Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Chapter 157

56 vouchers

The courthouse steps felt like mountain to climb as Lucia walked beside Alexander and Ria toward the imposing building. The morning air was crisp, but sweat beaded on Lucia’s forehead despite the cooNemperature. Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched her leather briefcase filled with evidence, photographs, and medical records that would determine her children’s future.

“You’ve got this, Mom.” Ria whispered, linking her arm through Lucia’s. “We have the truth on our side.”

Lucia squeezed her daughter’s arm, drawing strength from Ria’s presence. At sixteen, Ria had insisted on attending the hearing to show her support. Lucas, Lena, and Monica had stayed home with Mrs. Chen, all of them too nervous to sit through the proceedings.

The courthouse lobby buzzed with activity. Lawyers in expensive suits, families clutching tissues, and court reporters hurrying between courtrooms. The marble floors echoed with footsteps and hushed conversations about custody battles, divorces, and broken families.

“There they are.” Alexander spoke quietly, nodding toward the opposite end of the lobby.

Lucia’s stomach clenched as she spotted Marco and Margaret walking through the entrance. They moved slowly, Margaret leaning heavily on Marco’s arm as if she needed support. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed as though she had been crying for hours. She wore a simple navy dress that made her look younger and more vulnerable than usual.

Marco had his arm protectively around Margaret’s shoulders, his face grave with worry. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded bravely, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. To anyone watching, they looked like a devoted couple facing an impossible situation.

“Unbelievable.” Ria muttered under her breath. “Look at them acting like victims.”

Lucia watched Margaret place her hand on her still-flat stomach in a gesture clearly meant to remind everyone that she was carrying Marco’s child. The performance was flawless. The pregnant wife standing by her husband as he fought for his children.

“Don’t let them get to you.” Alexander spoke quietly. “We knew they would put on a show.”

Their lawyer, David Morrison, approached with his briefcase and a confident expression. “Ready for this? Remember, stay calm no matter what they say. Don’t react visibly to their testimony.”

Lucia nodded, though her heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.

Inside Courtroom 3B, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The judge, Honorable Patricia Henley was a woman in her fifties with silver hair and sharp eyes that seemed to see everything. She had a reputation for being fair but tough, especially in custody cases involving allegations of abuse.

Lucia sat at the plaintiff’s table with her legal team, while Marco and Margaret took their places across the aisle. The distance between them felt both too far and not nearly far enough.

“All rise for the Honorable Judge Henley.” The bailiff announced.

As they stood, Lucia caught Marco’s eye across the courtroom. For a moment, she saw something flicker in his expression. Doubt, maybe, or regret. But then Margaret whispered something to him, and his face hardened with resolve.

“Be seated. Judge Henley settled behind her bench. “We’re here today for the custody hearing in the matter of Hart versus Kane. I’ve reviewed the initial filings from both parties, and I must say, the allegations are quite serious.”

She looked directly at Marco. “Mr. Hart, you’re seeking joint custody of three minor children who are currently in the sole

175

5:25 pm pp

Chapter 12

Custody of their mother, Mrs. Kane. You understand that the burden of proof lies with you to demonstrate why this change

would be in the children’s best interests?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Marco stood briefly. “I believe my children have been manipulated and coerced into making false

statements about me.”

Judge Henley turned to Lucia. “Mrs. Kane, you’re opposing this petition based on allegations of physical and emotional abuse. These are serious charges.”

“Yes, Your Honor. I have extensive evidence documenting the harmful environment my children were subjected to in Mr. Hart’s home.

“Very well. Mr. Blackwell, you may call your first witness.”

Marco’s lawyer stood. “Thank you, Your Honor. I call Margaret Hart to the stand.”

Margaret rose slowly, one hand on her stomach, the other gripping Marco’s shoulder for support. She walked to the witness stand with careful, measured steps, as though the weight of her pregnancy made movement difficult.

After being sworn in, she settled into the chair and looked directly at the judge with wide, innocent eyes.

“Mrs. Hart” Blackwell began. “Can you tell the court about your relationship with the children in question?”

Margaret’s voice came soft, barely above a whisper. “I tried so hard to be a good stepmother to Ria, Lucas, and Monica. I loved them like they were my own children.”

Lucia gripped the arms of her chair, fighting the urge to stand up and scream at the lies.

“And how did the

Children respond to your efforts?” Blackwell asked.

Margaret’s eyes filled with tears. “They rejected me from the very beginning. No matter what I did. Buying them clothes, taking them places, trying to include them in family activities. They made it clear I would never be good enough.”

“Can you give the court specific examples?”

