This chapter is dedicated to AmandaR18 who has whipped through 'Living With The Choices' this week. I hope you'll also enjoy this sequel :)

35 – Final Showdown

Rena's POV

"And what happened then, Mrs. Parks?" Clark asks through the sudden silence of the courtroom. The tension could barely be sliced with a knife.

Charlotte wiped a few tears away. "I was trying to calm Brent down. Ryan was shouting at Jared out in the hallway, but I didn't pay attention to them. In that moment, all I could think about was my little baby."

There is so much pain in her words that it cuts into my soul. I glance at Ryan who has followed his wife's testimony with a stoned face. Not once has he flinched or showed emotions. It's like the whole thing just bounces off of him.

"Do you need a moment, Mrs. Parks?" Clark asks.

She shakes her head.

"Then what happened?"

"Jared was crying and pleading with his father. I heard Ryan shouting and then all of a sudden, the whole house went quiet. Ryan yelled for me to come quickly. I rushed out of the bathroom. He was standing at the landing, staring down. I already knew from the look on his face that something terrible must have happened."

She wiped more tears away. Her voice was shaking when she continued. "I got to the landing and saw Jared lying motionless below. His eyes were open and I immediately knew he was dead. That's when I broke down."

"And what did your husband do?"

"He shook me and told me he didn't mean to hurt him. That it was an accident. Jared slipped and fell down the steps."

"And did you believe him?"

"No." She sniffed as she wiped frantically through her face. "I called him a liar and he finally admitted that he slapped Jared. He slapped him so hard that the banister couldn't break his fall. He flew right across to his death."

Clark let the words sink in. I stare at Ryan who buries his face into his hands. When he finally looks at me, his eyes are as dark as night. It is the same color as Brent's the day he tortured me. I clench my jaw when a shudder chills me to the bone.

"Did you call an ambulance?" Clark asks.

"Not straight away." Charlotte glares at Ryan with venom. "He wouldn't allow it. He said we first had to align our stories since the paramedics would call the cops. They are required to in any suspicious death."

"What did you ultimately tell the police?"

"That Jared was practicing to ride his bike without his training wheels in the house and drove down the steps. Ryan got the bike from the shed and let it roll down the stairs to make the story stick. No one questioned him. I mean, he is FBI and who would ever doubt the word of another law enforcement officer."

Clark gives Charlotte a few minutes to calm her rapid breath. My heart goes out for her. She must have gone through hell that day.

"Mrs. Parks, why did you decide to cover up your husband's abuse for all these years?" Clark's voice is soft, but fresh tears still stream down Charlotte's face.

"I guess I was scared. Ryan has always told me that he would take me down with him if the police ever pinned him for Jared's death. There was Brent to think of. If I had gone to jail, he would have potentially grown up in foster care. The thought to be apart from him for even a minute was unbearable. I had already lost a son, and didn't want to lose another."

The court reporter passed her a box of tissues when she couldn't stop crying. I am battling with my own tears. All those years she spent with Ryan were mostly for Brent's benefit. Truthfully, I would have probably done the same thing. I would never have left Noah even if Brent had beaten me daily.

"When Brent got older, I even tried to leave a few times," she says with a shaky voice. "Ryan swore I would never get custody, that no one would believe my word over his. The last time I tried, Brent was already living in Chicago. I had already opened up my own bank account and looked for apartments, but Ryan found out about it. He threatened to kill me if I left and made me return all the money I had saved up. Since he always kept me on a tight leash, I had no safe place to go without funds. If I had gone to a women's shelter, he would have found me with his FBI connections and surely killed me."

"That's all bullshit." It's the first time that Ryan speaks up. "My wife is lying through her teeth to save her own skin. She was the one who pushed Jared down the stairs. Okay, I hit her a few times, but nothing out of the ordinary. Charlotte is totally exaggerating." He lets out a puff as he leans back in his chair, his eyes expectantly on Judge Oaks. Maybe he is still under the illusion that people will believe him.

The judge's glare cuts into him. "Mr. Parks, you will get your opportunity to present your case. For the moment, don't interrupt your wife's testimony again, or I will have your removed by the bailiff."

Ryan huffs and shakes his head, but he is smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Judging from Oak's face, he is about ready to kill Ryan himself.

"Mrs. Parks, why did you come forward here today?" Clark continues calmly.

Charlotte gazes right at me. Her eyes plead for forgiveness. "I should have spoken up the day Jared died. Brent would have probably never turned violent – he was such a sweet and generous boy before Ryan got his hands on him. Rena suffered partially because of me and I can only hope that one day, she can forgive me."

Hot tears drip on my hand and I can't hold Charlotte's tormented gaze. We both suffered enough to last us a lifetime.

"Your Honor, at this point, we wish to withdraw our petition for custody." Clark briefly glances at Ryan. The look he gives him is less than someone would give a flee ridden dog.

