Chapter 48
Forty-Eight
REESE
I’m shaking, and I’m not sure if it’s from anger or fear.
I was told about this hearing without even enough time to shower, so I didn’t exactly have time to call any of the lawyers I’ve been in contact with.
How could I ask them to meet at the courthouse within thirty minutes when they haven’t even agreed to work with me yet?
The security guard waves me forward through the metal detector, and it buzzes. He has me go through again and…same thing.
“Do you have anything on you?” he asks.
I blink several times, and I’m still just as confused. My mind is too messy, my blood pressure through the roof. “Like a weapon?!” I squeak.
His head jerks, and he reaches for his side.
Someone chuckles behind me. I glance over my shoulder, and the blood drains from my face.
Benedict walks through the detector as casual as ever, snakes an arm around my waist, and looks at the security guard. “Don’t worry. She’s harmless,” he muses.
His hand on my hip is like a cage.
I slap it away and step toward the security guard. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Benedict smirks and pushes his hands into his pockets.
He’s someone who looks prepared for court.
Me? I’m wearing the heels I still haven’t given back to Daisy from the fundraising gala, a thrifted dress, and hardly any makeup because I cried it off on the way here.
“Miss?” The security guard has his wand out, ready to wave it over me.
I spread my arms and legs, all while Benedict is watching.
“Are you waiting for something?” I snap at him as the security guard bends down with his wand.
“You’re good to go,” he says, stepping away to let me through.
I brush past Benedict, leaving his chuckle behind like I wish I could do with the memory of him.
“You know running away from me won’t make me disappear, sweetheart. I’ll see you inside those doors in just a few minutes."
I spin around in a haste, anger not even touching the feeling inside of me. “Why are you doing this?”
He stops his slow strides, and his smug smile stalls. His eye twitches as he scans me up and down. I cross my arms defensively because I can already hear the words that are about to come out of his mouth.
I beat him to the punch. “Is it because you still want me? Or are you just jealous of what I have with another man that you can’t just let me be? You and I both know that this has nothing to do with Charleigh.”
His glares at me. “She’s my daughter. Of course it has something to do with her.”
It’s as if he’s slapped me in the face.
“You called me a whore when I told you I was pregnant. Then you refused to believe that she was yours.” I stare down at my heels and attempt to lower my voice. “I’ve given you multiple opportunities to have a relationship with her, and I still adhere to that, Benedict.”
I look up at him, and his jaw is flexing with anger, per usual, but I’ve got news for him: I’m angry too.
I press my finger into his chest. “You just don’t want her unless you can have me too.”
His lip curls. “You think I’m doing this because I want you? Why on earth would I want a gold digger like you?”
I gape at him, my jaw falling open. “A gold digger? I’ve never asked you for money.”
He hums and walks toward the two large oak doors leading into the courtroom. “First, you get pregnant on purpose…”
Shock ripples throughout my body. “What are you talking about?”
“And then when I decide to move on, you find another rich man and convince him to put a ring on your finger.” Benedict’s mouth curves into an all-knowing smile, and he heads back over to me.
I place my hand on my stomach to ease the roll of nausea.
“That is not true,” I seethe. “And you know it.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But the judge doesn’t.”
His cologne burns my nose when he leans down to whisper in my ear, “But honestly, sweetheart, you jump into bed with a man you barely know, get engaged, and just expect I’ll be okay with him being my daughter’s stepfather? Do you even know him?”
Of course I do.
“What kind of mother are you to jump headfirst into a marriage this quickly?” His laugh is menacing, and I know he’s using insults as a weapon to put me into a nervous tizzy.
But it’s working.
I find myself hesitating…and doubting myself as a mother.
Is he right? Am I a terrible mother for jumping into things with Malaki so quickly? Of course, we’re not really engaged, but there is some truth to Benedict’s jab.
Am I being naive when it comes to Malaki?
Have I even thought of the consequences if this blows up in my face? Not only will I have to piece back together my crushed dreams, but I’ll have to mend a broken heart.
I’ll have to mend Charleigh’s broken heart too.
It’s not just me that I have to worry about.
“Are you rethinking things, sweetheart? Realizing that I have you by the throat?”
I know that if I give in to him, he really will have me by the throat, so I push past, my shoulder bumping into his, and say, “No.”
Despite Benedict’s false accusations, I walk into the courtroom with confidence.
I’ve always fended for myself, and today is no different.
I sit on the bench outside the courtroom with my hands underneath my thighs. What’s the point in being here by eight if there are multiple hearings before ours? Is it to make me second-guess every little thing? Because if so, it’s working.
My eyes burn from staring at my phone screen. I’ve learned all there is to know about custody cases and emergency motions from sitting here researching. My head is spinning by the end, and my nerves are no less fried than they were hours ago.
I close my eyes and press against the cool wall. Benedict has been huddled next to his lawyer on the other side of the hallway, the pair of them muttering back and forth to themselves like they have some grand plan to take me down.
The only good thing about his lawyer showing up is that he hasn’t said another word to me.
I hop to my feet on shaky legs when the door opens.
“Parties for Whitney vs. Moreno, Judge Ramirez is ready for you.”
My stomach turns.
Benedict and his lawyer stand up, neither one looking in my direction as they stride past. I run my sweaty palms over my dress and exhale a breath.
The bailiff gives me space but eyes me closely. After another breath, he says, “Are you ready?”
Am I ready?
No, I’m not fucking ready.
I nod anyway.
“Reese!”
Mid-step, I pause.
Malaki rushes toward me while tightening his tie.
“Malaki! What are you doing here?” I glance back and forth between him and the bailiff. His hand is on the door, waiting for me.
My heart aches to reach for Malaki, my legs begging me to rush over to him so I can feel his arms around my waist. I want to bury my nose into his shirt and be engulfed in his familiar scent. But instead, I hesitate. I force him away.
“Malaki. You can’t be here right now.”
He comes to a sudden stop, his fingers clamped onto his tie. “What? Why?” He glances at the bailiff, who is becoming impatient. “Is it not open to the public?”
“Nothing good is going to come of you being here.” It pains me to say it, but it’s the truth.
With Benedict's words playing ping-pong inside my head, I know that Malaki sitting in the courtroom will only provoke him further.
Malaki runs a hand through his hair, and from the looks of the messy ends, he’s been doing it for hours. “Stop it,” he says.
I furrow my forehead. “Stop what?”
“Stop pushing me away.” His jaw tightens. “I’m not letting you do this alone.”
“You’re just going to make it worse.” I force between tight teeth. “This is my thing to deal with and–”
Malaki steps forward, his hand gently grazing my forearm. “With all due respect, this isn’t just your thing to deal with anymore.”
“But–”
“You and Charleigh are a part of my life, Reese. No matter how it started or how it ends. So I’m staying.”
“Ms. Moreno.”
The bailiff reaches the end of his patience. He opens the door and gestures for me to head inside the courtroom. With a fleeting glance in Malaki's direction, I head through the doors, even more worried than before.