(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

It was real hard to sleep tonight, and it was equally hard to step into the court premises. The case was filed, and today was the first proceeding. Erica was the one most conflicted because she had to choose between her husband and her brother. There was nothing to choose but at the same time there was so much to. It has been two months since David came back, and a month since he married again. She could see David and Hope getting along just fine. Oliver was bringing them closer. Eric's assumptions were not too wrong after all. But the child in her arms, her nephew and godson, is Eric's heart. If Eric looses the case, he'll definitely loose a big part of himself. And if David looses the case, he'll probably loose the only purpose of his life.

Those were the only thoughts running in her mind as she sat in the back of their car, with Eric beside her, awfully quiet. He's not this quiet with her. She hated it.

"Eric?", She called him but he didn't respond. It was apparent he's mentally absent right now.

To bring him back, she kept her hand on his idle one which was resting on his thigh.

That made him snap his head in her direction.

"What happened?"

She didn't reply but only looked at him, observing his face, trying to read what he's feeling right now. Because she was aware no matter how much they love each other, he's the same asshole who'd rather sulk alone than telling her the cause of his sadness.

"Don't look at me like that.", He was well aware what she's doing. This was not the first time.

She shifted a little closer to him, trying not to disturb a sleeping Oliver. Pulling at his hand she brought his face closer to hers.

"You know Oliver has to go...", She mumbled and hearing her, he sighs relaxing his body to rest his head on her shoulder.

"Why is he not our baby?"

She smiled amused, "Because he has different parents."

"You know how hard it is for me to let him go.."

She nodded, and he felt her slight movement.

"I know it is hard for you, but it is the right thing to do. Did you not create all this ruckus, including the case, the will, and David's marriage only to send Oliver to his right place?"

He lifted his head to look at her, "I did but now I am having second thoughts. How will he sleep on the days he's restless? Only I can make him sleep. Who will call me Papa? Eve is not going to talk so soon. And how will I rest at the end of the day not knowing if he's fine or not? I had planned so..."

"Eric..you are still his god father, and we live just a floor above them. You know you can still be an active part of his life. But if he misses out on David's presence, he will keep on hurting for life. I know it Eric. I've grown up without parents. No matter how much love I got, the fact that my blood wanted nothing to do with me did hurt me."

He kept on looking at her. He has seen her breakdown for her mother. He has seen her hurting at the thought that her father didn't know about her. Moreover, he has seen David. Although his way of coping up with the loss was better, there were times he'd seen him being weak.

These thoughts only strengthened his resolve and he sat up straighter, remembering how he used his connection to bribe the judge. Although the judge used his wisdom to say Eric was being such a good friend after he explained the whole scenario. His ways were not honest but his motives were not wrong.

*

David took his seat beside Hope, his eyes searching for Oliver.

"There he is.", Hope said pointing towards the entrance through which Erica entered followed by Eric. James was also present. Other than him, no one from the family was here. No one wanted to see the strife between them getting dragged inside the court.

Erica was only there on Hope's request.

David's eyes met with Eric's for a brief moment before he looked away.

Soon, Jefferson entered with his team and sat beside David as he was representing him. His eyes briefly met Eric's who only gave him a glare daring him to let anything go wrong.

Mr. Carter with his legal team was representing Eric. The realisation alone made David stiff. He knew the man was ruthless in his approach, and it bothered David to a real extent.

Since Jefferson was the opposing party, he was the first one to represent his side and elaborate the case before the judge.

"...Your honour! My client Mr. Wellington and his wife Mrs. Wellington are very much eligible to gain the complete custody over their child. He has been in a very bad place after the death of his first wife, and that is completely understandable. Mr. Ashton, though a good Godfather assumed it as the opportunity to make Oliver Wellington his son legally. And this is wrong on all fronts. Thus, I demand you to intervene and nullify Mr. Ashton's will and also grant Mr. Wellington the complete custody of his son."

David chewed the inside of his lips in nervousness and his legs vibrated at their place. Hope, on noticing this placed a hand on his leg, silently asking him to calm down. When he saw her hand near his knee, he couldn't help but grab hold of it. The hand has been calming him alot recently. He held it tight intervening her fingers with his, and then kept it close to his fastened heart.

Carter stood up to keep his side, but like his unpredictable moves, he asked one thing at the end of his introductory monologue, "....the subject here in this case is a child, who has already lived one year and two months of life with Mr. Ashton. But it is sad that he cannot still speak well enough to say how different he was treated by his biological father and by his god father. But, I would like my client Mr. Eric Ashton to narrate how we exactly came here."

Eric gritted his teeth. He had paid a million euros extra to make this bitch of a lawyer loose this case and he has also told him that he doesn't like to speak so his statements should he as short as possible. Now, this guy wants him to narrate a full fucking story of one year.

Nonetheless sighing, he adjusted the small mic for himself and began, "This is Eric Ashton your honours. The opposing party Mr. Wellington is my former best friend. We've been like brothers since time immemorial. And have been a crucial part of each other's life. I am married to his sister, Erica here who's been an all the more important link between the two of us. Four years ago, David married his first wife, Late Mrs. Venus Wellington. Almost an year ago, she gave birth to a child, Oliver, the subject of our concern. But unfortunately, she died because her pregnancy was complicated and nobody knew about it....", he passed a concerned glance to David who was already looking at him, "...her loss took a toll on David, which is understandable. But she left behind a child that he had to care of. Apparently, David failed to realise that and he left his child behind. Me and my wife were not registered as his god parents because Venus died just after his birth and David was too lost to look into details. The children welfare association somehow got to know about David's absence through media. And they were hell bent on putting him into foster care. I may have resented his action of leaving everything behind, but I couldn't see David's family shatter and slip into extinction. So I did everything to fight for Oliver's custody and secured a fifty percent for me, and another fifty percent for David. It was a hard court battle but I managed. Meanwhile, I also tried hard to keep an eye on David and bring him back so he could assume the responsibility of his son. I did not want Oliver to think his both biological parents are absent when one of them was clearly available to take care of him. So many failed attempts to convince David to come back, and at last I hear him blame Oliver for his mother's death. That was the last straw for me your honour. Over the year, Oliver became my very first child and I tried to be the best father to him. I did not want to take the place of his biological father, but I am definitely protective enough to not let his own father do sh..mistreat him."

He took a deep breath after pouring his heart out. It hurt him but he knew this was necessary. He could feel a continuous sharp gaze on the side of his head. And he knew the owner very well.

" ..In my opinion, David is perfectly incapable of taking care of Oliver and so I want to do what seems most suitable to me. I want to safeguard Oliver's future before anyone's. And so I declared him my heir. Which is something David has issues with. The reason we are in the court."

It was all truth. Just not a complete one.

Everybody in the court was in trance. And the more they agree with Eric, the more difficult it becomes for David.

Mr. Carter taking advantage of the lead proposed to question the opposing party, David himself.

His hold on her hand tightened as the ruthless lawyer adjusted his mic. Jefferson mumbled beside him, "Just be your true self."

"So Mr. Wellington. My regards to you and congratulations on your new marriage.", This man was not going to be easy. He knew it.

David took hold of the mic directing it to himself, "Thank you Mr. Carter."

"Tell us Mr. Wellington...how do you feel about your first wife's death?"

David clenched his eyes shut. He is already hating this. Jefferson thought it was the time to intervene, "That is a completely insensitive question your honour. I object!"

"Insensitive but not irrelevant your honour. I am known for my no nonsense approach for a reason."

"Objection overruled."

And the smug lawyer again repeated his question.

David kept a stone on his heart and answered, "Miserable."

"I am sorry to hear that. But how miserable?"

A long sigh from David. So much for a good case.

"I am miserable everyday. I have lost the love of my life. It hurts me. Deeply."

"How about your bonding with Oliver?"

A small smile etched on his lips, "We are coming nearer with each day passing. He's my son, and we've been bonding just fine."

"That is really good to hear. It is quite an improvement from when you wanted nothing to do with the child whose birth killed your wife, to you finally sitting in the cou..."

"Objection your honour!", This was Jefferson.

"Objection overruled. What do you accuse him of Mr. Carter?"

