Chapter 25%
The judge’s gavel struck and the solemn courtroom immediately fell silent.
I sat in the plaintiff’s seat, my fingertips gently tracing the legal documents before me.
Sebastian sat in the first row of the public gallery, holding Scott in his arms. The child clutched his fingers, a little uneasy.!!
In the defendant’s seat, Kai, impeccably dressed in a suit with a stern expression, was still the arrogant head of the Lockwood family.” But when he looked at me, the arrogance in his eyes finally shattered. His gaze was locked on me, as if he wanted to engrave my image into his very bones.
“Ms. Carolyn Wallace, the plaintiff, please state your demands,” the judge said.}
I stood up, my voice steady and clear. “I request the court to approve my divorce from the defendant Kai and to revoke his custody rights over our son, Scott Lockwood.“}
Kai’s hands clenched abruptly, his knuckles turning white.
His lawyer immediately stood up to object. “Your Honor, my client deeply loves his wife and child. This is simply a misunderstanding ..” “A misunderstanding?” I scoffed, pushing a stack of photos towards the judge’s bench. “This is a surveillance screenshot of Kai pressing our six–year–old son’s hand near a sulfuric acid pool. And this is a recording of Florence admitting she framed Scott.“}
The courtroom erupted in an uproar.
Kai’s face instantly went pale. He shot up from his seat. “Carolyn, I …
“Defendant, please remain silent!” the judge interjected.}
He slumped back down, his eyes churning with pain and regret.
“S
“Defendant, do you have any explanation for the plaintiff’s accusations?” the judge asked.}
Kai remained silent for a long time, ignoring his lawyer’s frantic glances. He finally said, weakly, “No. What the plaintiff said is essentially true.”
He had indeed done things that hurt his wife and he couldn’t deny it.
If pleading guilty would make me and Scott happy, he was willing.
Finally, the judge’s gavel fell heavily.
“The court rules as follows: The divorce between the plaintiff, Carolyn Wallace and the defendant Kai Lockwood is granted; custody of the biological son, Scott Lockwood, is awarded to the plaintiff; and the defendant Kai is found guilty of intentional injury and sentenced to six months in prison.“}
Kai stood motionless in the defendant’s dock.
As the bailiffs handcuffed him, he suddenly looked up at me, a self–mocking smile twisting his lips.
“I deserve this,” he whispered. “But Carolyn … if I could do it again … ”
I didn’t wait for him to finish; I turned to walk towards the public gallery.
Scott rushed into my arms and Sebastian stood behind us, like a silent, solid shield.
Kai watched our retreating figures, longing for one last glimpse of Scott to apologize to him. But Scott kept his face buried in Sebastian’s embrace, ignoring him completely.}
Kai finally lowered his head and was led out of the courtroom by the bailiffs.
Outside the courthouse, Florence, with her slightly bulging belly and pale face, blocked the police car.
*Kai!” she cried, her makeup smeared as she pounded on the car window. “I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t abandon us.“>
The car window slowly lowered. Kai’s eyes were as cold as if he were looking at a stranger. “My child?”
He scoffed, his gaze falling on her belly. “Do you need me to read the DNA report aloud again?“>
Florence trembled all over, then suddenly grabbed the railing and shrieked, “It’s all Carolyn’s fault, that bitch! If she hadn’t done this…”
“Shut up!” Kai suddenly leaned forward, his handcuffs clanging against the iron bars with a harsh sound. “Say one more word and I’ll make you and that bastard wish you were dead.“}
Florence was desperate. The child in her belly was too far along to abort and she couldn’t remember whose it was after repeatedly trying, so she could only gamble that it was Kai’s. She thought the DNA test was inaccurate.}
But to her shock, when she arrived, she saw that Kai was going to jail. She simply couldn’t believe that with Kai’s abilities, he couldn’t win
the lawsuit.
The moment the police car started, Florence stumbled forward, but was held back by the police.”
She slipped, falling heavily on the steps.
Blood flowed down her thigh, staining the concrete a shocking red.”
“My baby, my baby,” she wailed, curled up on the ground, but the police car had already sped away into the distance.
I stood in the second–floor corridor of the courthouse, watching the scene through the glass window.
‘Should I call an ambulance?” Sebastian asked softly.
I shook my head, turning to walk towards the exit.
I heard Florence’s hysterical crying behind me, but there was only a peaceful wasteland left in my heart.
The woman who had been trapped in the basement six months ago, the mother who had watched her son being harmed, had died along
212 1000
10:10 AM
The woman who had been trapped in the basement six months ago, the mother who had watched her son being harmed, had died along with her love for Kai by the sulfuric acid pool.
Three months later, I had already started a new life.
“Mom, Uncle Sebastian says there are fire–breathing volcanoes in New Zealand!” Scott bounced excitedly, holding an ice cream in his right hand. The scar from the sulfuric acid burn was so faint it was barely visible.
Sebastian was at the counter checking luggage, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, revealing strong forearms.
Sensing my gaze, he turned and smiled at me, the sunlight gilding his eyelashes.
As the boarding announcement sounded, the waiting area TV suddenly cut to breaking news.
“The Lockwood Corp officially declared bankruptcy today. Former chairman Kai Lockwood suffered a sudden heart attack in prison and has been released on medical parole.“}
The man on the screen was gaunt, barely recognizable. His once meticulously groomed hair now hung in disheveled strands over his forehead.
He stared blankly at the hospital window, where a vibrant flowering crabapple tree bloomed just outside.
It was my favorite flower.
As the plane soared into the clouds, Scott leaned close and whispered, “Mom, why are you crying?“}
I touched my cheek and only then did I realize tears had fallen.}
But this time, it wasn’t from pain.
(The End)
