Tania’s Desperation

Book:Revenge On My Ex Husband Published:2024-12-8

As the proceedings continued, Tania fought to keep her expression neutral, but her mind was reeling. Gia did her best to cross-examine Ethan, attempting to cast doubt on his character by asking pointed questions about his absence during challenging family moments and suggesting he had manipulated the recordings to make her look bad.
Victor quickly objected, highlighting the judge’s previous approval of the recordings as admissible evidence. The judge sustained the objection, and Gia was forced to retract her line of questioning. Despite her efforts, Gia could see that her case was slipping away.
As the session broke for a short recess, Tania clenched her fists under the table, her heart pounding. She had underestimated how meticulously Ethan and Victor had prepared. She’d always thought of Ethan as someone she could easily manipulate, someone who was too trusting for his own good. But today, he seemed more resolute, less susceptible to her attempts at manipulation. She glanced at Gia, frustration simmering in her chest. “Is this really slipping through our fingers?” she hissed.
Gia looked around to ensure they couldn’t be overheard. “Not yet. We still have a few cards left to play, but you need to stay calm. We can argue that these recordings show only isolated incidents. We’ll emphasize your commitment to Grace and your marriage. But Tania…” Gia hesitated. “You need to be honest with me. Is there anything else anything that could undermine us further?”
Tania swallowed, thinking of Fabian, of the secrets she’d buried so deep that even Gia didn’t know them. She shook her head firmly. “No. We’re clear.”
When the judge called them back, Gia fought to portray Tania as a caring mother. She showed a series of messages exchanged between Tania and Ethan over the years, trying to cast her as supportive, albeit imperfect. Yet, Victor dismantled each point, countering with further evidence, including texts that showed Tania manipulating Ethan and threatening to take Grace if things didn’t go her way. Each piece of evidence chipped away at Tania’s image until even Gia struggled to refute them effectively.
As the hearing drew to a close, the judge looked between the parties before delivering his final remarks.
“After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, it’s clear that irreparable harm has been done to this marriage. The accusations of manipulation, emotional abuse, and dishonesty are supported by the evidence presented today. Given the circumstances and the lack of rebuttal that adequately addresses these concerns, I see no grounds to deny the divorce.”
The judge’s gavel hit the stand. The divorce was granted.
A numbness swept over Tania. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d done everything to keep control, to hold onto Ethan, to keep her life intact. As the courtroom emptied, she sat frozen, watching as Ethan and Victor left, their shoulders straight, their steps purposeful. A new reality settled over her, colder and emptier than she had imagined.
Outside, Ethan finally felt the weight lift. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, feeling for the first time a sense of freedom, a release from the grip of Tania’s manipulations. Victor put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and Ethan nodded, his mind already on the next steps for himself and Grace.
As Ethan was about to leave with Victor, he heard Tania’s voice cut through the air, sharp and venomous. “Ethan!” she called, her tone filled with a blend of anger and despair. He paused, reluctantly turning to face her. Her eyes blazed with a bitterness that made her almost unrecognizable.
“Are you happy now?” she sneered, her voice rising. “Is this what you wanted? To humiliate me in front of everyone? Are you going to run back to Ella now, like I always knew you would? You finally got what you wanted, didn’t you? Well, don’t think for a second that I’m done with you.”
Victor placed a steadying hand on Ethan’s shoulder, but Ethan shook his head, stepping forward. His voice was calm, his words precise. “Tania, this was never about humiliating you. This was about ending the lies, the control, and the damage you brought into my life and Grace’s.” He took a deep breath, eyes unwavering. “All I want is peace for myself and for my daughter.”
Tania’s face twisted, her carefully constructed mask slipping to reveal a flash of desperation. She took a step closer, her words dripping with spite. “The divorce is done, fine. But don’t think for a moment that you’re free. We still have a custody hearing coming up in two days. I’m suing for full custody of both of our children. You think you’re just going to walk away and leave me to pick up the pieces? I’ll be seeking alimony and child support, and trust me, I’ll make sure you pay.”
The words landed like a slap, but Ethan didn’t flinch. He knew this was Tania’s last attempt to tighten her grip, to keep control over him and their family even after the divorce had been granted. He held her gaze, refusing to let her see any sign of fear or hesitation. “I’m not going to let you use Grace as a weapon against me, Tania. Not anymore.”
For a brief moment, Tania’s face softened, almost as if she were hurt by his resolve. But the vulnerability was fleeting. Her eyes hardened again, and she lifted her chin defiantly. “We’ll see about that,” she spat, her voice a low hiss. “Don’t think you’ve won just because of today. You’ve only just begun to feel the consequences of crossing me.”
Victor stepped forward, his presence calm and firm. “Tania , I’d advise you to think carefully about your words. Threatening Ethan in a public courthouse won’t help your case for custody. And as his legal counsel, I’ll ensure that every one of these interactions is recorded and noted.” His tone was even but authoritative, and Tania’s face twitched as his words sank in.
Realizing she’d let her emotions slip too far, Tania forced herself to smile, a thin, brittle expression that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m simply stating my intentions,” she said, her voice icy. “You’ll both see what it feels like to lose everything you care about.”
Ethan shook his head, almost sadly. “Tania, this is exactly why the judge ruled the way he did today. You can’t keep doing this to me, to Grace, to yourself. It’s over.”
Tania’s gaze darted to Victor, then back to Ethan. Her fists clenched, her shoulders squared as she steadied herself. “Nothing is over,” she said, her voice like steel. “Two days from now, you’ll see that I’m still in control. You may have won today, Ethan, but I’ll make sure you regret this.”
With that, she turned sharply, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she stormed out, Gia trailing behind her with a look of quiet frustration. Ethan watched her go, feeling both relief and the weight of the battles that still lay ahead. He knew Tania wouldn’t make this easy; she never had. But at least now, he had a chance to start fresh, even if the path forward wasn’t completely clear.
Victor turned to Ethan, giving him a firm, supportive nod. “We’re prepared for anything she throws at us, Ethan. She can posture and threaten all she wants, but we’ll be ready.” Ethan nodded, the weight of the years of manipulation finally starting to lift, even if only a little. “Thanks, Victor. I just want what’s best for Grace and for all of us, really. She deserves a home where she feels safe, where she can grow up without all this toxicity.”
Victor smiled, a reassuring expression that made Ethan feel, for the first time, that he truly wasn’t alone in this fight. “And that’s exactly what we’re working toward,” he said. “The next hearing will be challenging, but we’ll be prepared.”
But as he looked out over the city skyline, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered. He knew Tania wouldn’t let go easily, that she would fight tooth and nail to keep what she believed was hers. Yet, for once, he felt a strength within him, a conviction that he wouldn’t let her take anything more from him. He would fight for his freedom, for his daughter, and for the life he had almost lost in Tania’s shadow.
In two days, he’d face Tania again, but this time he wouldn’t back down. He’d fight for Grace’s future, for her happiness, and for the chance to finally leave the past behind.
For Tania, however, the battle wasn’t over. A dark determination ignited within her flicker of revenge that she was not yet willing to extinguish.