David winced to himself, his hands tightening their grasp. It was as if a lose hold will make him lose his son.

"Thank you Your honour. So, as I said, Mr. David specifically declared it to my client that he wants nothing to do with the child that killed his wife. Who also happens to be his son, unfortunately. My client can give a testimony regarding that."

The judge agreed to it, "Go ahead.."

Carter turned to Eric, "Did he or did he not, I mean Mr. David Wellington say this Mr. Ashton?"

Unknown to everyone, the question made Eric stiff. He's been the one to hide all the mess David ever made. It was the first time he was put in a spot where he has to put the blame on the man who's been more to him than any blood relation would ever be.

"Y_Yes..", he glanced at Oliver, sitting in Erica's lap unaware of what is going down, "Yes he did."

"That is all your honour!"

He ended his side with a smirk. He's popular as one of the most unkind lawyers, and he tries his best to live up to the image.

Jefferson took hold of the mic, "Your honour! My client never refused to the statement he said. But Mr. Carter and his client fail to recognise the fact that Mr. Wellington was going through a rough phase. Since the age of two, he's been an orphan, brought up a family nowhere related to blood. At the end, he establishes a family with late Mrs. Venus, only for her to die during childbirth. If he felt mentally devastated, it was only right to not expose the child to his gloom. He had not seen his child properly, and he had to deal with the loss of his life. It is advisable that we cut some slack to a mourning man."

Carter was quick to intervene, "And can we please elaborate how Mr. Wellington exactly 'mourn' the death of his wife?"

David was loosing all the strength he gathered. It was about Oliver, but they were talking about Venus. They were dragging his dead wife in the case to prove their points. He's only tolerating this because he can't loose his only hope for life, his son.

Carter only took silence as the opportunity, "Your honour! I'd like to present the first tangible evidences of the case: the news articles from when Mr. Wellington was out there mourning for his wife. Do I have the permission to read some?"

"Permission granted!", The judge replied.

Smirking to himself, he kept forward a file, and forwarded one copy to the bench, and another to the jury.

Once done, he started reading what seemed like the doom of this case for David.

"The first article states, 'Wellington spotted with Carolina Minskey at his high end club, Harriet.' Another one states, 'Heartrobe David Wellington back to his hunt of rendezvous after becoming single again.'. I have one more, 'Is Mr. Wellington getting back with Lady Kingsley of England, his teenage muse?' and one of the spiciest ones, 'Wellington spotted with the wife of Andrew Carson.'. So much for mourning over a dead wife."

The air inside the courtroom had completely shifted. It was not a easy bite to digest that David is completely innocent. And no one was open minded enough to read these articles as aware decisions of adults to indulge in something they mutually agreed to. David's right to privacy was very much violated here. And the fact that he took no care of the way his life is being tossed in the press definitely came to bite him back in the worst way possible.

A part of him, a more pessimistic one knew he will not win. Not after this. His eyes moved over to his son, who was resting his head on his sister's shoulder. The guy was now fully awake, but as of aware of the gravity of this situation, was sitting quietly and not making a fuss. When the eyes of both son and father met, Oliver smiled flashing his small teeth and waved his hands haphazardly telling him a hi. That smile made David's heart drop. He may loose this for ever.

*

(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

HOPE WELLINGTON

Sitting in the court lobby, waiting for David when I knew he's not in the right state of mind, was taking the best of me. I couldn't do anything. As soon as the sitting break was announced, he left the room and has been absent since then. She called him a plenty times, when he replied with a 'I'll be back before the sitting resumes.'

"Where is he?", I heard the concerned voice of Erica and look up to see her standing close. Anxiously, I standup next to her and reply, "I do not know. But he was very upset."

She nodded, "I saw him leave."

I sighed and sat back and she took a place beside me, "This was not supposed to happen Erica!"

"I know. I hate this. I hate bringing Oliver to court. But I just want him to go to his designated place. Even if it takes a court proceeding."

I saw in the other direction and Eric was talking animatedly with his lawyer. He was seemingly furious. But it was hard to point out the reason. Was it because the lawyer was less harsh with David? I looked away hoping David doesn't see this.