“Monica would lock herself in her room for hours and refuse to speak to me. When I tried to help her with her artwork, she would hide it from me like I was the enemy.” Margaret dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Ria was openly hostile, rolling her eyes whenever I spoke and making cruel comments about my age and background.”

Calming

Ria made a soft sound of disbelief beside Lucia, but Alexander placed a calming hand on her arm.

“And Lucas?” Blackwell prompted.

“Lucas was the worst.” Margaret continued, her voice breaking slightly. “He was so angry, so violent. He would slam doors, break things when he was upset. Marco tried to discipline him, but Lucas would just get more aggressive.”

“Mrs. Hart, can you tell the court about the incident that led to Lucas’s injury?”

Margaret took a shaky breath. “Lucas came home late one night. Marco tried to talk to him about it, about responsibility Lucas became enraged and started throwing things. When Marco tried to calm him down, Lucas lunged at him. Marco had to defend himself.”

The lies flowed from Margaret’s mouth like poison, each one delivered with perfect timing and emotional manipulation.

“And what happened after Mrs. Kane took the children?” Blackwell asked.

“It broke Marco’s heart.” Margaret’s tears streamed down her face now. “He loved those children so much, despite their

2/5

5.25 pm pp

Chapter 152

chavior. When they chose to leave with their mother instead of working through our family problems, he was devastated”

Thank you, Mrs. Hart No further questions.

David Morrison stood for cross-examination, his expression skeptical,

“Mrs. Hart, you testified that you loved these children like your own. Is it true that you called them ungrateful brats?”

Margaret’s composure faltered slightly. “I was upset. I said things I didn’t mean.”

“And you confronted Mrs. Kane in a shopping mall, making threats about the children”

“I was emotional. The situation was stressful.”

“Mrs. Hart, are you aware that Monica began self-harming while living in your home?”

“That wasn’t my fault. She was already troubled when I met her.”

“Actually, medical records show that Monica’s self-harm began eight months after you moved into the house. Were you aware of her emotional distress?”

Margaret’s mask slipped completely. “How was I supposed to know? She never talked to me. She was always sulking and being dramatic.

Judge Henley leaned forward. “Mrs. Hart, please answer the question directly. Were you aware that this child was hurting herself?”

“I knew something was wrong. But I tried to help.”

“How did you try to help?” Morrison pressed.

“I told her to stop being so negative. I tried to get her involved in activities.”

“Did you suggest therapy or counseling?”

“No, I thought she would grow out of it.”

Morrison moved closer to the witness stand. “Mrs. Hart, isn’t it true that you actively discouraged Mr. Hart from getting professional help for his daughter?”

“That’s not… I thought family problems should be handled within the family.”

“Even when that family problem involved a child cutting herself?”

Margaret’s face flushed red. “I’m not a doctor. I didn’t know how serious it was.”

After Margaret’s disastrous cross-examination, the courtroom took a brief recess. When they reconvened, Morrison called Lucia to the stand.

Lucia’s hands shook as she was sworn in, but her voice was steady as she began her testimony.

“Mrs. Kane.” Morrison began. “Can you tell the court about the condition of your children when they came to live with you?”

Lucia looked directly at the judge. “Your Honor, my daughter Monica was severely depressed and had been self-harming for months. My son Lucas had bruises on his face from where his father had hit him. My daughter Ria was emotionally manipulated and isolated from her support system.”

3/5

5:25 pm P p

Chapter 1

And what steps did you take to address these issues?”

“I immediately got Monica into therapy with Dr. Patterson, a specialist in adolescent self-harm. I documented Lucas’s injuries and got him counseling as well. All three children received medical and psychological evaluations.”

Morrison presented medical records, therapy notes, and photographs as evidence. Each document painted a clear picture of children who had been traumatized and were slowly healing in their new environment.

“Mrs. Kane, has there been any improvement in your children’s condition since they began living with you?”

“Remarkable improvement.” Lucia’s voice grew stronger. “Monica hasn’t self-harmed in four months. She’s back to creating art and has won several school competitions. Lucas is thriving academically and socially. Ria has regained her confidence and self-worth.”

The most powerful testimony came from Mrs. Anderson, Monica’s art teacher, who had witnessed the child’s transformation firsthand.

“I’ve been teaching for twenty-five years.” Mrs. Anderson spoke from the witness stand. “I’ve never seen a child change so dramatically. When Monica was living with her father, she was withdrawn, anxious, and her artwork was dark and disturbing. She would flinch when adults spoke to her.”

“And after she began living with Mrs. Kane?” Morrison asked.

9

“It was like watching a flower bloom. Her art became vibrant again. She started participating in class discussions. She smiled and laughed with her classmates. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify