A week had passed since the bidding. Everything had been going smoothly, that is, until this morning.
Blair stood by the dining table, holding the summons delivered by the court, her fingers tightening around the edges of the document.
"What's that?" Kabir asked, stepping out of his studies. The boys had already left for school, leaving the house quiet for the two of them. But their little moment of happiness was cut short.
"A court summons." The words sliced through her like a dagger as she announced. Kabir quickly darkens.
"He wants to play," he chuckled, a dangerous grin on his face. Blair clenched her fist so tightly that the paper crumpled in her grasp. She never thought Ethan would be daring enough, but now she was proven wrong.
"Then let's play," she announced in a cold but determined voice. From behind, Kabir slipped his hands around her tiny waist, pulling her frame into his embrace. One hand trailed through her hair, his touch achingly tender in contrast to the storm brewing within them. Blair exhaled, leaning into his warmth and letting it seep into her being.
"Make it painful," he murmured into her ears, his voice soft but laced with malice.
Unlike the unified atmosphere at the Marge mansion, the latter was the case with the Moons. "You won't take my child away from me," Ethan roared like a wounded lion, but Sofia did not have it. She had long decided, and there was no turning back.
"You should be trying to save your company, it was useless thinking you could do better." Her words sliced through him like a blade. He had done everything for her, for her sake and that of their child, and this is what he gets? Father Long snatched the connection she had come with. The thought alone made his anger boil. "You are not leaving," he ordered, grabbing the bags from her hands and tossing them.
From outside, Sothan watched as his parents fought like wild beasts. It was the usual, and despite his protest, he had long gotten accustomed to it, hence, he just walked away. His eyes carried unshed tears, which he dare not let on. "Men don't cry," his father would say. "Crying makes you weak," he would add, and that has been his slogan, pushing the tears back.
Sofia felt tired. Although her body was young, she felt fragile from within, like a woman approaching menopause. For years, she had fought to keep her place in Ethan's heart and life. But now, his vision of greatness seemed ever so distant from hers.
Every failure had come with a price, and every price had come with its conditions, stipper than the previous. she was terified, her mind froze at the thought of what he would make her do in his worthless persuit to crush the almighty Kabir Marge, but deep down her heart still yearned for him and no one else.
"Ethan," she murmured. Ethan turned from the balcony, his eyes cold evidence of no warmth.
"What?" he demanded, his tone cold and devoid of every emotion. A painful chuckle escaped her lips. "Nothing," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, but he heard. "Good…" he paused briefly as if aligning his thoughts.
"Have dinner with Judge Ferdinand Camfrey," he ordered effortlessly, turning too quickly, not noticing the pain in his fiance's eyes. Sofia sat on the bed, pain and regret taking hold of her. How long did this have to go on? She questioned. Every situation had been left to her to clean up.
It was up to her to raise him back to the top. like a social ladder, he made her climb the beds of eligible personalities, but not again. She was not his doll, a plastic he could manipulate at will. Smiling, she stood. "Okay," she agreed.
"Good girl," he murmured, his back still facing her, failing to see the dagger stares directed at his back.
Finally, the day of the deal came, and the two parties stood before Judge Ferdinand. The old man stared through his glasses with a cocky smile, his grey hair evident of age and wisdom. Blair watched his exchange of smiles with Ethan, making her stomach churn. From behind, Jason watched over her like a loyal shepherd.
"Should we give the video to the press?" he asked, but Blair quickly declined. "No… Sofia is weak but not stupid. I want her to crush him before we deliver the final blow." Jason nodded. From the side, Ethan smirked victoriously. The court was in session, and all the evidence was from six years ago, sabotaging Blair's image.
"Mrs. Marge, on what grounds should I grant you custody of the children when you have proven to be unfit as a parent?" Blair scoffed. Unfit? If sacrificing her well-being to save their baby made her unfit, then so be it. But she would not let Ethan the judge of that.
"Unfit at parenting… yes, I do agree," she stated, her voice calm yet stern as she met Ethan's gaze. He couldn't hide his satisfaction, but she wasn't done.
"But tell me… what was expected of a dying woman?" Her words echoed through the silent courtroom. "I was on the brink of death, and our baby could only survive if I didn't." A heavy silence fell over the room. Ethan felt a cold wave wash over him, but he forced himself to stay composed.
"Lies," he barged like an unrestrained dog with no master. "You're alive; the children are alive," he convinced himself more than the court. Blair smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"Of course. My children are safe and alive. Perhaps Mr. Moons should do the math… or check their birth certificates before making baseless assumptions." Loud gasps echoed through the courtroom. Ethan's expression faltered, but Blair continued.
"Seeking custody of children you abandoned? After divorcing their mother and driving her into a stormy night for the sake of a mistress? Tell me, how fit are you now to care for them?" Ethan clenched his jaw, his knuckles turning white. The whispers around them grew louder, but Blair remained unbothered.
"It's foolish of you to claim children you know nothing about." She paused for a deep breath.
"My husband and I are willing to let this go… if you walk away now." Her voice softened, yet it carried a deep warning. Ethan chuckled bitterly. Let it go? Did she think this was a game of hide-and-seek? He wanted his life back, and if the twins were the way out… he dared not stop… not now.
"I love my children," he announced virtuously. "I did not know you were pregnant when we divorced… but I do now. They belong with their biological father, not some make-believe replacement." Blair tilted her head, her expression unreadable.
"You want to play birth father?" Her lips curled up in a smirk. "Then let's play birth father."