Chapter 6
The court hearing was two weeks later.
I sat at the plaintiff’s table, my lawyer beside me, my hands folded tight in my lap.
Julian sat across the room, his own lawyer next to him, his face cold and arrogant.
He’d been released on bail, ordered to stay at least 500 meters away from us until the hearing was over.
He’d spent the last two weeks telling anyone who’d listen that I was an unfit mother, that I’d kidnapped his children, that I was brainwashing them against him.
The judge, a stern woman in her sixties with silver hair pulled into a tight bun, called the court to order.
Julian’s lawyer spoke first, standing up with a dramatic flourish.
“Your Honor,” he said. “My client is a loving father who was tricked into signing those custody papers. He was distraught over his divorce, he wasn’t thinking clearly. His ex-wife exploited his vulnerability to steal his children and flee the country. These children belong with their father, in their home country, surrounded by their family.”
He sat down, looking smug.
My lawyer stood up, her voice calm and steady.
“Your Honor,” she said. “My client didn’t steal anyone. She fled an abusive marriage with her children to build a safe, stable life for them. The custody papers Mr. Morales signed were reviewed by three separate attorneys before he put pen to paper. He chose not to read them. He chose to call his own children ‘dead weight’ in front of a court official. And he chose to abandon them for a mistress and a pregnancy that never came to term.”
She turned to the judge, holding up a thick folder of evidence.
“We have witness statements from Attorney Miller, confirming Mr. Morales’ words and his refusal to review the documents. We have police reports from the day he attacked my client and her son outside their apartment. We have school records, medical records, and testimony from the children’s teachers proving they are thriving here in Madrid.”
She paused, letting her words sink in.
“Mr. Morales isn’t here because he loves his children. He’s here because his perfect new life fell apart, and they’re the only thing he has left to claim. That is not love. That is possession.”
The judge nodded, flipping through the evidence folder.
Julian’s face was bright red.
He stood up, ignoring his lawyer’s quiet protests.
“I love my kids!” he yelled, pointing at me. “She’s the one who doesn’t care! She turned them against me! She’s a liar and a thief!”
“Order!” the judge snapped, slamming her gavel. “One more outburst, Mr. Morales, and you’ll be held in contempt.”
Julian sat down, seething.
Just then, the courtroom door opened.
Everyone turned to look.
Bianca walked in, dressed in a simple black dress, her face pale but determined.
Julian’s eyes went wide.
“What are you doing here?” he hissed.
Bianca ignored him.
She walked straight to the witness stand, raising her hand to swear the oath.
“Your Honor,” she said, her voice clear and steady. “I’d like to testify.”
The judge nodded.
Bianca looked straight at Julian, her eyes cold.
“Julian never cared about those kids,” she said. “Not once. When we first started seeing each other, he’d complain about them for hours—how they were too loud, too needy, how they got in the way of our fun. He told me signing the custody papers was the best day of his life, that he was finally free of the burden of being a father.”
She paused, her voice shaking slightly.
“He only wanted me for the baby. The second I lost it, he didn’t even call to ask if I was okay. He just ran off to try and get his old kids back, like they were a backup plan he could pull out of storage when his first choice fell through.”
She looked at the judge, her eyes sincere.
“Those kids are better off with her. She loves them. She fights for them. Julian only loves what they can do for his ego.”
She stepped down from the stand, walking out of the courtroom without a backward glance.
Julian sat frozen, his mouth hanging open.
His lawyer looked like he wanted to disappear under the table.
The judge closed the evidence folder, looking at Julian with disgust.
“Mr. Morales,” she said. “You have shown nothing but selfishness, cruelty, and disregard for the well-being of your own children. You signed away your rights freely and without coercion. You have threatened the plaintiff, physically assaulted your son, and shown no remorse for any of your actions.”
She picked up her pen, signing the document in front of her.
“I am granting permanent, irrevocable sole custody to the plaintiff. You are hereby ordered to have no contact, direct or indirect, with Mrs. Morales or her children for a period of no less than ten years. Any violation of this order will result in immediate arrest and deportation. This hearing is adjourned.”
The gavel cracked.
It was over.
Julian was gone from our lives.
Forever.
I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face.
May you like
We were safe.
Really, truly safe.
