer was called to stand in the witness box. She stood tall and spoke about how Dominic traveled for months and barely called. She spoke about how on days I tried to stand up for myself I got hit. She treated my wounds sometimes. She spoke about how i was months down the line but Dominic didn't even notice so we all together kept the pregnancy from him. He didn't deserve to be a dad. He didn't have what it took to be a dad.
"He assaulted my daughter," she said firmly. "He battered her with words and bruised her body. He was cruel, both in action and in silence. Let's not even talk about the interlectual properties he stole and and gave no credit for. ".
Dominic sat, his face still but his jaw clenched. As I listened to mum, tears welled in my chest as I remembered everything I had gone through. I held Cam's hand in mine and pressed it when I saw her looking at her dad.
The judge shuffled through papers, listened and questioned. After all was said and done, he called me to the stand and shot questions at me.
“I have no evidence to back these but I very well know that Dominic is a murder and has no sense of responsibility to raise my child.”
After a few more questions, he hit the pedal and gave his verdict.
“With the evidence presented before me, Dominic Smith is hereby guilty for Emotional and physical abuse, interlectual fraud and bridge of contract and will be punished according to the law. However, due to lack of evidence, this honourable court of law is herebye dismissing the murder…”