The courtroom had fallen into a session of uneasy silence, the kind that pricked against the skin and made breaths seem shallow. Jessica sat on the witness stand, her knuckles white as she held on to its edges. Gregory Welsh adjusted his tie as he saw this, the perfect example of calculated confidence, his every move deliberate as he moved forward.“Ms. Williams,” he began, his voice still smooth but filled with accusation, “You have still given me an answer to my question.” Jessica’s throat tightened. Gregory’s gaze pinned her on her seat like a predator who finally caught its prey. He continued. “Why did you take Ethan’s unborn child abroad, raising her far from her biological father for five years?” Every eye in the courtroom was fixed on her, waiting to hear her answer, the same one that she hadn’t summoned the courage to give. She glanced at her later, Lois, who gave her a steady nod, urging her to remain calm and answer. But Jessica could feel the weight of judgement coming fr
The courtroom emptied, leaving behind an air of tension that seemed to live out with Jessica as she hastily made her way through the heavy double doors. Her heels hit against the cold marble floor, each step echoing the desperation screaming in her heart.Avery’s cries still rang in her ears, fueling the urgency that she felt. She spotted her daughter in the hallway, her tiny body forced against her grandmother’s tight embrace, hiccupping as the leftover tears ran down her eyes. Jessica rushed forward, her voice filled with regret.“Avery,” she whispered, kneeling. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry anymore.”Avery lifted her face ruined by tears, her cheeks red from the continuous crying. “Mummy...mummy, you were yelling? Did daddy do something?”Jessica’s heart clenched when she heard her daughter’s words. “No, no, my love. Not at all. Mummy wasn’t angry at Daddy. I was...I was upset at something that was happening in there.”Avery sniffled, clinging to her mother’s arm this time
“This marriage is over, Jessica!” Ethan Mitchell screamed at the top of his voice, his eyes red and filled with anger as his shaking wife tried to keep her test results away from his wrath. Behind her was the pregnancy test kit she had earlier peed on which showed her a positive sign meaning she was pregnant for Ethan, after 5 long years of trying. Love making with the man of her dreams, Ethan, these past few years had only happened when he was intoxicated so she was elated when she realized that soon she would be hearing the cries of a baby in their home.. “What is the meaning of this, Ethan?” Jessica asked as she felt tears run down her eyes uncontrollably. How could this happen now? Why did the universe hate her? “Olivia is pregnant with my child and I can’t let you hold me back from being a father to my unborn child.” Ethan informed her without any warning, no hint of remorse on his face. “Olivia? Your personal assistant from the office?” Jessica echoed back at him, her
Jessica stood looking at the positive sign on the pregnancy test kit. She wondered how her own husband could chase her out of her matrimonial home to bring in another woman. His actions had always shown that he felt nothing for her but this felt like a dagger being pierced into her heart. Filled with rage, Jessica decided to not involve Ethan in the life of their child. She wasn’t going to tell him he was going to be a father now. He had finally lost and she was finally done fighting for a lost cause.Sticks and stones really couldn’t break her bones but Ethan’s words cut deeper than any weapon on earth. How could someone be so cruel? Why? What else was he searching for? These questions ran through Jessica’s mind as she wiped the tears from her eyes.Jessica had always desired to be loved by Ethan but there she was, standing in the living room like a woman from the streets. Scattered hair, rumpled clothes and a broken heart courtesy of her first love. It had finally dawned on her tha
Days had gone by without any word from Ethan and Jessica couldn’t take it anymore. She drove immediately to court and filed for a divorce from Ethan Mitchell. He wanted it over so she was going to make it happen for him as she couldn’t take it any longer. He was already engaged to be married to his new bride and baby mama so she was going to respectfully remove herself from the picture.Their marriage had been the worst five years of life, she had always set aside her needs and wants to please a man who wanted nothing to do with her. This was going to be the last time that was going to happen.“Ethan wants me gone?. Then so be it”She looked at the notifications on her phone and saw many missed calls from Kelvin, Ethan’s best friend, but she wanted nothing to do with him anymore. They weren’t even close to start with so why was he blowing her phone with calls and texts. He hadn’t done any harm to her but she was trying to cut off all that reminded her of Ethan, her new ex-husband.
“I should have known that fool would side with Jessica. What a punk.” Ethan said as he walked out of the club. He always knew that somewhere deep down in Kelvin’s heart he felt something for Jessica but couldn’t speak up because she was with him.Somehow, Ethan’s mind was ravaged with questions and thoughts about divorcing Jessica for Olivia. He knew she was high maintenance and loved all the expensive things of life and she was about to become his wife so he was willing to take up the challenge. Jessica was a good wife, always there for him even though he never truly needed her or cared for her. She made sure he was happy even when it was at the expense of her own happiness. What a pity.He decided to return back to his home after a sour celebration with his friend, Kelvin, to be with the woman his heart longed for. He decided to stop by a flower shop to pick up flowers for the woman who carried his child in her womb. To him, no one else cared and loved him like she did, not even hi
As Jessica returned back to her family estate house after filling for divorce she was received with the warmest of hugs. She had been gone for a few hours to file the divorce papers and was just happy to be in their loving arms at last. Joseph Johnson, her father, released a breath of relief as he hugged her the most like a bear to its prey. He wasn’t going to let her stay in a marriage where she was used as a house wife while a side chic ruled over her. Such humiliation wasn’t going to be hers to bear.Jessica was the first child of two children, causing her to be child saddled with the responsibility of taking care of her younger one and setting a good example. Her parents, Joseph and Janet, had raised her and her brother to never have a reason to beg or worry. Everything they wanted was provided as quickly as possible, so they never knew lack. But the one rule they both shared as parents was to never raise over pampered and spoilt children as they knew one day they would they’d ho
Jessica sat by her family’s poolside, watching the beautiful sunset dip down into the horizon far away from her. The orange glow of its fading light moved on the surface of the water. Her mother, Janet, joined her over at the poolside, a cup of warm tea in her hands. There was a moment of silence between them as both women took in the jaw dropping view in front of them.“You haven’t spoken to him about the baby, have you?”“C’mon mum. You’ve ruined the moment.” Jess sighed, taking off her sun shades to look at her mum with a sad look on her face.“I saw no use in telling him because he had made it clear to me where I stand in his life. There is really no need dragging him back into my life and that of my unborn child.” She finished, picking up her mum’s cup of tea and taking a sip as revenge for ruining the mood.“But you know he has a right to know, Jess. He is the father of the child.” Janet insisted, placing her hand on her daughter’s chin and turning her face to hers.“That still
The courtroom emptied, leaving behind an air of tension that seemed to live out with Jessica as she hastily made her way through the heavy double doors. Her heels hit against the cold marble floor, each step echoing the desperation screaming in her heart.Avery’s cries still rang in her ears, fueling the urgency that she felt. She spotted her daughter in the hallway, her tiny body forced against her grandmother’s tight embrace, hiccupping as the leftover tears ran down her eyes. Jessica rushed forward, her voice filled with regret.“Avery,” she whispered, kneeling. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry anymore.”Avery lifted her face ruined by tears, her cheeks red from the continuous crying. “Mummy...mummy, you were yelling? Did daddy do something?”Jessica’s heart clenched when she heard her daughter’s words. “No, no, my love. Not at all. Mummy wasn’t angry at Daddy. I was...I was upset at something that was happening in there.”Avery sniffled, clinging to her mother’s arm this time
The courtroom had fallen into a session of uneasy silence, the kind that pricked against the skin and made breaths seem shallow. Jessica sat on the witness stand, her knuckles white as she held on to its edges. Gregory Welsh adjusted his tie as he saw this, the perfect example of calculated confidence, his every move deliberate as he moved forward.“Ms. Williams,” he began, his voice still smooth but filled with accusation, “You have still given me an answer to my question.” Jessica’s throat tightened. Gregory’s gaze pinned her on her seat like a predator who finally caught its prey. He continued. “Why did you take Ethan’s unborn child abroad, raising her far from her biological father for five years?” Every eye in the courtroom was fixed on her, waiting to hear her answer, the same one that she hadn’t summoned the courage to give. She glanced at her later, Lois, who gave her a steady nod, urging her to remain calm and answer. But Jessica could feel the weight of judgement coming fr
The court reconvened shortly after the brief recess, the tension in the air was palpable to everyone. The jury made their way back to their seats, their earlier expressions of doubt surrounding Ethan Mitchell still roaming g in the air. Jessica Williams sat beside her lawyer, Lois, who leaned in and spoke in a low tone.“We’ve started well, Jessica,” Lois said, her eyes narrowing with determination in them. “But now’s where the real test begins. Stay calm, answer the questions truthfully, and don’t let his lawyer try to corner you. We already have momentum on our side, let’s keep it up.”Jessica nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. Her heart began to pound heavily as the judge stepped in, announcing that the proceedings should continue. It wasn’t long before that her name was called. “Ms. Williams,” the court clerk called out to her. “Please take the stand.”Jessica rose, her hands trembling as she made her way to the witness stand. She took the oat with a clear and steady voic
