Chapter 55: Chapter 55

CHAPTER 12

The court was exactly 15minutes away and it is 11:30AM already. Lydia had forced me to let her and Louis tag along for moral support. Although, I didn't want Louis being dragged into any of this.

"I tried having a child with David."

"Really? What happened?" I ask.

"I lost it." She responds.

I gasp, surprised. "When?"

"When you left. I was broken. My bump was growing already."

"I am so sorry, Lydia. Oh, my God. I can't imagine how you must've felt."

"Don't. I wouldn't want you to. Anyway, thank you, for making me Louis’ god mother. I'll never take it for granted."

I stretch my hand towards her from the drivers seat. I wanted to give her reassurance. Louis and I would always be her family and be with her.

**

We'd arrived at the court. I get down along with Lydia and Louis. Luckily, Louis' sleeping already.

"You've got this." Lydia says, as she squeezes my palm. I nod and caress my son's hair.

We enter the court. Attorney Jean-Ann is waiting by the corridor. "I was almost panicking, but I remembered you're not one to arrive late."

"Yes, that's very apt. We have just five minutes left."

"Let's go in." She says. She pauses, "Are they with you?"

I nod, "Yes."

"That's your son?"

"That's him." I say, proud to call myself Louis’ mother.

Jean-Ann smiles. "You have to tell his nanny though, he can't cry once the court's in session. She must quickly take him out." I'm about to respond, and tell her that Lydia wasn't Louis nanny, but Lydia beats me to it.

"Have you ever seen a nanny wear a £3000 Burberry blouse? Lydia Jackson. I'm his god mother."

"Heh." I respond.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I just thought. . .It was my mistake. I apologize."

****

The court session had officially begun. I was seated by the right side, and Lucas by the left. He had two lawyers.

"All rise, The court is now in session. Judge Lahey Adams presiding. Please, be seated." The bailiff says.

Judge Lahey speaks, "Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am calling the case between Natalie Devaux Richardson Versus. Lucas Carrington. Are both sides present and ready?"

Jean-Ann responds to the question. "Yes, your honor. Ready for my client, Natalie Richardson."

Luke's lawyer responds, "Yes, your honor. Present and ready for defense."

Judge Lahey speaks, "Will the clerk please swear in the jury?"

The jurors are sworn in. Lucas and I exchange looks.

Jean-Ann gets up and walks to the front, facing the judge. "Your honor, the jury and the ladies and gentlemen of this court. My client," She points at me. She continues, "Has accused the defendant, Lucas Carrington, of attempted rape and sexual assault. Mind you, both parties were formerly husband and wife. The evidence presented by both the police, eye witnesses and my client, show that indeed, Mr. Carrington here, did try to rape my client and forcefully engage in sexual acts with her. Therefore, the defendant, is guilty as charged." She says and walks back to sit beside me. She nods and smiles at me.

I am beyond anxious. I am restless. What if it didn't go as I'd planned? What if Luke was ten steps ahead of me again?

Luke's attorney refutes the claims made by Jean-Ann, pleading not-guilty.

Judge Lahey speaks, "The defense may begin."

Jean-Anne gets up and goes out again. "My client attended a party, on the 23rd of April. Mr. Carrington was also present at the said party. Now, my client goes into the house of the hosts of the party, and Mr. Carrington stealthily follows behind her without her knowledge. One can only ask why Mr. Carrington would have done that? Furious ex-husband following his successful ex-wife around? He didn't even stop there. Not only did this man, try to rape my client, he sexually molested her."

Luke's attorney begins. "A party. Drugs, alcohol and mishaps. They all occur. What's to say Ms. Richardson wasn't under the influence of alcohol or drugs?"

"Objection your honor!" Jean-Ann backfires.

"Objection overruled." Judge Lahey says, and immediately, our eyes meet. Im sending daggers with my eyes at him. What the hell was he doing? He was supposed to be on my side here. I look away.

Luke's lawyer continues, "Come on. This is a case of misconception. If anything did occur between Ms. Richardson and Mr. Carrington, it happened willingly. If you ask me, who the furious ex here is, I'm sure we must all be smart enough to know who that is. This is a woman who took her ex-husbands company from under him simply out of spite."

"Objection! Relevance?"

"Sustained." Judge Lahey responds.

**

"Don't be afraid. Don't be nervous, okay? Answer all the questions as calmly as you can." Jean-Anne tells me as I prepare to take the stand.

