Chapter 88
RAINA
First day of the court hearing. My stomach churned with nervous energy, the kind that clings to your bones and refuses to let go. Nathan had assured me everything would be fine, but couldn’t shake the nagging doubt clawing at my thoughts. This wasn’t just about paperwork or legalities –this was my life, my freedom, and my son’s future on the line.
Dominic squeezed my hand as we rode from the hotel to the courthouse. We’d left New York for California, the state chosen for the trial. His support was a quiet strength beside me, though my mind drifted to Nathan He’d spent weeks pouring over my case, flipping between his place and mine, sometimes crashing on my couch just to keep working. But now, on the most critical day, he wasn’t here yet.
Family emergency, he’d explained. He promised to meet us
eet us at court, but worry prickled at me Was he okay?
The courthouse looned ahead, its imposing structure adding weight to my already heavy heart. As we stepped out, my gaze immediately landed on Alex. He was standing with his lawyer, a woman with sharp features and an even sharper expression. Behind him stood Vanessa and his mother, both giving me looks that could curdle milk.
I held my head high, refusing to flinch under their stares. Alex noticed me almost immediately, his body language shifting as though he wanted to approach. I glared at him, silently reminding him of the restraining order.
“Do you really want to do this, Raina? Alex called out, his voice laced with something that almost sounded like regret.
I squared my shoulders. “I’ve never wanted anything more than this divorce,” I replied, my tone steady and firm.
His mother, never one
a
never one to keep her opinions to herself, huffed indignantly. “This is wrong, Raina. It was just a harmless mistake on Alex’s part!
Harmless. The word made my blood boil. I laughed bitterly, anger seeping into my voice. “A mistake that cost the five years with my child? A mistake that almost cost my son his life? You call that harmless?”
Before she could respond, a familiar figure appeared – Eliza. She walized in with the audacity only she could muster, taking her place beside Vanessa as though she belonged there.
‘s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing hero?” he demanded:
Eliza didn’t even glance at him. Her focus was entirely on me, her lips curling into a saccharine smile. “I’m here to support you, Alex,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “I finally understand why you didn’t want to marry me. And I forgive you. Once this is over, we can finally have our wedding.”
The audacity of her words hung in the air like a bad smell. Alex turned to her, his face darkening as he hissed for her to leave.
I didn’t have time to revel in their drama because suddenly, arms wrapped around my shoulders. “Hey, beautiful,” Nathan’s familiar voice murmured. Dear my ear. Rebef flooded me, but it was short–lived when I turned to look at him.
He was pale, his normally vibrant eyes dulled with exhaustion. Panic surged as I placed the back of my hand on his forehead. He was burning up.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I scolded softly, my worry evident. “You’re sick.”
Nathan shook his head, offering a weak smile. “I promised to be here for you, Raina. I’m not breaking that promise”
Before I could argue, Dominic appeared, his phone call ending as he gestured for us to follow. “They’re calling us in,” he said. “There was a little hiccup,
Nathan squeezed my hand reassuringly as we walked in, his presence steady despite his obvious discomfort.
Inside the courtroom, the tension was palpable. The judge’s presence loomed Large, her sharp gaze cutting through the air as the hearing officially began I sat at the plaintiff’s cable, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. Across the room, Alex sat with his lawyer, their hushed conversation pictated by occasional glances in my direction.
Nathan was a picture of focus as he began presenting my case. He spoke with calm confidence, his voice unwavering and authoritative. Watching him work was nothing short of impressive. Every word, every statement, and every piece of evidence he brought forward felt deliberate, like pieces of a puzzle being laid out one by one.
His argument centered on Alex’s negligence–the unfiled divorce papers, the emotional toll his actions had taken on me, and the years of deception that followed. He painted a picture of a woman who had been wronged but was now standing up for herself.
But then, it was my turn.
Alex’s Lawyer stood, her sharp heels clicking ominously as she approached the stand. Her demeanor was polished and professional, but her eyes gleaned with a predatory sharpness.
“Mrs. Sullivan,” she began, her voice smooth but cutting, “Is it true that you have been in a romantic relationship with your lawyer, Mr. Carter?