The room fell silent as Ethan Mitchell made his way to the witness stand. His steps were steady and calculated, but his face betrayed the unease he felt in his heart as he sat down, adjusted his tie and took the oat that was administered by the bailiff. The jury watched very closely, their expressions remaining neutral but very attentive, ready to weigh every word that proceeded out of his mouth.Lois rose from her seat, her every movement planned and deliberate. Her navy blue suit remained crisp and sharp, her expression calm but determined to bring Ethan down. She approached the stand, her bind in between her hands.“Mr Mitchell,” Lois began, her voice smooth but having a sharp undertone to it. “Thank you for being here today, we all know how busy you are. I want to just ask a very simple question. Can you please tell the court why your marriage to my client, Jessica Williams, came to an end?”Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his teeth gnashing against each other. “Our marri
Jessica sat quietly on the bench in the courthouse waiting room, her fingers gently caressing Avery’s hair as her little girl continued to hold on to her stuffed bunny. Around her, the air was filled with tension and anxiety. The polished floors around her gleamed under the light from the ceiling, but to Jessica, the space felt terrifying and uninviting.Joseph and Janet, her parents, sat behind her, their presence making sure she knew that she wasn’t alone. Janet reached out and squeezed her daughter’s hand, her lips forming into a firm line, while Joseph leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, staring at the ground as he made a silent prayer for his daughter. Ricky stood near the window, his arms crossed together, watching as though he could protect Jessica from the storm that was on its way for her.Lois, impeccably dressed in a nicely tailored navy blue suit, paced a few feet away from them, flipping through her binder and speaking quietly to herself. Ever so often, she glanced a
Jessica sat at the edge of her chair, hands cleaned tightly around her cup of tea making her knuckles turn white. The steam turned in the air, but the tea inside the cup had become cold, forgotten due to her nerves. Lois stood a few feet away from her, flipping through a binder filled with notes, legal jargon and a few highlighted sections.“Jessica,” Lois said, her voice bold but not unkind to her friend. “I need you to focus. Tomorrow isn’t just going to be about formality. The jury will decide Avery’s future. I need you to be prepared to answer their questions properly.”Jessica nodded, but her gaze was still fixed on the floor. Across the room, Ricky leaned against the wall, his arms crossed with a confidence hovering around him that she wished she had right now.Lois sighed, pulling out a chair across from where Jessica sat. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. “Let’s try again. What will you say when you are asked if you would like to co-parent with Ethan?”Jessic
Ethan sat in the dim light of his penthouse, his fingers drumming a rhythm on the edge of the glass in front of him. The whiskey swirled inside in the glass, a deep amber colour that looked like his current situation. His phone vibrated on the table, drawing his attention as he checked to see if Jessica had finally replied to his message.I want to see AveryHis message had been read but he had not gotten any reply. He had texted her many hours ago, every word showing his frustration, especially after the revelation he had gotten from his mum. He had called and sent messages to follow up, but this was all he got in return. Her cold detachment, her refusal to even let him spend a little time with their daughter.His thumb hovered over his phone screen, his mind racing, but the words seemed to leave before he could even think of them. He threw the phone back down on the table, the screen lighting up one more time to mock him.His penthouse had become noisy and chaotic. Laughter filled t
Ricky’s apartment had this cosy feeling to it, exuding a sense of wealth and warmth that Jessica found herself happy to be part of, admitting all the chaos from the recent days. The scent of garlic and herbs took over the air, making her stomach rumble once she stepped inside.“Ricky, this smells amazing,” Jessica said, taking off her coat and placing it on the rack that was by his door.Ricky emerged from the kitchen, a huge smile on his face. “Of course, I would prepare only the best for you. I know you’ve been through enough, Jess. Tonight is a night where you forget about the rest of the world, even though it is for a short while “Jessica smiled at him, touched by the thoughtfulness in his heart. “Thank you, Ricky. You didn’t have to do all of this for me.”“Are you kidding? This is just the beginning. Wait until you see what I have planned for dessert.” He winked, leading her into his dining room where the table was already set for two. A single candle standing in between the pl
The study was cold; on the desk were shadows flickering as the only desk lamp did its best to illuminate the room. Ethan stood at the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon far ahead of him. His mind continued to race, each thought fighting with the other, dragging for his attention. Olivia’s release didn’t make any sense to him. The bail, the timing, and the secrecy involved in it showed that someone had gone to great lengths to ensure that she walked out of there free.Clenching his fists, Ethan let out a very much-needed sigh of relief that he hadn’t realized he was holding for minutes. His hand moved to the paperwork on his desk, the reports he had gathered to find Olivia’s secret benefactor. Every lead he found pointed to the same conclusion that kept him unsettled. He grabbed his phone and dialled a number.“Ethan, darling, why are you calling so late at night?” His mother’s voice came in very warm, the kind of warmth that had helped him get away with being pampered as a young ch