Jace #2
“Like any teen, he made a couple of bad choices but nothing that should have earned him being placed under a conservatorship. She just hated losing control over him.”
The emphasis of my mother’s huff could be heard on another planet. My father has never stood up to her like this before and I’m speechless, too.
“What made you decide to share this today? He’s been under conservatorship for ten years, yet you say he never really needed it,” the judge asks.
“Honestly, I worked a lot,” my father side-eyes a look in my direction and it’s full of shame. “Wasn’t present like I should have been so Evelyn handled everything when it came to our son and,” he shrugs, “life was much easier for me if I didn’t say anything.”
The judge raises an eyebrow, probably half impressed half surprised by his confession but passes a look of understanding.
“I’ve truly believed that she had his best interests in mind, until last week—”
“Joseph, you stop this right now,” my mother interrupts and the judge bangs his gavel.
“Mrs. Wilder, you're surpassing my personal tolerance level for irritation. One more outburst and you will be escorted from my courtroom.”
Her eyes widen and she glares from the judge to my father. I’m still speechless and dumbfounded that this is all happening.
My attorney glances over to me and his shocked expression mirrors mine.
“Please continue, Mr. Wilder.”
My father clears his throat, then sucks in a long breath, releasing it slowly like his body needs the oxygen to get through this.
“Last week I overheard her discussion with a reporter from one of the gossip magazines. She bribed them into writing the story about Jace’s conservatorship under the guise of Lennox Rome.”
Her attorney stands urgently, his chair flying back to the wooden barrier behind him as my mother’s gasp echoes through the room. It bounces off the walls, feeling like sonic waves on my skin.
The words echo through my head, hitting my eardrums like a repeating jackhammer. A sharp pain hits the back of my lids and I feel physically nauseous.
I lose my footing and plop down in my chair, my hands flying up the sides of my head as I grip hard at the roots.
When I close my eyes I only see Lennox. His face. The heartbreak in his eyes. The way he tried to stop me from leaving him, from cutting him off.
And I never even gave him a chance.
I move my hands to cover my face, feeling shame and regret, breathing heavily into my palms.
Fuck.
My mother is yelling, defending herself, saying things I can’t register. Her attorney is bantering back at someone. My father, maybe. I’m not sure.
The judges gavel bangs a few times, each time getting louder as his voice booms through the courtroom.
I look up to see him peering down his nose at my mother, who finally stopped talking.
Yelling, really.
“Mr. Wilder, thank you for bringing that to the court's attention. It was very useful information but by the look of it.” He glances at me still slouching in my chair, defeated. “It’s more important for Jace to know that, than me.” My eyes flick up to his, and there’s a softness behind them, like he knows our secret and sees what this did to us.
He turns to my mother, his gaze hardening as he takes her in.
“Mrs. Wilder, even before your husband shared the details of the publicity stunt you attempted to pull in order to manipulate my decision, I had already made up my mind. You provided falsified information on your financials, including the list of assets that you own. My court investigator located multiple dummy corporations with your name as the sole managing member and vested owner. These dummy corporations own real estate property all over the world and have multiple bank accounts funded by the one and only Jace Wilder.”
“Evelyn,” my father’s voice is a breathy whisper as he turns to her.
The shock in his tone is clear that he had no idea she was doing that.
“Your honor, these were investments I made on my son’s behalf,” she quips, like the excuse was already loaded as a backup plan.
“If it were, he would have known about it and you wouldn’t have tried to hide them. I’m not stupid, Mrs. Wilder, so don’t treat me as such.
“The court investigator and therapist have no concerns about the mental capacity or actions of Jace Wilder, therefore, the court hereby relinquishes the rights of Evelyn Wilder in the case of Jace Wilder’s conservatorship, which is now null and void.
Mrs. Wilder is to transfer ownership rights of Jace Wilder’s accounts—financial, medical, and any and all menial and non-menial items. Properties—including your personal primary residence seemingly funded by your son—will be transferred to the benefit of Jace Wilder to maintain and manage on his own accord. ”
My attorney is shaking my arm but I’m hardly registering the movement or the judge’s words.
It’s gone. The conservatorship, her rights.
Is this real?
My heart is pounding with so much force behind my ribcage that it’s difficult to breathe.
I glance up at my father, his face is relieved for me but concerned for himself.
“Dad, I—”
“I should have done this a long time ago, Jace. You never deserved that kind of treatment and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you more. You’ve grown into an amazing young man and I regret not being able to claim any part of that.” He puts his hand on my shoulder, patting it a couple times.
“You can’t take my home!” My mothers shrill voice rings through the room.
“You, Mrs. Wilder, have no right to tell me what I can or can’t do.”
“Excuse me, your honor?” I stand, urgently interrupting him before he can say anything further. He glances my way and I continue. “My father worked very hard for our family, that’s their home and I have no desire to take it away from them.”
The judge stares at me for a moment and finally nods. “You’re kind considering the treatment you received for the last decade. Your mother is lucky I don’t charge her with embezzlement and criminal negligence.”
He continues addressing my mother with disdain in his tone, clarifying all the ways in which my rights were violated and how quickly she needs to turn everything over.
I start to bounce on my heels, anxious to leave to find Lennox. I need to talk to him before I implode. I glance at the door as if it would help me escape but we’re still not dismissed.
“Calm down,” my father whispers from the side of his mouth as he keeps his eyes on the judge.
“I can’t,” I reply breathlessly, because I feel like I’m having a panic attack and at this moment nothing matters but getting to Lennox.
He turns to look at me and there’s a level of understanding I see in his eyes. Something I’ve never seen before and I think it might be the first time I see my father as his own person.
I don’t think either one of us have ever really seen each other. Two people trapped under the control of one overbearing woman because we really had no other choice.
I’m not sure what comes over me. Suddenly, I feel more comfortable, more free, and more alive than I ever have.
“I’m gay, Dad.”
Why the fuck did I just say that? Now is not the time to be coming out to my father.
A small smile spreads across his face. “I know,” he says, lightly.
“What? How? I didn’t even think I knew.”
He chuckles lightly between us, skimming a look at the judge before turning back to me.
“You’re a great actor, Son. But I can see right through you when it comes to Lennox Rome. It was almost the same as when I saw you with Luca. But this one, this one is different.”
My mouth slacks and I’m stunned.
I could have tattooed a black widow on my face and I swear he would have never noticed, so his observation is shocking.
“Court is adjourned.” Judge Fortier bangs his gavel and the relief is overwhelming. My shoulders lift and I immediately stand taller.
“Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?” my father asks and I can’t help but smile as I nod.
“What about you?” I lean sideways to peer around him as my mother side-eyes him with a fury I’ve only ever seen her look at me with.
“I’ll call you if I need a place to crash.” I can’t help but snicker at him making light of the situation, although it’s not really funny.
I don’t know that she will ever get over what he did today.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Don’t be. I’m not.” He pulls me into a hug. “Now, go.”
I spring backward, spinning on my heel and make my way to the side exit where I know Howard is waiting.
“Where are you going?” my mother calls out as I round the corner.
And for the first time, I don’t respond to her with an answer.