"Sky." Nick called as he walked towards Ardeth, in the Soccer court.

"What's up, Roy." Ardeth said walking towards Nick.

"You got a letter, since your new address isn't updated this is delivered to my apartment." Nick said taking out an envelope and waving it.

"I wonder what it is about?" Ardeth said tearing open the envelope.

"What is it about?" Nick asked watching Ardeth fist his hands in anger as he read the letter.

"My father." Ardeth said folding the letter.

"What about him?" Nick frowned.

"After I left the home, that bastard allegedly set his own factory on fire to claim the insurance money, which cost the lives of workers. And someone found the evidence against him and sued him. Tristan was also accused since he was a part of the company then, they have summoned me to appear in the court, to investigate the same."

"That sounds bad, what are you going to do now?"

"Appear in the court, whatelse?" Ardeth shrugged. "When I didn't do anything wrong, what's there to be afraid of."

Nick nodded.

"Hey Pumpkin." James hugged Sherlyn kissing her forehead. "How's my grandbaby doing?"

"She is taken after her Dad, she is practicing Soccer in my tummy." Sherlyn joked as she rubbed her tummy.

"I remember the times when I used to feel you kick from your mother's tummy." James smiled, "It was magical, and how time flies, I miss her."

"I miss her too, Pa." Sherlyn said.

"Where is Ardeth?" James asked as he poured a fresh glass of juice for Sherlyn.

"Here I am." Ardeth said walking through the door carrying over night bags on his shoulder and in his hands.

"How's the practice going?" James inquired passing a glass of juice to Ardeth.

"Dan is an amazing coach." Ardeth smiled, "How is things going at your end?" He asked slyly looking towards Elizabeth's home.

"Well... Things are going slow and steady, but I have my hopes up about succeeding." James grinned, "Besides I am good at this game, just that I didn't find a good reason to showcase my skills." He said proudly.

"What game are you two talking about?" Sherlyn asked confused.

James and Ardeth looked at eachother.

"James is talking about the billiards he was playing with your Uncle Preston." Ardeth answered, "Isn't it, James?"

"Yes, Pumpkin." James nodded, "Would you like to have some snacks? Or the dinner is almost ready."

"I will have the dinner, Pa. Save the snacks, I wake up hungry at midnight." Sherlyn said walking towards the kitchen.

"Speed up your game, James. I am wishing for a grandma to my Nugget." Ardeth joked.

"I am trying my best." James smiled, and continued. "So, you have to show up at the court tomorrow?"

"Seems so." Ardeth shrugged.

"Stay strong, everything will be fine." James said patting Ardeth's shoulder.

Ardeth nodded.

"Are you guys joining me for dinner?" Sherlyn shouted from the dinner table.

"Yes." Ardeth and James answered in unison as they made their way towards the dining table.

Ardeth stood at the foot of the court stairs as he wiped his palms on his pants.

He hated the idea of facing his father and brother, he felt like he can give away the world just to stay back home in the arms of his love enjoying the serenity rather than facing the people he loathed in his life. But sadly things doesn't always happen the way people wish for them to happen.

"Maybe I should have agreed to let Sherlyn accompany me to the court." Ardeth thought, "But I don't want Sherlyn and Nugget to be in the same room as my father and brother."

He remembered how Sherlyn requested him to allow her to come with him, but he declined her request and made her promise to stay with Johan's fiancee.

He felt lonely.

Taking a deep breath he looked ahead and froze in his steps as he found his father looking down at him standing at the top step.

He hated the way his father looked at him like a failure.

"Do you need help to climb the stairs?" Ardeth turned around to look at the person. "If not then let's keep moving, the hearings will start in few minutes."

"James?" Ardeth asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you think I will let you go and fight your battle alone?" James asked raising a brow. "I might not have asked you to call me Papa, but I feel you as my son, I can't leave you alone."

"Thank you, James." Ardeth said hugging James.

"Come on let's go." James said as he held Ardeth's hand as they made their way to the court room walking past his father.

"Wow! you are on time, Sky. I am impressed." Nick said checking his watch.

"What are you doing here?" Ardeth asked looking at Nick.

"I heard that the police are bringing in a sexy criminal to the court today, so I came to check him out." Nick said, "You know the dark, muscular, brooding man, who is everyone's dream." He said dreamily.

"Roy." Ardeth asked in a straight tone.

"Fine, as much as I hate you, I couldn't just stop myself from being away from you while you face your stupid cunt father." Nick rolled his eyes. "Now don't cry and tell me that you love me."

"I won't." Ardeth smiled giving a fist bump on Nick's shoulder. "But you should know that it means a lot to me."

"Okay guys, let's go in before we all get late." Jamie said hurrying them.

"What? Jamie... You too?" Ardeth asked in shock as he was dragged inside the court room.

"Yeah, yeah..." Jamie shrugged, "Mr.Scott drove me here, he is speaking with your lawyer at the moment." He said gesturing towards Daniel, who was speaking with the lawyer.

