Chapter 13 - THE COURTROOM
Celeste’s petition was ridiculous.
It was also dangerous.
Her attorneys claimed I had deliberately concealed the twins, denied Luca his parental rights, and exposed the children to “emotional instability.”
The nerve almost impressed me.
Almost.
Three days later, we sat in family court.
Reporters crowded the hallway.
Luca’s legal team could have filled a small law school.
I had my own attorney.
I insisted on it.
This was not going to become Moretti versus Moretti with me sitting quietly in the middle.
Celeste entered wearing navy blue and pearls.
She looked like somebody’s elegant grandmother.
Not a woman who had manipulated medical records and stolen embryos.
Her attorney stood.
“Mrs. Moretti’s concern is simple. The children deserve stability.”
My attorney, Rachel Kim, didn’t blink.
“Then perhaps Mrs. Moretti should have considered stability before concealing their existence from their father for eight years.”
Celeste’s face tightened.
The judge looked over her glasses.
“Counsel, I understand there are serious allegations beyond the custody issue.”
Rachel nodded.
“Criminal investigations are ongoing.”
Celeste’s attorney quickly said, “Unproven allegations.”
Then Luca stood.
His attorney grabbed his sleeve.
Too late.
“Your Honor, may I speak?”
The judge looked annoyed.
“You may sit, Mr. Moretti.”
“I’m not seeking custody from Nia.”
The courtroom went silent.
Celeste turned.
“What are you doing?”
Luca ignored her.
“I learned my children existed four days ago. Their mother raised them. Protected them. Loved them. I have no intention of punishing her for surviving what my family did.”
My throat tightened.
The judge studied him.
“You’re asking the court to deny your mother’s petition?”
“Yes.”
“And your own parental rights?”
“No.”
My stomach twisted.
Luca looked at me.
“I want a relationship with my children. But not by tearing them away from the only parent they’ve ever known.”
Rachel leaned toward me.
“That helps.”
I whispered, “I know.”
Celeste stood.
“You ungrateful fool.”
The judge’s face hardened.
“Mrs. Moretti, sit down.”
Celeste didn’t.
“For eight years, she hid your heirs!”
Luca turned slowly.
“No. You did.”
The room exploded with whispers.
The judge threatened to clear the court.
Luca continued.
“You knew Nia was pregnant. You destroyed her letter. You bribed staff. You falsified medical information.”
Celeste’s attorney stood.
“Your Honor—”
“And you stole genetic material belonging to us.”
Now reporters were writing furiously.
Celeste stared at her son.
“You would destroy your own mother?”
Luca’s voice was cold.
“You destroyed yourself.”
The judge dismissed Celeste’s emergency petition and ordered temporary mediation between Luca and me regarding parental recognition.
Outside the courtroom, cameras flashed.
Questions flew.
“Mr. Moretti!”
“Ms. Carter!”
“Are there really three Moretti children?”
“Will charges be filed?”
We pushed through security.
Then Celeste appeared behind us.
“Nia.”
I turned.
She walked toward me slowly.
“You think you won.”
“This isn’t a game.”
“It always was.”
Luca stepped between us.
“Stay away from her.”
Celeste smiled.
“You still don’t understand, Luca.”
“Understand what?”
Her gaze moved to me.
“The twins weren’t supposed to happen.”
I felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
She leaned closer.
“The doctor didn’t just lie about your fertility.”
Luca’s face changed.
Celeste smiled.
“He made sure you wouldn’t conceive.”
My stomach dropped.
“How?”
She said nothing.
Luca grabbed her arm.
“What did he do?”
Security stepped closer.
Celeste looked at his hand, then into his eyes.
“He gave Nia the wrong medication.”
The hallway tilted.
I remembered the pills.
The injections.
The headaches.
The nausea.
The doctor telling me it was normal.
Luca let go of his mother like she was poison.
Then Rachel came running toward us.
“Nia.”
I turned.
Her face was pale.
“What?”
“The investigators just searched the old doctor’s storage unit.”
She held up a folder.
“They found your complete medical file.”
I stared at it.
“And?”
Rachel swallowed.
“There’s a note in the margin about a procedure.”
“What procedure?”
May you like
She looked horrified.
“A procedure you never consented to.”