Judge Oaks smiles at Charlotte. "Is this what you want, Mrs. Parks."

She nods.

"I'm sorry, but I need a verbal reply for the record."

She clears her throat. "Yes, I do."

"What about visitation?"

Her eyes are hopeful as she gazes at me. "I'd love to see Noah, but don't think I want it enforced through the courts. It's really up to Rena if she wants to allow visitation."

For a moment I'm torn. The sting that she tried to take my son away from me hurts deep under the surface, but she came through for me in the end. Noah loves her and if I am truthful to myself, her involvement in his life over this past year has been a tremendous help. I give Charlotte a small smile. Her body sits deflated in the witness box – she looks like a broken woman. Somehow, I want to work this out.

"The petition is hereby dismissed and I am also vacating my contempt order." Judge Oak's eyes wander over the courtroom. "Who of you three will do the honor?"

"I will." There is the widest smirk on Alex's face when she approaches Ryan. "Ryan Parks, would you please stand." She pulls out a set of handcuffs. For a second, he appears that he is about to lunge at her, but a glance at Sam and Detective Tate who have their hands hidden in their jacket folds subdues him. With a puff, he rises.

"I hereby take you into custody on behalf of the State of Virginia for the murder of Jared Benjamin Parks," Alex says. "You have the right to remain silent." The handcuff closes around Ryan's right wrist, the click magnified in the sudden silence court room. He stares straight ahead, his face chiseled in stone.

"Anything you say from here on out can and will be used in a court against you." Alex secures the cuff around his left wrist. "You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford one, a lawyer will be appointed to you by the courts." Their eyes cut into each other. Alex can't hide the victory grin. Her expression says it all – 'I got you, you son of a bitch.'

I am in a daze when he is escorted out of the court by Sam and her. The knock of the gavel is drowned out by erupting mumble. Yet, there is this tingling in my stomach that something bad will pelt down on me at any moment. It couldn't be that easy to get Ryan out of my life.

"Rena." Noel strokes my arm and I almost jump out of my seat. "It's over."

My eyes try to focus on him. "What about the criminal charge?"

"It was dismissed as part of the agreement Charlotte worked out with the district attorney's office. There will also be no charges against your dad."

The news stuns me. Why would Charlotte do this for me? My head snaps around to thank her, but she is just leaving the courtroom with Clark. When the door closes behind her, I gasp. In her stead are my dad and Noah.

"Mommy."

Tears blur my vision when my little boy zooms towards me as fast as his wobbly legs can carry him. I get down on my knees and catch him, my arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace until he starts to wiggle.

"Oh, I missed you so much," I sob. My eyes scan him – I still can't believe he is here. He seems to have grown a little taller and is a bit pale, but his sparkling eyes make up for it. He is rewarded with a bunch of kisses which make him squeal. I never want to let go of him again.

The guard from the jail clears his throat. "We need to take you back over to process you out. Someone can pick you up in an hour."

I press a kiss on Noah's forehead. "Go with grandpa. Mommy will be home soon."

Loosening my embrace breaks my heart, but I know that this time, it will only be for a little while. Toddling behind the guard, my goofy smile falters when I climb into the jail van. Ryan is already seated next to Alex, his glare deadly.

"You're loving this, aren't you?" he growls when I plop on the bench across from him.

"Truthfully Ryan, I'm not." I study the frown on his face. "I would lie if I told you I didn't hate you, because I do – with all my heart. You've destroyed so many lives. Brent would have been a wonderful man with a different father and your wife lived a nightmare for all those years. You took the hope of a happy life away from them and murdered your son. You deserve to rot in hell, but that doesn't mean I'm enjoying this. Too much has been lost because of you."

He stays quiet and I can't tell if my words made an impact or he just couldn't be bothered talking to me. The ride over to the jail only takes a few minutes. When we get there, we are both taken to booking. Before, he was the one who was allowed to leave, but today, the tables are reversed. If I am lucky, he will never see the world without bars again.

When I walk out of the jail towards Kade, I wonder if that is what they mean by justice. It has a bitter aftertaste to it. Even if Ryan is locked up for good, today's revelations will never change the past. Both Jared and Brent are dead and nothing will ever make up for all the destruction and pain Ryan caused. His choices touched our lives in the most negative ways – and if I have learned anything from this, it is to make sure that my own choices will be good ones.

So, all ends well for Rena - and somewhat for Charlotte as well. There is not much left in this story (the Epilogue will be posted next week), but you will find out if our two heroines will be able to repair their strained relationship. It would be nice for Noah to have them both in his life.

I hope this chapter left a certain fulfillment and you don't feel you just wasted your time. The final chapters of a story are always incredibly hard for me since I never know whether I give you enough. All feedback would be appreciated, and please don't forget to vote if this chapter deserved it. Thanks for reading :)