The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

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Chapter 187: Decision Day

~ Soraya ~

Judge Ramirez did not wait long. The next day, he called for

the final hearing.

There were more people inside the courtroom. Philip and

Emily were present. Silas, Lyra, and Luca came. And, to Soraya’

s surprise, Amanda and Cedric also attended.

Veronica had to stay home at the Belridge mansion with

Angela, but her best friend Nora turned up for the hearing.

Leona Briggs, despite being a stranger to the couple, sat

behind the rows of Soraya and Jacob, showing her support.

“Before | deliver my decision, | will allow both parties to

address the court," the judge said.

Edmund spoke on behalf of Damien, his voice filled with

conviction. “Your Honor, my client, Mr. Damien Cross, firmly

denies all allegations of drug trafficking. The past may hold

shadows, but none that define the man standing before you

today.”

He paused, letting his words sink in before turning toward the

judge. “For years, Damien did not get a chance to be a father.

Yes, he made mistakes in the past, but people change, Your

Honor. And Miss Riggs’ testimony proves that. She admitted

herself that Damien was ready to claim the role of a father.”

Edmund sucked in a deep breath. “We can debate

competence, wealth, or parenting styles, but we cannot

debate blood. Regardless of past misjudgments or personal

failures, one truth remains unshakable: Damien Cross gave

life to that child. Angela carries his blood. And no one, not

circumstance, not opinion, can sever that bond.”

----

Ending his closing argument, Edmund added, “We request

this court to allow my client to prove himself as a father to

Angela.”

It was the couple's turn, but instead of Harold, Jacob prepared

his own closing remarks.

At first, Soraya noted how Jacob looked very stern, irritated by

all the opposing party's last attempts to sway the judge.

However, little by little, as he spoke, her husband became

passionate with his words.

“Your Honor, | have been Angela's father for five years. Yes,

she is not my blood, but that doesn’t make me any less of a

father to her,” Jacob began. He was holding a paper, a draft he

had prepared last night.

He pointed to himself and said, “I was the one who held her

for the first time when she was born. It was my finger Angela

held when she came into this world. | was the one who heard

her first word, saw her first walk, and even through the

challenges of parenting, | was the one who was there. It wasn’

t Damien Cross.”

“When Angela first got sick, | was the one who stayed by her

side. When we learned of Angela's spectrum, my mother and |

were the ones who sought out all possible treatments in the

hope of giving her a good life. When my daughter barely

uttered a word, it was my wife who taught Angela to express

herself.” With clenched jaws, Jacob declared, “When Mr.

Cross decided to abandon Angela, he lost the right to be her

father.”

Jacob paused, clearly trying to control his emotions. Then, his

voice softened, “A father isn’t defined by DNA. It's defined by

presence. By sacrifice. By the patience it takes to teach a

child who struggles to speak, by the strength it takes to keep

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believing in her when the world says she's too different to

understand.”

“So yes, maybe another man gave her life,” Jacob admitted,

motioning to himself again. “But | gave her a home. | gave her

stability. | gave her a family —"

He turned to his wife. "With me, she has a mother who would

do anything for her, a grandmother who loves her

wholeheartedly. With me, she has a real family."

Soraya had never seen her husband weep, and she never

thought she'd live to see the day. However, at that very

moment, a tear rolled down Jacob's handsome face. It wasn’t

overflowing, but one single tear was enough to prove the

sincerity in his words. “To me, fatherhood is about what a

man gives to his child. It’s not what runs through his veins.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that | have been, and will

always be, Angela's father,” he announced with conviction, his

voice strengthening.

“We were living in peace, Your Honor. Finally, Angela was

learning what it meant to have a family. She loves her Mommy

Soraya. Angela experienced the kind of love Sienna failed to

give her. She was smiling, talking, and excited to see her

siblings. And then, out of nowhere, Mr. Cross contests the

adoption. With that, he shattered not just our happiness, but

Angela's sense of safety.”

“'m not here to defend a title, I'm here to protect my child.

Being a father isn't something you claim when it's convenient;

it's something you prove every single day." Jacob took a

heartfelt, deep breath. “| humbly ask, Your Honor, that your

ruling grants us justice.”

Following Jacob's words, Soraya cried, touched by her

husband's words. Behind her, she was certain she heard her

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aunt also weep.

Soraya and Jacob hugged each other, offering comfort while

waiting for the judge's decision. Soraya whispered to her

husband, "You did great, Honey. | love you so much."

Without hesitation, the judge spoke. “Mr. Steel, your words

reflect the true essence of fatherhood.”

Judge Ramirez no longer gazed at Damien’s party. He

proceeded with his ruling. “This Court has reviewed every

testimony, every document, and every claim made in this case.

What should have been a matter of a child’s stability and well-

being was instead turned into a battleground by one man’s

greed.”

"Mr. Cross," the judge finally addressed Damien, eyes sharp. "

Your right to contest the adoption was never in question.

What the Court scrutinized was your intent. Your actions were

not born of love or concern for the child. Rather, they were

driven by your own personal desires. In doing so, you

subjected not only Mr. and Mrs. Steel, but more tragically, the

child, to unnecessary emotional stress.”

“The petition to contest the adoption is hereby dismissed with

prejudice. The adoption of Angela Steel remains valid and in

full effect,” the judge gave his verdict.

“Attached to this ruling, a restraining order will be issued

against Mr. Damien Cross. He is strictly prohibited from

approaching, contacting, or attempting to communicate with

the child in any form. This includes revealing his identity,

sending messages through third parties, or attempting to

influence her in any way.”

“Any violation of this order will be treated as contempt of

court and may result in immediate arrest, additional fines, and

further legal penalties. The court emphasizes that these

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measures are permanent and non-negotiable, designed to

fully protect the child's safety, well-being, and emotional

stability.”

“Furthermore,” the judge said firmly. “Given the distress

caused by Mr. Cross’s calculated contestation, this court

orders that reasonable compensation be awarded to Mr. and

Mrs. Steel to address the damages and emotional hardship

incurred.”

“Mr. Finch, have you summed the cost for damages?” the

judge asked.

Harold got up and addressed the court. “Your Honor, taking

into account legal fees and the income my clients, Mr. and

Mrs. Steel, were unable to earn due to their commitments to

this case, we are seeking compensatory damages, including

emotional distress, for fifty million dollars.”

“What?” Damien snapped, stunned by the decision. “No! That’

s absurd!"

"Your Honor, this is an injustice!" Edmund raised. "My client

doesn't have that kind of money!"

“Your Honor, Mr. Steel is the CEO of two major corporations in

the state, while Mrs. Steel is an established cybersecurity

developer and entrepreneur. Their work and business

ventures have been significantly affected by this case,” Harold

reasoned. “To be completely honest, Your Honor, my clients

are only asking for the bare minimum.”

Judge Ramirez nodded. He banged his gavel, ignoring the

pleas of Damien's party. “Approved.”

The judge turned to Damien and his attorneys, saying, “Mr.

Cross, the court takes any attempt to manipulate proceedings

seriously. Appropriate penalties will follow.”

----

The look of horror flashed in Damien's face. He screamed, "No,

no!"

The court's session ended in chaos, with Damien and his

lawyers panicking over the penalties.

As Soraya stared at them, she shook his head. She thought

that, indeed, greed had a way of blinding people, and when

consequences arrived, regret was always too late.