Chapter 25
In the courtroom, the plantiff's lawyer and the defendant's lawyer sat confidently. They were both ready to speak for their client.
The judge soon gave an order for the proceeding to start. Richard's lawyer was the first to speak, he spoke elequently and even presented the DNA paternity test result as evidence. He upheld that since the kids had been with Katherine for six years, it's only right for the kids to move in with their father now and spend some years with him.
When Sharon heard how their lawyer spoke, she was very happy. She was even more certain that she would be leaving this court room with those three kids whom she already considered her grandchildren.
Then the judge gave a permission for Katherine's lawyer to speak and he also began to speak. Although he spoke deligently, he did not have an evidence to back his case.
Having hear from both sides, the judge spoke directly to Katherine's lawyer, "please get your client to perform a paternity DNA test result. I can't place a judgement just with Mr. Richard's evidence alone. This case will be adjourned to this same date next month. I expect for Miss. Katherine to come to the court then with the DNA test result. Otherwise, I will have to pass the final judgement based on Mr. Richard's evidence alone."
After all necessary court formalities, the court proceedings came to an end.
Sharon was so angry that she walked up to Katherine, "you are really lucky this time."
Katherine was unbothered with her intimidating look, "so you want my children as your grandchildren?" She scoffed.
"They are my grandchildren. How long will you deny the kids of their grandmother? Don't you have a heart?" Sharon asked.
"I should be the one asking you that question. Where is your conscience when you set me up to be fucked by a stranger? Where is your conscience when you and your son sent me out of your house with nothing to my name?" Katherine asked, "you and your son are supposed to be on your knees, pleading for me to help treat your dieing husband. Yet you are still arrogant before me."
Sharon's stomach rumbled in anger, "I didn't regret anything I did in the past cause you deserve everything. One month will soon be here and you will watch me take my grandchildren away." As she turned to walk away, Katherine spoke.
"It's not like you really want my children. You just want to claim their custody so can you force me to administer treatment to your husband, "Katherine said.
Sharon felt exposed. She didn't expect for Katherine to be so smart that she knew the true intent of her heart.
"Well, I hope your husband will still be breathing before the next hearing," Katherine smirked evily and walked away from her.
"You!" Sharon couldn't act irrationally in the court otherwise, she could have slapped Katherine.
Richard was standing by a side, watching everything wordlessly. What amazed him the most is how bold and courageous Katherine had become. Years ago, she wouldn't even have the mind to speak to his mother this way, yet how, she was ruthless.
Richard walked up to Sharon and spoke softly, "don't worry, mother. Her children are for us. By the time we claim them next month, she will come begging just to see them."
"And did you think your father will be alive by then?" Sharon said harshly.
Honestly, his father's sickness is getting worse by the day and there is no guarantee that he would be alive by the next court hearing.
"I'll do something about it, mother," Richard tried to comfort his mom.
Donna and Richard met at an executive room of an high end hotel in the city. It was Richard who had invited her over. "Donna, the judge adjourned the case to next month and my father is dieing. I don't think I can wait till next month. You have to help me."
"Help you?" Donna questioned. "You sounded like if I didn't help you, you have something you will do to me?"
"No, Donna. I'm just frustrated. I never knew that a time will come when I will desperately need Katherine's help. She loved me for many years but I trampled on her love and even ruthlessly divorced her because..."
"Because of me, huh? The past is in the past. There is no need to regret cause it doesn't change anything. What we should think of is a way forward." Donna said.
"And that's why I've invited you here. Katherine is stubborn and will never forgive me even if I plead with her. Plus I don't even want to imagine myself falling low before her," Richard said.
Donna thought for a while and said," there is another way... But it's risky."
"Tell me."
...
Meanwhile, Katherine and some other Generals had just finished gyrating and jogging round a particular large field. The were all dressed in their camo.
The leader of this evening exercise spoke, "we are going for two more rounds." Then he opened his mouth wide and let out a military songs, others followed and began to follow after the man as the went for the second round of exercise.
"General! General Katherine!" Samantha ran into the field and went straight to where Katherine is.
Katherine pulled out of her colleagues, she cleaned her sweaty head with her handkerchief and asked, "Samantha, what's the matter?"
"I quickly went to get what to cook for the children at our supermarket but before I came back, I can't find the children at home plus everywhere is scattered." Samantha said.
Her heart skipped fearfully and she ran speedily with Samantha to the car she brought. Katherine was the one who sat in the driver's seat, once she started the ignition of the car, she pressed hard on the accelerator and drove crazily to her building.
She parked like a drunk race driver and stepped out at once. Samantha was quick to step out and follow her. Katherine rushed inside and was shocked to see how scattered the living room had become. As if she was expecting to see her kids in their rooms, she rushed to their rooms but couldn't see anyone. Her heart fell into sadness and tears rushed down her cheek.
She rushed back to the living room and said to Samantha who had a pathetic look on her face, "seems my children are kidnapped or?"
"Can you ask from marshall? Perhaps he knows the whereabout of the kids?" Samantha suggested.
Samantha would have immediately called the god of war as soon as she couldn't find the kid but she didn't have his direct contact plus even if she has, she may not have the courage to speak to him.
Katherine immediately placed a call across to Derrick but he didn't answer the call. She called him two more times but the call wasn't answered still.
"Oh my! He's not picking up," Katherine cried bitterly. Where could her children be? Running around the military base and searching everywhere for them won't make any sense.
Although she didn't like for Derick to help, it seems he's the only one capable of helping her here.
"Can you try again?" Samantha suggested but Katherine didn't have the strength. She sunk to the couch in the living room and held her aching head. Did her kids just carelessly went out of the house to play or did someone hurt them?
Then Samantha's heart trailed to Alessio, "how about Alessio?"
"I don't have his contact," Katherine said.
Samantha quickly got her laptop and hacked into the data base of the military, Samantha is an anonymous white hat hacker who is popularly known in many underground websites. Her hacking skills were beyound the ordinary yet she appear to be a simple and ordinary.
She extracted Alessio's number and immediately called him. At once, Alessio answered the call.
"Lieutenant General Alessio," she addressed him.
Alessio felt like the voice was familiar so he spoke, "this is..."
"Samantha, Surgeon General Katherine's assistant. We can't find General Katherine's kids anymore in the house and all attempt to reach the god of war had been futile."
"I'll be there shortly," he said and immediately hung the call up.
Samantha walked up to Katherine who was overwhelmed with sadness. "I've been able to reach Alessio, he will be here soon. Probably with the Marshall." She knew that Alessio would definitely know the whereabout of the god of war.
Samantha went to get her a cup of water to drink but she refused. She persisted until she drank a little from it. But tears didn't stop helplessly dropping from her face.
Precisely thirteen minutes later, the door opened and two men walked in. They were both tall and handsome, only that one is taller and handsome than the other, and that was Derick. He had just stepped in with Alessio.
Once Katherine noticed their presence, she stood at once and cried out, "marshall, I can't find my kids. Do you know where they are?"
"I don't," his response was cold. He looked around the room and saw how disorganized it was then he sat calmly. At once, Alessio and Samantha left them alone in the room. They don't need to be told.