IN THE COURTROOM
TWO HOURS EARLIER
“Can we have Monica Sterling in the defendant stand please?” the judge said and Monica stared at me, holding my hand tightly with fear evident in her eyes.
“Come on, tell them everything,” I said, gesturing for her to go ahead.
“Mrs Monica, how do you know Mr Ethan Knight?” Ethan’s lawyer asked Monica, his piercing eyes boring into Monica like he was reading her.
“He is my ex-husband” Monica replied.
“Is it true that you were having an affair with Mr Nicholas while still married?” The lawyer asked and I frowned at his question.
“your honor this question is out of line. It has nothing to do with_” Anthony tried speaking but the judge cut him short.
“Let him finish Mr Anthony,” the judge said, staring at Anthony through his glasses which sat still on his nose “You may continue, Mr Lukas.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Ethan’s lawyer said then faced Monica again “You’re yet to answer my question, Mrs. Sterling”
“No it’s not true” Monica admitted, her head slightly bowed in shame.
“Were you pregnant before you met Mr Sterling?” Lukas asked again.
“yes, I was” Monica replied.
“What’s your relationship with Mr Nicholas”, Lukas asked.
“He is my husband” Monica replied, her eyes staring at me affectionately.
“According to the marriage contract that you signed, you were to leave me Nicholas I’m a year tile and yet, the two of you are still together. I would like you to explain to the court why you’re still with Mr Nicholas”
“I and Nicholas fell in love along the line and are legally married now” Monica explained and Anthony abruptly rose to his feet, his jaw already clenching.
“Your honor, Mr. Lukas is asking questions that are not related to this subject,” Anthony said, his voice sharp but the judge still didn’t listen to his complaint.
“Go ahead with your question Mr Lukas,” the judge said. I couldn’t help but frown. Was the judge bribed by Ethan? I thought deeply to myself.
“Thank you, your honour,” Lukas said, a pleasant smile on his face which instantly turned into a frown when his gaze landed on Monica “Mrs Monica, you didn’t inform Mr Ethan about your pregnancy. True or false”
“True” Monica’s voice trembled as she replied.
“You didn’t want to tell Mr. Ethan about your pregnancy because you hated him for taking a second wife True or false?”. Lukas asked.
“he didn’t take a second wife. He cheated on me with my housekeeper” Monica uttered, glaring at Lukas who seemed unfazed.
“True or false Mrs Monica” Lukas asked again.
“false” Monica replied rudely.
“Mrs. Monica, I would like you to explain to the honorable court the reason you didn’t tell me Ethan you were carrying his child,” Lukas said, his gaze on Monica who was quiet and was staring coldly at him.
“The day I found out I was pregnant, I went home to tell Mr Ethan who I caught sleeping with my housekeeper. I tried to plead and tell Mr. Ethan about my pregnancy but he didn’t want to listen to me instead, he sent me out of his house” Monica explained.
“Thank you, Mrs. Monica,” Lukas said, then turned to the judge “That will be all your honor” Lukas uttered before going to sit beside Anthony whom I saw staring at Lukas in disgust.
“Mr Anthony” the judge called, jolting him out of his concentration on Lukas.
Anthony rose to his feet and submitted all necessary documents at the judge’s table “I would like Mr. Ethan to step forward please”
Ethan stepped forward and his presence irked me. Monica came to sit close to me, her hands slightly trembling “Are you okay?”
“What if we don’t win? What if Ethan has to have full custody of the kids? I don’t want to be far from you Nicholas” Monica whispered, her voice laced with fear.
I couldn’t even say anything because I had nothing to say. I just held her close to myself and comforted her with a hug.
“Who is Mrs. Monica Sterling to you Mr. Ethan,” Anthony asked, his voice sharp and rough.
“She is my ex-wife” Ethan replied.
“Were you aware that she was pregnant before you sent her out of your house?” Anthony asked.
“No” Ethan replied.
“When you found out about the babies, did you try to get them things they might need?”
“Yes” Ethan replied and my eyes widened in shock.
“Liar. You f*****g bastard. You never bought anything for the kids. You were only concerned about taking them to your place and trying to lure me out of my marriage with your pretentious gifts” Monica rose to her feet, yelling in anger, and from where I sat, I could see her veins threatening to pop out of her neck.
“Silence” the judge yelled and the court fell silent “I won’t condone such distraction” the judge added. Turning his gaze to Anthony, he sighed the gestured for Anthony to continue.
“Mr. Ethan, please can you list some of the times you bought for your kids?” Anthony asked and Ethan fell silent.
“Your honor, Mr Anthony seems to be intimidating my client” Lukas rose to his feet suddenly.
“Let him finish Mr Lukas” the judge uttered and I couldn’t help the smile that broke out from my lips.
“Are you lying to the court, Mr Ethan?” Anthony asked and yet Ethan couldn’t say anything. “Let’s assume you can’t remember what you bought for the kids but I’m sure you have receipts of payments right?”
“Emm_i_ I do have them but_”
“Then I assume you can present them to the court,” Anthony said and Ethan began stammering on his words.
“You said you wanted full custody of the kids but you haven’t done anything financially for them. Mr. Nicholas has been taking care of the financial needs of the kids since their birth and also deserves to have custody over the twins” Anthony said then turned to the judge “That will be all your honor” he said, bowing his head slightly.
I frowned as Anthony walked to his seat “That was short” Monica commented and I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement.
“I will want both parties to present the DNA test results of the kids” the hug announced and my heart pounded on my chest in fear. This was the moment. The moment when the judge will make his final decision.
Anthony and Lukas both stepped out and placed two brown envelopes on the judge’s desk. The judge raised the two envelopes in the air “This is sealed and hasn’t been opened” the judge said then opened the envelope.
Monica held my hand tightly and that made me stare at her face to see tears gathering in her eyes “Ethan is going to win for sure. They’re his kids and he deserves right over them” I could hear the worry and fear in her voice.
She was right. I didn’t have a chance against Ethan because I’m not the biological father of the kids.
“What is this?” The judge asked, staring at Anthony and Lukas with a frown on his face and my heart raced in trepidation.
“It’s the DNA paternity test of the Mason and Macy Sterling your honor” Lukas replied.
“But it’s different from what we have heard today Mr Lukas. According to your client, he said the kids are his but the result says otherwise” the judges said and I stared in confusion.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying your honor,” Lukas said, his voice trembling slightly.
“According to the DNA paternity test here in my hands, Mr Ethan is not the biological father of Mason Sterling and Macy Sterling” My breath hitched as I sat frozen in my seat as the judge uttered those words.
“This has to be a dream” I muttered under my breath, staring at the judge in disbelief.