Chapter 82

The day Dominik had been waiting for, had come. He got out of bed with a smile. He wasn't sure whether he was so happy to see Samanta or because he'd be seeing his little daughter. Doubts and remorse came to his mind, thinking of this young girl who probably hated him right now. He was a stranger to his daughter, and the thought of that caused him pain.

He put on a spectacular gray suit, with no tie, he bought the day before. He looked flawless from head to toe.

Mr. Hallagan, his lawyer had arrived the night before and was expecting him at the hotel lobby.

Carlos left early, not saying where he was going, he wanted no part in this, for his relationship with Samanta and how Dominik had grown in him lately, too. We could say they had become friends. But they couldn't. He thought he should do something since Dominik was a victim in all of this, and Samanta had to understand this somehow. He understood she was upset, but he could not sympathize. He had to find a way to show his friend, pushing Dominik away from his daughter was unjust. Samanta had no idea the lengths Dominik had gone to find her.

On the other hand, Sam was having an awful day. She was very anxious while she looked out her studio window, it was her third cup of coffee this morning. She tossed and turned all night. All her thoughts, fears, grudges and bitterness were torturing her, making her stay up all night.

With her eyes lost in the horizon, she was diving deep in her thoughts.

«What the hell does he want?», she thought.

She could not believe this man, whom she once loved madly, was so vile to take her daughter away from her. It was macabre.

She cursed him once more, for coming back into her life, for turning her world upside down again. She could not deny it, she still loved him. How else could you explain all those feelings overwhelming her? She wished she had him in from of her to slap him and yell to his face, reproaching him for all those nights she cried and suffered, but at the same time, she wanted to look him in the eyes and get lost in the blue fog in his eyes, touch him, feel him, smell him, kiss him…

She shook her head strongly, trying to get those ideas out.

“No. He is evil. He wants to take my daughter away” she told herself, trying to cheat herself into hating him, but it was absurd.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not hate him. She never stopped loving him.

“Are you ready?” Her husband's voice pulled her back to reality. Her reality. She nodded and stood up in a brisk. “Let's go” demanded Amir, striding out.

Sam took her purse and her phone.

When they got to the car, Aháva's sweet smile brightened her day. She hugged her tight and the little girl nestled on her thighs. The mother played with her child's brown curls on the way to her school. They would drop her off and go straight to the courthouse, where they would be holding the hearing.

Amir and Samanta conversed about the instructions they received from their lawyer. Amir's lawyer, Mr. Udni Yabse, was one of the best in the country .He carried the Mobarek's business deals and he was very respected in town. He had a great reputation among his colleagues. He had been very specific with the Mobareks, keeping the same version until the end. They would argue saying Dominik gave up his rights as a parent the minute the mother let him know she was pregnant. Also, they would say that after so many years, Dominik did not procure communication with the child. They would also claim the Mobarek family had sheltered the child since before her birth, therefore, she was, legally, Amir's daughter.

Each meter they got closer, Samanta became more upset, a weird feeling, almost as if an invisible force was pushing on her chest. She was about to have a panic attack when Amir stopped the car at the agreed spot.

“Everything will be fine. Trust me” her husband say, holding her hand. “That bastard won't get away with it” he added.

Samanta took a deep breath, trying to recover some strength.

They got out of the car and walked inside the place.

15 minutes before the settled time, Dominik and Mr. Hallagan arrived in a taxi cab.

As they walked in, they found a series of corridors going in different directions, people going and coming, lost in their own affairs. At the end of a hallway, to the right, Dominik recognized Samanta, she was sitting on one of the chairs there. He came closer and also noticed the man next to her, holding her hand. He knew, right away, that was Sam's husband.

The idea of seeing her with another man made his stomach turn.

He took a deep breath and approached them, he bowed his head and cordially greeted them.

“Samanta” said the man with some nostalgia.

She saw him from the corner of her eye, not saying a word.

Dominik felt an icy indifference from her.

“Case Mobarek-Weigand?” a woman's voice rumbled in the hall.

They both looked at the woman. Samanta stood up, followed by Amir, who leered at Dominik.

“That would be us” responded Dominik, raising his hand.

“Come on in. Doctor Maleb will be with you shortly.”

