The Silent Wife novel (Rachel and Justin) novel Chapter 342

Chapter 342 Profligate Lifestyle

The hearing continued after the court’s recess ended. The judge directly asked Charlotte who she’d like to live with.

However, before Charlotte could give her answer, Hernandez suddenly stood up. “Your Honor, before we ask the child who she’d like to live with, I’d like to present a new reference material for the case. I think you, the jury present, and the child herself have the right to see it.”

The judge nodded slightly.

Hernandez whispered something to the projectionist at the scene. Soon after that, a few photos appeared on the LED screen.

At the sight of the photos, Justin turned pale at once.

The photos were selfies taken on a large hotel bed by a woman resting her head on Justin’s arm—the woman who had turned up next to him the morning before yesterday.

Frankie hurriedly covered Charlotte’s eyes, but it was too late.

Charlotte was stunned for a while with her eyes covered. Then, she mumbled quietly, “Does Daddy have another new girlfriend?”

Rachel was startled for a moment before she clenched her fists.

Hernandez exchanged a brief look with Jolly in the public gallery. Then, he stood up and explained, “The woman in the photos is a sex worker, or, in layman’s terms, a hooker!”

In an instant, Justin’s pupils shrank, and his temples throbbed. He had never been humiliated like this before.

The jury’s peculiar gazes were all focused on the man as they discussed the photos.

Just then, Hernandez continued, “The hiring of prostitutes is prohibited by law and by moral standards. My client didn’t want to bring this up at first, but as an attorney, I believe this is a key piece of information that can prove that the defendant has a profligate lifestyle. He’s simply a shameless man who lacked the morality necessary to raise a child!”

Justin’s attorney panicked. “Please watch your language, Mr. Hernandez! By accusing my client of having a profligate lifestyle based on a few photos alone, you and your client are essentially committing libel!”

“Silence!” The gavel struck. The judge said in a serious tone, “Mr. Hernandez, please don’t bring out materials irrelevant to the case for an argument.”

Hernandez nodded, accepting the judge’s words with an open mind. Naturally, as an attorney, he knew very well that these photos wouldn’t have any direct impact on the ruling; they would only make the jury take them into consideration at most. However, the usefulness of these photos lay in Charlotte.

As he had expected, when the judge asked Charlotte again who she’d like to live with, she answered, “I want to live with Mommy.”

The blood visibly drained from Justin’s face. He exclaimed in disbelief, “Charlotte!”

Charlotte turned around and hugged Jolly, her eyes reddened. She was still too little to know what the words “the hiring of prostitutes” meant, but in her view, Justin had found another new girlfriend, which was a huge blow to her. Kids were the most insecure, and yet Justin always had all kinds of women around him. Now that someone else had turned up after Amber was finally gone, how could she accept it?

With the trump card played, everything was decided. As Hernandez and the others had expected, the court ruled that Rachel would have Charlotte’s custody.

When Hernandez walked out of the court building with the written judgment in his hands, Rachel smiled the most relaxed smile she had had in recent days.

“Let’s go, Chris.” Jolly’s voice sounded from the entrance; she was holding Charlotte’s hand next to her.

Rachel immediately went over to Charlotte and scooped her up in her arms before giving her a kiss. “Charlotte, from now on, you’ll be staying with me, and we’ll never be separated from each other. Let me take you home.”

Charlotte seemed somewhat tired, though; she buried her head on Rachel’s shoulder without making a sound.

Suddenly, some quick footsteps came from behind. “Charlotte!”