43. Asher #3
“I would like to ask Mr. Donovan a question.”
“Ms. Santos,” the judge warned, about to shake his head.
“I know, but I do think his response will help you make your decision.”
He thought for a moment before nodding his head. “Proceed.”
“Your Honor.” Ben’s lawyer stood up with wide eyes as he spluttered.
“I will hear her question and then determine if he can answer.”
Maya tilted her chin down at the judge and then looked over at Sutton’s loser ex. “Ben, can you tell me your daughter’s name?”
The judge tilted his head and then narrowed his eyes, looking over at Ben. “This should be a simple question since you are here claiming you want custody. You will answer her.”
Ben made a strangled noise, opening and closing his mouth a few times. I heard one of the men behind me snort at his panic. “She…she…she never told me,” he finally spat out.
“Your Honor, for your consideration.” Maya stepped in, holding up a file for the bailiff to take to the judge. “On page five of the findings we provided, you will see the email Ms. Bennett sent on the day of his daughter’s birth. It informed him of the name and contained the birth certificate.”
The judge looked down at the papers, flipping through them before looking back up at Ben. “Mr. Donovan,” he said with a raised eyebrow, forcing him to answer.
I could hear his parents hiss something from behind him but the idiot still couldn’t come up with an answer.
Part of me was happy he’d fumbled the best things in the world and allowed me to have them instead.
But my heart also hurt for Sophie. She didn’t deserve to ever feel unwanted.
I was fully prepared to step in and make sure she never felt that way.
“Mr. Donovan, do you want custody of this child? And please answer honestly.” The judge’s narrowed eyes were locked on Ben.
“Well…” He looked behind him, glanced at me, and then returned his gaze forward. “My parents and girlfriend thought…”
The judge shook his head and let out a sigh, not even wanting to hear the rest of what he had to say.
“I reviewed the case before coming in here given the expedited nature of the matter and the other charges pending.
Having reviewed the evidence and after hearing the testimony here today, I am prepared to rule.
“Mr. Donovan, you are not prepared to be a father, and you have wasted a lot of people’s time here today.
But I am here in the best interest of the child.
” He looked over at Sutton now and sent her a nod.
I saw her shoulders hitch up, like she was holding her breath.
“With the best interest of the child in mind, sole custody is granted to Ms. Bennett. I’m confident that Sophie is in the best place she can be and that any type of shared custody with Mr. Donovan would be harmful to her. ”
Sutton sagged back in her chair as the judge said a few more things before standing and walking out of the courtroom.
As soon as he was out, I was on my feet. Sutton looked behind her to see me coming and then she was in my arms, burying her face in my chest, the wood divider between us.
“It’s all over, sweetheart, she’s yours. No one is taking her from you,” I said in her ear as I heard the men around me hugging and slapping each other’s backs, celebrating the victory.
“I can’t believe it.” She shook slightly before she pulled back to look at me. “This wouldn’t have been possible without you.” There were tears on her face.
I used my thumb to wipe a few stray ones away. “This is all you, Sutton.”
“I told you I had this.” We looked over to see Maya standing in front of Will with a smug smile on her face.
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved his hand. “You wouldn’t have been able to do it without my resources.”
“Oh, please, Will, get over yourself.” She shook her head in frustration.
I still wasn’t sure what had gone on between these two.
I asked him once but he just brushed it off as professional competition.
When I pointed out they weren’t ever in competition, he walked off.
I didn’t ask any more questions, mostly because I didn’t really care.
Sutton left my arms and went to Maya. “Thank you, for everything.”
They hugged, Maya softening as she said something in her ear that I couldn’t hear. Sutton nodded enthusiastically and then they pulled away from each other as her eyes bounced to the other side of the room.
Ben was standing there looking at the ground.
His mum was talking in a low voice to his father who was glaring at the back of Ben’s head.
The girlfriend was grabbing her purse and walking out.
Before he could follow, the detectives from the back stepped forward.
His panicked eyes met Sutton’s as I took a step toward her.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
She looked at me. Her hazel eyes were bright, the tension from the last twenty-four hours gone. “I never want to see him again.”
I nodded then tucked her into my side, shielding her from their view, the rest of the men closing in as we all left the courtroom behind.