The court clerk speaks to me, "Please, raise your right hand." I raise my right hand and place my left on the Bible. He continues, "Do you promise that the testimony you're about to give before this court of justice, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do." I respond.

Jean-Anne begins questioning me. "Ms. Richardson. Why were you at the party that evening?"

"My best friend, Lydia, hosted the party at her house. It's only logical that I attend my best friends event."

"Of course. Now, did you know that Mr. Carrington would be attending the same party?"

"Yes. I did. Lydia told me. Her husband and Luke are close friends from what I know."

"So how's your relationship with Mr. Carrington like?"

"There's no relationship. I don't speak to him, except at work, when necessary. If anyone does the unnecessary speaking, it's him."

"So Mr. Carrington always makes conversation with you, knowing full well that you're not interested in having one with him, correct?"

"Correct." I respond.

"Why did you still attend the party knowing that Mr. Carrington would be present?"

"Luke is a socialite, so am I. We both get invited to numerous activities in the country. It's impossible to not run into each other at these events. I think it would be stupid to halt my life and stop the things I love doing, simply because I'm trying to stay away from a man I was once married to."

"Ah, I see. So, can you tell me, the court, what exactly happened that night?"

"I was standing when he came up to me. He kept on talking about how I cheated on him during our marriage. I walked away, but his new wife stopped me on my way. She tried to push me, but fell into the pool, then I went into Lydia's house. I broke down in the hallway, crying. I wasn't hurt because I saw him with another woman, I was hurt because he wouldn't stop accusing me of cheating on him. I did not cheat on you." I say, looking directly at him. He frowns and looks away. I continue, "Then I hear footsteps and I turn to see him. He looked drunk, I don't know. Then he accused me of cheating again and said he wanted to show me his hatred the same way he once expressed his love to me. Then he called me his mother." I say as I force tears down my eyes to garner sympathy. "He came closer and started to choke me. I couldn't breathe properly. He started tearing my dress.” I say, as I sob. "I wasn't wearing any underwear, so he easily got access. He slid his fingers in. I was trying to push him off me, but he was too strong and that's when Rocky and Lydia and a few other people arrived. Rocky got him off me."

"That must've been traumatic." Jean-Ann states. The court is quiet.

"Not as traumatic as the first time he raped me." I smile internally as I hear gasps from the crowd. My eyes fall on Lydia. She smiles at me.

"Mr. Carrington raped you before? The same night?"

"No. A few days after we got married."

"Objection, your honor. Relevance?" Luke's attorney yells. I look at Luke. I wanted to see his face. I wanted to see his reaction. He had no expression. His face was blank, plain. This was the moment I'd been waiting for for so long. Humiliating Luke beyond repair.

Before Luke could be called to take the stand, Judge Lahey adjourned the court. The next session would be in 48hours.

Lydia, Jean-Ann and I are outside. "You did good in there. Mentioning the rape in there, gives you the upper hand. We just have to wait to hear what Mr. Carrington has to say."

"I know. Please, do let me know if there's any information you'd be needing."

"Absolutely."

"Thank you, Jean-Ann, for defending me." I say.

She smiles. "Take care of yourself, and your son." She turns to Lydia, "Mrs. Jackson." Lydia smiles at her. Jean-Ann leaves.

"That was insane. I can't believe you pulled that off."

"Neither can I, but I did." I say as I begin to walk forward, towards my car. I pause as someone approaches me from the left side. I look, and it's none other than Lucas. I feel uncomfortable, especially with my son right behind me.

"Please go to the car." I say, as I hand Lydia the car keys. She leaves.

I look away, disgusted, and wondering what he had to say.

"Why are you doing this?"

I turn, and look at him. "You're not supposed to be talking to me. If you don't know, there are cameras all around— this proves my point that you continue to approach me unnecessarily."

"I apologize for what happened in the past. I know there's nothing I can do or say to change my actions that night, I can only beg for your forgiveness because I know I didn't do the right thing."

"Is that sincere though? Would you have apologized if I didn't do all of this? You tried to do it again. Are you a serial rapist?"

He's quiet. If I'm not mistaken, he looks thrown off, sad, even. "I don't believe I tried to violate you again. I don't remember what happened that night, but I would never try to hurt you again."

"You choked me!" I yell as I stomp my feet on the floor. "Lucas, I am warning you, stay the hell away from me. My lawyer has placed a restraining order on you. You must maintain a distance of at least, 100 yards. The next time you break it, I'll ensure you spend the day in jail."