In Love With My Bully-Chapter 77: The Cost of Love

The courtroom was tense and cold. The press had been locked out, but we all knew that wouldn’t stop the details from leaking. This case was a sweet one. And the Numero scandals had been known to be blockbusters.

Abby adjusted Queen in her arms, rocking and kissing her and whispering sweet things to her. Mr. Numero was beside me with Chayara in his own arms while Richard sat in front beside his attorney.

Chayara was growing fast and chubby. She looked really cute as she grabbed the fabric of her grandfather’s shirt. The poor girl was oblivious to the fact that everyone was here in this courtroom to fight for her.

Lilian also was seated in front, elegant and composed, like she already knew the outcome of the case.

"Your Honour," her lawyer, a man in his fifties and I heard, one of the best in family law, began. "We are here today to argue for the best interests and custody of Chayara Numero. My client, Miss Lilian Moore, is best suited as her guardian, as she is Chayara’s grandmother. Mr. Richard Numero, while wealthy and privileged, has no prior knowledge of caring for children and is not Chayara’s biological father. He is a well-known and established businessman who has little or no time for parenting. Additionally, his current living situation is not conducive to raising a child. He is divorced from Mrs. Nita Numero and leaves the baby in the care of nannies and maids all day."

I swallowed hard. Well, that was the first strike; of course, no one said this was going to be easy.

The judge, with her glasses perched on her nose, clearly not interested in dragging the case longer than necessary, turned her gaze to Richard’s lawyer. "How do you respond to these concerns?"

Richard’s lawyer, Miss Kingston, stood up. "Your Honor, my client’s love for this child cannot be measured by hours spent with her or the usual conventional parenting standards. Even after he found out he isn’t the child’s biological father, he chose to fight for custody. An average man would refuse to be responsible for a child not his. He isn’t a perfect father, but he is a good father. He refuses to abandon his responsibilities."

Lilian scoffed softly, just loud enough for the room to hear.

Miss Kingston ignored the interruption and continued, "Chayara is his blood also. Her grandfather is in this room that happens to be Mr. Numero’s father. Her biological father and mother are in jail. And my client believes she will be better off with him." Miss Kingston finished and sat back down.

Lilian’s lawyer smirked and picked up once more. "Touching and quite heart-grabbing, if you ask me. But let’s be realistic. Mr. Numero Junior is a busy man, and raising a child requires more than love. It also requires availability, some maternal touch. We have it on good authority that Mr. Numero’s mother herself wants nothing to do with the child, as she is spawned from the product of her husband’s affair."

The judge cleared her throat. "Where will this child live? Should I grant you custody?" She directed the question to Richard.

"She will live with me." Richard responded.

"I see your ex-wife is in court with you today, so I believe things are great between you both. I have a bit of prior history given to me, but I want to know what the future holds for you so I can make a proper decision."

"Do you plan on remarrying your ex-wife?"

Richard took a look back at me, apology in his eyes. I didn’t understand why. It was a simple question.

The judge asked once more. "Do you intend to remarry Mrs. Nita Numero or anyone else in the closest future? I repeat, I ask this so I can establish a stable home environment for the child."

Why wouldn’t he respond? He had regained his memory; I am sure he remembered just how much we loved each other. I was sure that after all of these, we would find our way back together.

"No..." I heard him whisper.

"You have to be a bit more audible, Mr. Numero."

"No, your Honour." I heard it loud and clear this time. The word broke something inside me. I forced myself to keep a straight face, to not let my pain show, but I felt my world tilting.

Lilian looked back at me with a victorious smile.

"What in the world is that boy doing?" Abby whispered loud enough for me to hear.

"Your Honor, granting Mr. Numero Junior custody does not benefit the child. She is a baby." Lilian’s lawyer continued. "A father who is too busy to care, an ex-wife who has no legal obligation to, and no potential stepmother in the nearest future. No structure whatsoever."

Richard looked back at me once more, but I refused to let him see the effect his response had on me.

"Well," the judge murmured. "That settles it. I have heard enough for today. Both sides should prepare their closing arguments; I will review the case thoroughly before making my decision. The next date will be forwarded to those involved to reduce the press exposure."

"All rise." A court officer shouted, and we all did as the judge disappeared into her chambers.

Richard ran to me as I started to leave. "Nita..."

"Don’t... I don’t need to know."

He opened his mouth, but I was already walking away. I helped Abby with Queen, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and headed out of the courtroom.

*****

My life since I got married had been revolving around the Numero family. My sleeping and waking up was about my husband, or rather, ex-husband. I had let it take over my life, and I had nothing else going for me, which was why his admission in the courtroom hurt me more than it should.

If that response had come before he regained his memory, I would have understood.

I met Mrs. Numero in the sitting room; I knew she was mulling over the events of the day. I could see the way her fingers shook and the general frailty in her posture. This wasn’t good for this woman’s health. I took a deep breath.

"Mum? I wanted to say I’m sorry, but I am going to have to leave today. I’m sorry." I began, my voice measured, controlled. "I know you love to spend time with Queen, so I will wean her off breast milk and bring her over on weekends so she can get some time with her father too."

She raised an eyebrow. "You think you should be apologizing. For what? For loving a number? For believing that this family could make you happy?"

I swallowed having no words.

She exhaled. "I understand, my child." She studied me for a moment before adding, "You were never the problem, Nita. You just happened to love a man who doesn’t know how to hold on to what he needs."

I nodded and headed upstairs to pack. A few minutes in, I heard yelling from downstairs. I hurried out of the room, but it was just Abby yelling at Richard, so I retraced my steps to finish packing.

"Are you out of your damn mind, Richard?! Do you think love is some kind of game? That woman stood by you through everything, and you just..."

"Mom, stop."

"No, I will not stop! You’re a fool, Richard. A damn fool. And I am tired of watching you ruin everything good in your life."

Queen lay on the bed, sucking on her thumb.

"Don’t worry, sweetheart," I murmured. "We’ll be fine."

The door creaked open. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Nita."

I clenched my jaw. "Go away, Richard."

He didn’t. Of course, he didn’t. Instead, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. I kept my back to him, refusing to look back.

"Please, just...Just talk to me."

"There is nothing to talk about. You made your point quite well with just one word. You cannot eat your cake and have it." I turned then, my eyes locking onto his. "Or should we talk about how you continue to deliberately hurt me?"

"I wasn’t trying to hurt you."

"Then what were you trying to do?"

"I need to figure out what I actually want."

I nodded.

His gaze dropped to the floor.

"I wasn’t expecting anything from you, Richard," I continued, my voice quieter now. "But I did hope for something. A sign. A fight. Something that told me I wasn’t completely insane for believing in us."

"I’m sorry."

"I will bring Nita over during the weekends. That way we have shared custody."

"She is still too young, Nita."

"I don’t want you coming over to my house. This way, I don’t have to see you."

"I will have her picked up by Martin and a nanny in the mornings, and they will bring her back in the evenings. How about that?"

"Perfect."

Tears burned the back of my throat, but I refused to let them fall.

I turned away, grabbing my luggage and reaching for Queen.

"I’ll help you with Queen." I stood aside and let him scoop her up. I headed down to the sitting room, gave Mama Numero a hug, and headed out.