Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“However, in the legal world, and in my courtroom, you don’t get to stand and demand a new judge. It simply doesn’t work that way. Therefore, you will not be getting another judge. Not that I need to prove anything to you, but I’ve been a judge for the past fifteen years and my rulings have been fair, impartial, and unbiased. Again, don’t come in here and think this is your courtroom”—her voice stays at the same tone—“because it’s not, it’s mine. As my grandmother used to say, ‘I’m not dancing by your music.’ Now”—she picks up her glasses—“this is strike two and one more strike, not only will I hold you in contempt, and it’s the weekend, but I will fine you five thousand dollars, which I will make sure is donated to a women’s shelter.” She smirks. “I would hate for you to be in lockup all weekend long. Shall we go on or are you contemplating going to law school so you can debate me later?”
He stares her down, and her eyebrows go up, waiting for him to say something. “Yes,” he hisses.
I look over at my father, who looks like he’s smirking as the judge goes through numbers and shit. She gets half of the house or whatever it’s worth, along with a portion of the properties. Let’s just say, there will be no need for her to be working at the bar.
I lean forward, putting my elbows on my knees, waiting for the child custody part. “Mr. Cartwright,” the judge calls to him, “your wife left you eight months ago.” I don’t know if she is asking him a question or not, but he just looks at her. “That is two hundred and forty-three days, and in all those days, you’ve seen your son twice.” She looks up at him. “Harmony Cartwright will retain primary custody of Wyatt with supervised, court-appointed visits every second Sunday of the month. We can revisit this in six months. Also, lawyer fees are to be paid by Mr. Cartwright.”
Mr. Belfast looks like he needs a drink, and Mr. Cartwright gets up and storms out of the courtroom. The judge doesn’t even bat her eyes when she picks up her gavel and announces that it’s over. I had my head hanging down, but as I look up, the tension leaves my body as Harmony gets up and looks over at Ryleigh, who hugs her.
She smiles at her, and Winston’s voice goes up. “She took me to the fucking cleaners, and all you did was just sit there and let her take it.”
“What would you have liked me to do?” Mr. Belfast fires back.
“Your fucking job,” Winston hisses, and I look back at Casey, who just laughs.
I spot Harmony walking past Ryleigh, and I’m out of my chair. “Just for the record,” she says to Winston, “Ryleigh wasn’t able to enter this evidence last minute without getting in trouble with the judge because, unlike your attorney”—she looks at Mr. Belfast, who is now running his hands through his ever-balding hair—“she’s ethical. But I had two paternity tests performed, and Wyatt is your son. If you don’t believe me, take some of his hair from his hairbrush in that ridiculous shrine your mother has in her living room and get your own DNA test. I’m positive it will show that it’s a ninety-nine point nine percent match.” My mouth opens, as does everyone else around but Ryleigh and Casey.
“You f—” He stops when the lawyer slaps his hand on the desk.
“Don’t be stupid,” he snarls, “you’re in a court with witnesses.”
“I don’t care,” Winston hisses at him.
“Funny,” Harmony notes, “neither do I. Now I’m finally free of you.” She turns and comes to me with a huge smile on her face. When she is close enough, I wrap my arm around her waist. “Did you hear?” she asks me, putting her hands on my chest. “I got custody.”
“And a boatload of money.” I kiss her lips.
“I couldn’t care less about that,” she retorts. “Now let’s go get him.”
“Celebration at my house,” my father announces. “You get the cake, and we’ll go get Wyatt.”
We all laugh as Ryleigh comes over to us. “Well, I’ll be heading out,” she says. “This was a lot of fun.”
“Ryleigh,” Harmony responds, “thank you so, so much for everything. I know I couldn’t have done it without you.” She hugs her.
“You come and visit soon, and we’ll take him to a hockey game,” Ryleigh suggests, looking at Matthew and Max, and they smile at her as the three of them walk out.
“Okay, listen, I don’t want to rush anyone,” Autumn interjects, “but my baby needs food.”
Two hours later, we’re in the middle of the backyard with Wyatt and me tossing the ball to each other. “So now what happens?” he finally asks, and I look at him as he looks at his mother.