Chapter 5 - The Mother’s Choice
The emergency custody hearing was held three days later in a closed family court session. The tension in the mahogany-paneled room was thick enough to cut with a combat knife.
On one side of the aisle sat Diane, looking pale and exhausted, flanked by Wade—who was sporting an expensive suit and a smug look despite his wired jaw—and Richard Vance, who sat behind them like a puppet master.
On my side sat Ava, holding my hand with a grip like a vise. Tommy was still in the hospital under the watchful eye of Marcus's security detail.
Judge Harmon, an older man who looked uncomfortably friendly with Richard Vance, banged his gavel. "We are here to determine the temporary placement of Ava and Thomas Miller, following the disturbing incident at the Vance-Miller wedding."
Wade’s expensive lawyer stood up immediately. "Your Honor, the events are clear. The minor, Ava, violently attacked her new stepfather unprovoked. Furthermore, the biological father, Mr. Miller, has been an absentee parent due to his military deployments. He is unstable, prone to aggression, and is currently manipulating his children to sabotage a happy marriage. We ask that Ava be placed in a juvenile facility for psychiatric evaluation, and Tommy remain with his mother."
Ava squeezed my hand, terrified. I rubbed her knuckles with my thumb. Wait for it, I thought.
My lawyer, a sharp, no-nonsense woman named Elena whom Marcus had flown in from Chicago, stood up. "Your Honor, that is a spectacular piece of fiction. My client’s daughter did not attack unprovoked. She acted in defense of her seven-year-old brother, who was being actively tortured by Wade Vance."
"Objection!" Wade's lawyer shouted. "Slander!"
"I have sworn affidavits from the trauma doctors at County General," Elena continued smoothly, slapping a thick file onto the judge's desk. "Detailing chronic physical abuse on the boy. Furthermore, I have a witness who can establish a long, documented history of Wade Vance’s predatory behavior toward children, and Richard Vance’s criminal conspiracy to cover it up."
The courtroom erupted. Richard Vance jumped to his feet, his face purple. "This is an outrage! Who is this alleged witness?!"
The heavy courtroom doors swung open.
Sarah walked in, flanked by two massive men in dark suits from Marcus's security firm. She looked terrified, but she held her head high.
Wade’s face drained of all color. He let out a muffled gasp through his wired jaw, shrinking back into his chair. Richard Vance practically collapsed back into his seat, his eyes darting frantically toward the judge.
"Sarah Jenkins," Elena announced clearly. "Former fiancée of Wade Vance. She has brought physical evidence of abuse, as well as video and audio recordings of Richard Vance actively bribing local officials and coaching Wade on how to conceal his crimes."
Diane turned in her seat, staring at Sarah, then at the iPad Elena was holding up. For the first time, the thick wall of denial Diane had built around herself began to crack. She looked at Wade's terrified, guilty face. Then she looked across the aisle at Ava, whose eyes were filled with nothing but pity and betrayal.
"Wade?" Diane whispered, her voice trembling in the silent courtroom. "Is it true? Did you do this to Tommy? Did you do this before?"
Wade couldn't look at her. He stared at the floor, sweating profusely.
"Your Honor," Elena said. "We ask for immediate, full, sole custody to be granted to John Miller. And we formally submit this evidence to the District Attorney for the immediate arrest of Wade and Richard Vance."
Judge Harmon looked at Richard, waiting for a signal, a defense, anything. But the powerful man had nothing. His empire was crumbling in real-time.
"Diane," the judge asked, looking at my ex-wife. "Do you contest this motion?"
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Diane stood up. She looked at the man she had just married, the man who had locked her baby in a dark cellar. Slowly, she took off her diamond wedding ring and dropped it onto the defense table. It landed with a heavy clink.
"No, Your Honor," Diane sobbed, breaking down completely. "Give them to John. Just... get my babies away from him."