*

David was stiff as he sat beside me. His face was expressionless as if he has abandoned all the hope of winning. And it was really difficult to see. We prepared for this day since so long. I do not want his hard work to go into drain. And not to forget the impact it may have on his already vulnerable health.

Jefferson was the one to begin.

"Your honour. What we saw before the break was nothing more than a blatant breach of privacy. The women Mr. Wellington was involved with were no kids. Also, my opposition made no efforts to hide the identity of the ladies while trying to character assassinate my client. Nonetheless, I do not think that information has anything to do with our case. Because of we are out to believe those articles, then we must also believe the articles that were published after Mr. Wellington got engaged with his first wife. The ones about his transition, his loyalty to the women he loved, how he prioritised nothing but her. Not to forget the recent past. It has been two months since he returned, and a month since he married Mrs. Hope Ricci Wellington, and there has been no such article. My client knows well when he has to refrain. Even though the subject of our concern here is not women he was with, but his one and only son."

And then he kept forward a file, "From the times of Vincent Wellington, the family has been the subject of media concern. Except for the fact that Mr. Ashton did his best to keep Oliver out of the public eye which we should appreciate. The last thing a child needs is a nosy camera following him. But may be it was his polite and respectful attitude, that media barely ever published false news about him. Filtering out certain cheesy gossip among all published about him is outrageous. Here are the articles about the eighty infrastructure projects Mr. Wellington designed for so many public and private entities. He expanded his foothold in all the continents except Antarctica, because of obvious reasons. He was regularly contributing to the trust fund he created for his sister, Mrs. Ashton, during the time of her wedding. He was also taking care of all his shares outside Italy. Do we call this irresponsibility!?"

Carter was definitely not expecting this, and I felt pride bubbling in me. Mr. Wellington is not as laid back as he pretends to be. I turned to look at him with a smile only to find him staring at particularly nothing. However, I was sure he was listening it all. Erica passed me a positive smile.

Carter was ready with his objection as he took the mic, "How responsible of him Mr. Jefferson! But now that you mention it, what was the point of Mr. Wellington marrying again so suddenly? I would like to question him your honour!"

"Permission granted!"

David stiffly took hold of the mic and glanced at the opposition lawyer, "Do ask sir!"

Carter passed him a stink eye, "My question is pretty straight forward. Why did you marry Mrs.Hope?"

David looked at me for a moment and then bent forward to reply, "I guess I was fighting for my son's custody not my wife's custody."

A string of giggles echoed in the courtroom before everyone went quiet again.

"Quit stalling the question Mr. Wellington. My question is very simple. Why did you marry Mrs. Hope?"

He gave the lawyer a bored look, "Why would anyone marry anyone Mr. Carter? Is there has to be a specific reason? I asked her to marry me. She was ecstatic. And we both married to live our happily ever after. I do not see how it is anyways related to my son."

Jefferson has clearly told us both to not give a single hint that we married to take advantage of the loophole of Eric's will. That will become our strength in this case.

He gave David an irritated look and then turned towards me. Suddenly the guy started smirking, "Well I guess, I must ask your wife then..."

"...so Mrs. Wellington...Mr. David very proudly claims that when he asked you to marry him, you were ecstatic. Why is that?"

I nodded at the question, reminding myself of Jefferson's words.

-Regarding your relationship, be as real as possible!

"David and I have known each other since school. We've been friends or better best of friends since then. Ofcourse I'll be ecstatic to marry him."

"Does it, I mean your marriage, has nothing to do with love??"

My heart started beating crazily. Not this one. And then I felt a finger drawing smooth patterns on my palm that instantly calmed me down.

And taking a deep breath, I answered, "When did I say that love has nothing to do between us?"

"Quit playing with words like your husband Mrs. Wellington. Tell me how your marriage was only to take advantage of the loophole in Mr. Ashton's will."

I made a confused face and looked at David and then Jefferson, "Is there a loophole in the will that I don't know about?"

I saw a slight curve on David's lips, and that increased my courage tenfolds, "...Mr. Carter...I don't know what you are talking about. David and me go way back...we only made it to the wedding some days back because there was reluctance on both our parts. He was in love with someone else. God forbid, she deserves every bit of that love. And me!? I am too career oriented to give any man a second of my day, unless it was the safest person for me, who happens to be David."