Sam stepped in first, followed by her husband, holding her by the waist. Both lawyers greeted one another out of courtesy, and walked in, too. Dominik waited a few seconds as everybody else got in and sat down in their spots. His heart was pounding in his chest. There were so many opposing feelings he wanted to run away and leave things as they were.

He took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh. He walked in.

From the moment the hearing began, you could feel the tension in the room and you could hear whispers among Samanta, Amir and Mr. Yabse, also between Dominik and his lawyer.

Both lawyers presented their client's cases.

The Mobareks' lawyer claimed Weigand gave up his rights the moment Samanta told him she was expecting and he declined any kind or sort of relation with the child, presenting as evidence the text messages exchanged between Dominik Weigand and Amir Mobarek's phone numbers. Message records for which, Amir had to pay a large amount of money to the phone company. Also, Mr. Yabse added, the minor, named Aháva, had been raised within the Mobarek household, under the outstanding guardianship of Amir Mobarek, who gave her his name, thus earning every right as her father. Additionally, the girl had been born in Egypt, thus becoming an Egyptian citizen.

On his part, Mr. Hallagan defended his client stating Dominik was unaware of the child's existence, and that it had all been a misunderstanding. He explained how Friedrich Treadaway, manager and publicist of the defendant had kept the truth from Weigand. Ultimately, Carlos joined in to testify in favor of Dominik, proving the lawyer was telling the truth. Dominik had been lied to during all these years. Regardless, as soon as he learned about the existence of his daughter, he procured contact with Samanta, with the objective of fixing everything.

Samanta could not help feeling thwarted, according to Carlos' testament, Dominik was victim of circumstances. She felt embarrassed for being so hard to him.

Minutes went by and tension increased. Instead of reaching consensus, and understanding, they were getting the opposite. Samanta, Dominik and Amir kept raising their voices every time, both lawyers objected each other's cases with good arguments. Doctor Alana Maleb, regent judge, lost her patience.

“Silence. Order in the court” she yelled, slamming her gavel. Everybody present made silence immediately. “Mr. Weigand” Dominik looked at the judge, closely. “Do you understand that, without reliable proof that you are the girl's father, I cannot give a verdict?”

Dominik nodded.

“I understand, your Honor. That is why I request an order to hold a paternity test. I am sure I am the girl's biological father and I wish to prove it in order to appeal with sufficient evidence” Dom spoke in total serenity.

“Appeal?” Sam was surprised to hear him say that word.

“Counselors. Step up” ordered the judge. They both quickly approached the stand. “Do we have an understanding?” both men exchanged looks and, a few seconds later, the Mobarek lawyer opened his mouth to say something, however, Hallagan's gesture of denial shushed him.

“My client wishes to appeal, your honor” declared Hallagan. “He is willing to take the paternity tests, which, we are sure will come out positive. The moment we have the results, we will have physical evidence, as you request, thus allowing us to proceed to assign custody of the minor.”

Custody? Appeal? Assign? Those words hit Samanta. Panic manifested itself as she understood what Dominik wanted, not only did he want to obtain rights over Aháva, but, among his “macabre” intentions was trying to take her away.

“What kind of an abusive revenge is he seeking?” She asked about to cry.

Amir had to hold her from jumping onto Dominik.

“Very well, with this recent turn of events… I will assign a date for a new hearing. Where we will have proof of paternity, allowing us to discuss the matter with clarity. Mrs. Mobarek” she said referring to Samanta, “the date will be set for tomorrow. You, your daughter and Mr. Weigand must go to the specialized facilities at As Salam, to submit to the test. Beforehand, I thank you both for your collaboration” Sam nodded in resignation. “Mr. Weigand” she said to Dominik. “Do you agree?”

“Yes, your honor. The sooner, the better” he responded.

He looked to Samanta, who gave him a dirty look in return.

“Session adjourned. Next hearing to be held on October, the 1st, same time. I urge your punctuality, please” the judge slammed her gavel once more, stood up and left the room.

Without waiting another minute, Samanta and Amir left, too. Mr. Yabse came up to Hallagan and shook his hand, showing professionalism, then bowed in respect to Dominik, who mimicked him and then left, too.