Chapter 7 - The Trap in Court
Two weeks later, the Manhattan Family Courthouse was packed with press and legal spectators. Dominic sat at the defense table beside a low-tier court-appointed lawyer, having been forced to fire his expensive legal team due to bankruptcy. Across the aisle, Audrey sat elegantly in a navy suit, surrounded by Arthur and the city's finest legal minds.
Dominic’s lawyer stood up, addressing the judge. "Your Honor, my client acknowledges he made a mistake during a high-stress moment. However, Mr. Vance is a wealthy corporate attorney capable of providing a lavish lifestyle for his newborn twins. Denying him custody is a violation of his parental rights!"
Judge Rebecca Vance—no relation to Dominic—looked down over her glasses. "Mr. Vance, your financial disclosures submitted this morning list your current bank balance as negative fourteen thousand dollars, correct?"
Dominic flushed deep red, clearing his throat nervously. "That... that is temporary, Your Honor! Once my firm restructures—"
"Your Honor," Marcus Sterling interrupted, standing up gracefully. "We submit into evidence Exhibit A: CCTV footage from the Saint Aurelia NICU ward, complete with high-definition audio."
The courtroom lights dimmed. A large screen descended from the ceiling, playing the crystal-clear video from four days after the birth.
The entire courtroom listened in stunned silence as Dominic’s voice echoed through the speakers: "Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You and those babies are on your own."
The footage showed Natalie smirking in Audrey's coat, Dominic shoving the divorce papers into her lap while the twins slept in incubators, and his complete disregard for the infants' health.
The judge’s face turned into stone as the video ended.
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Dominic buried his face in his trembling hands as murmurs of outrage swept through the gallery.
"Mr. Vance," Judge Vance said, her voice dropping into an icy tone. "In my twenty years on the bench, I have rarely seen such callous disregard for newborn human life. Emergency sole custody is granted immediately to Audrey Bennett. Furthermore, a permanent restraining order is issued against you."