The answer did stagger him back, because there was barely any way that he could turn it against us.

"Your honour!", He still tried, "...I want to establish here, that this wedding of Mr. David and Mrs. Hope is a complete farce...they only married because the will says that Mr. Wellington is unlikely to marry in the future and hence he cannot be granted the rights of the child as he is not responsible enough."

"I object your honour! The wedding is in legal records of the honourable judiciary. It is a contempt to the authority of it to call a holy institution farce."

The judge nodded this time, "Objection prevailed. The court cannot accept emotional claims without any proofs Mr. Carter. Mrs. Hope's presence was admissible here in the courtroom only because she was legally wedded wife of Mr. Wellington."

*

"...Mrs. Wellington has been your friend Mrs. Ashton. Tell her how is her behaviour with Oliver?"

Erica smiled briefly, "Hope was there when Oliver was born. And she's been there in the one year of his life. There have been many chances where she had to babysit him. And she has always treated him right."

Jefferson nodded and proceeded to ask the next question, "Do you think she's fit to be his mother?"

Erica nodded at once, "Yes! She's perfect to be his mother."

"Coming over to Mr. Wellington, your husband proclaimed he's been very irresponsible towards Oliver. I want to ask you, how has he been behaving with his son since he returned? A few instances can help."

She took hold of the mic, "David was definitely not over his grief when he came back. He saw his wife dying in labour, and so when he saw me in the same condition, he was triggered into thinking I would die too. That is enough to say that he was not perfectly fine. But he was not repulsive towards Oliver. I would say, he was more intrigued when he first saw him after an year. Slowly, the father and son started warming up to each other and now the two are at a real good place. I believe it will take him time to be perfect in his fatherly duties but that is understandable."

The jury members seemed satisfied with the answer and so Jefferson concluded his side.

Carter was still fuming and stuck on the same question. I could see him glancing in my direction again and again as if he wanted to pounce on me the first chance he could get.

"Don't worry! He's sick.", David whispered in my ear and I nodded trying to assure myself.

"Mr. Carter, please conclude your side.", The judge said making him eagerly take the mic and then look towards me, "I'd like to question Mrs. Wellington again."

"Permission granted."

And then he turned to me, "The legal sanctity of your wedding is proved, I guess. But I want to know why would you still root for Mr. David for so long when he was already married to someone else. Were you waiting for his partner to leave him, disappear, or worse die to claim the chance?"

His question was bullshit and it enraged everybody including David, but when I saw the judge taking no action, I knew I had to answer. It was the only chance to prove our marriage was not a farce. Atleast for me.

I sighed. It's high time I narrate my so called 'made up story', "Mr. Carter. Me, David and Eric were in the same high school and my father had just died. I was depressed and alone. And then David entered my life as a friend. Eric was also there but there was something different about David. He was like the ray of sunshine. A flirt by nature, but he was there whenever I needed him. I was glad of his presence in my life. And soon in turned to more than gratitude. I started liking him which was probably much more at that stage of my life. When I decided to express it, I got late because by then David was already in a relationship with Venus. The foolish me was so hurt at the apparent rejection that I left the school in the last semester, putting at risk my complete yearly progress. I moved on or atleast I believed I did. It was hard at first but like I said I have always been very career oriented so it helped. Years later, one of my contacts, Mr. Austin Hills asked me to manage one of his new singers, who happens to be Erica. And so I was back to face David again. This time with his wife. I was not surprised and I also had so intention to be a homewrecker. I loved him always, but not enough to fight for him. Not with the woman who had his ring or who he actually loved. Few years fast forward, I saw him suffering at her death, and it was unbearable for me. But I was no one to interfere. Unless he finally decided to open up with me and we spent the few days knowing each other. We knew what was in front of us. I kept my heart before him. And I guess, love was all he needed at that moment. So no, I wasn't waiting for his wife's death. She was a wonderful lady. But yes, I agreed when he asked me to marry him. It was not a scheme but very sudden."

*

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