Daniel shook hands with the Lawyer and walked towards Ardeth, "Ardeth, I spoke with Mr.Sanders, he assured that he will take care of the things, you tell the court whatever you want to tell, without any fear."

Ardeth nodded.

"I can't let anyone have the power to put you in a bad light." Daniel said, "I am sorry if I had over stepped my boundaries."

"Thank you for this." Ardeth said in a thick tone, giving a man hug to Daniel.

"Anytime." Daniel said patting Ardeth's back. "Let's go and sit in our seats." He said.

Soon the session commenced and the arguments from both the ends were heard. And soon it was Ardeth's turn to give his statement.

"Mr. Ardeth Sky, you are summoned today to appear in the court as you are one of the suspects, along with your father and brother, who are involved in the Sky industries fire accident case. Would you like to say something about your involvement here?" The lawyer asked Ardeth.

"As I had mentioned earlier through the written statement, I have left my home after I attained the age of eighteen, cutting all the strings with my father and brother, and since then I was living on my own." Ardeth said.

"The accident happened a few weeks after you left the home, how can we believe that you have no involvement in it?" Plaintiff attorney questioned.

"I never had a good relationship with my father, and I was not that close to him, for him to share his plans and ideas with me. We hardly spoke two words, you can ask the helpers in the house, since they were always around." Ardeth said.

"Your Honour, like my client Mr.Ardeth Sky stated, he and his father or brother were never on good terms, and like he said he left the home after he turned eighteen and even before that he used to stay with his maternal grandfather most of the time." Ardeth's attorney said to the court, "Here are the statements given by the helpers in the Sky mansion on the same." He said presenting the file to the court.

"It's not necessary that one's relationships should always be in the same state. It could have been rekindled when your father lured you with money, since he was very confident idea about the amount of money, he would get when he planned to set the company in fire. How can we believe that you are not involved in this issue? You could have taken your share and left the home even before things happened." Mr.Adams, The plaintiff attorney stated.

"Umm... Right, Mr.Adams," Ardeth said calmly, "It could have happened, I could have gone on a world tour, led a luxurious life with all the money, but why was I working in a garage, struggling to pay fees to get a coach to brush up my soccer skills, why was I doing odd jobs ever since I left my house four years ago? Why didn't I lead a luxurious life like my father and brother?" He questioned.

Mr.Adams opened and shut his mouth like a fish.

"Here is evidence that Ardeth had worked as a mechanic in the garage for a year after he left the house, and the bond signed between Mr.Roy and Ardeth Sky, for the loan he had taken to join the college to continue his studies. The payslips by Mr.Scott that Ardeth is working in his garage." Attorney Sanders presented on more file.

"After hearing the arguments from both parties, and checking the evidence, the court believes that Mr.Ardeth Sky has no part in the Sky industries fire accident, and hereby declares him as innocent and free." The Judge stated as he adjourned the session.

"Thank you so much, everyone for being on my side today." Ardeth said looking at James, Dan, Nick and Jamie.

"Don't mention it, Ardeth." Daniel said patting his shoulder, "That's the least we can do for you."

"Still thank you, it means a lot to me." Ardeth said.

Daniel nodded with a smile, "See you at the practice." He said before leaving with Jamie.

"I am happy that everything is sorted." Nick said patting Ardeth's shoulder.

"Yes." Ardeth smiled.

"I will go and update Sherlyn about this over the call." James said excusing himself.

"Ardeth."

Ardeth turned around as he heard someone call him.

"Paige." Ardeth said looking at Paige Mayers.

"Paige, I am really sorry I didn't know my father was planning to take a fire accident, trust me had I known I would have never let him do that..." Ardeth rambled.

"Ardeth..." Paige said cutting him off, "I am glad you stood by the truth, and I am sorry for accusing you earlier. I should have know that you were not like your father."

"It's okay, Paige." Ardeth said, "I am happy we cleared the misunderstanding."

"Yes, I glad for it too." Paige said, "Take care, Ardeth. Thank you again."

"Please let me know if you need any help." Ardeth said hurriedly.

"I had enough with this city, I am moving to the West Coast to pursue my Master's and if I need any help I will let you know." Paige said, "Thank you." She kissed his cheek and walked away.

Ardeth sighed and turned around to found Sherlyn standing by the steps looking at him.

"Sherlyn..." Ardeth said as he walked towards her.

"I am sorry... I know you asked me to stay at home and not take stress but I couldn't stay at home, away..." Sherlyn tried to explain.

"Shhh..." Ardeth said as he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. "Thanks for coming, I know I have asked you to stay at home but I can't explain how peaceful I feel to have you and Nugget with me at this moment." He whispered into her skin.

"We love you." Sherlyn smiled.

"I love you two." Ardeth said, "And I finally feel content by knowing that those innocent people are finally getting justice."

"Truth can't be hidden for a long time." James said walking towards Ardeth and Sherlyn.