The City Held Its Silence byIrel Knx 183

183 Court Hearing 2 

JASMINE’S POV 

“Thank you, I confirm both parties are in the courtroom,” Judge Watkins continued. “I want to be clear that the court is not here today to decide the outcome of this case. The purpose of this hearing is to address the terms of the requested divorce as well as to ensure the best interests of the child.” 

There was a moment of silence as the judge My heart was hammering in my chest as I processed and anticipated how the proceeding would go. 

“Council for the petitioner, what are you requesting today?” he askedmine and Keith’s lawyers. 

Keith’s lawyers were going first. The court officer went to Keith’s desk and collected a paper from them. It was a copy of their filing request. Then he handed it to the judge. One of the lawyers then spoke into the microphone on their table. “Your Honor our client, Keith Acland, requests a civil divorce and joint custody of his son, Anthony Acland, with Mrs Acland.” he started. “Our client is a kind, gentle, and gracious man. He loves his son and though the relationship with his wife came to an end he still cares for her and wants to see her well-” 

I fought to keep from scoffing out loud at that. 

“-He is the chairman of the Acland group holding company, he earns 900 million dollars a year, and is also in a safe and secure neighborhood. He has all the requirements and resources to take care of his son. He is also willing to negotiate the grounds for a contested divorce with sole custody requested by Jasmine Acland hold no weight when factoring all this your honor.” 

I glanced at Keith, who sat comfortably in his seat, confident and cool. He was clearly not worried about any of this. He thought he had this in the bag. 

My lawyers were next, as the court officer approached them and took a copy of my filing. One of them then spoke into the microphone. 

“Your honor, our client is, requesting a contested divorce from Keith Acland and sole custody of their son for concerns of the safety of their child whilst in the custody of Mr Acland. 

My client in the time that she and her son were suddenly forced out of the estate by Mr Acland and moved into a separate home suffered greatly from financial abuse and neglect from Mr Acland and his current lover Diana Rockford.” 

183 Court Hearing 2 

My eyes glanced at Keith and then to Diana seated in the audience who both still looked unfazed and calm so far. They thought it was going to be like all those other times 

“Is there evidence available for these allegations of abuse?” Watkin’s thenasked. 

“Yes, your 

honor we have evidence and that shows the financial abuse that our client suffered at the hands of Keith Acland and his mistress Diana Rockford. 

Keith and his lawyers began murmuring as they looked at my lawyers. Though, I was slightly nervous I my outward expression was serious and focused. 

“Silence in the courtroom please!” Watkins ordered. 

“Your honor that evidence must be fraudulent Mr Acland had always financially provided for Jasmine Acland and their son,” Keith’s lawyer tried to explain. 

“You only speak when spoken to,” the judge curtly responded. “What does this evidence show?” he then asked my lawyers. 

“Well, your honor, before you are bank statements from the Aardvus bank account Mr Acland has for his family at the estate. You can confirm for yourself that these are official undoctered documents from the bank. In particular, it shows the activity on our clients‘ designated accounts. It shows all the transactions made in the past year.” he explained. 

I wished I could have gotten evidence of other things like the maids Diana had stopped from working for me at the houseTony and I lived in. 

“You will see transactions of only 1000 USD were made each month when she was supposed to receive 50000 USD a month. Only for the suspicious deposits of 50000 to be made afterwards. Our client had no control of the account so she couldn’t have done these deposits herself. Our client and her son had an extremely difficult time due to the financial abuse they faced. They barely had any money to look after themselves whilst they depended on Mr Acland entirely. Our client tried to provide for Anthony by getting a job and Mr. Acland’s mistress tried to get in the way by bribing an employee at the company who worked to get her fired,” my lawyer continued. 

“What!?” Keith burst out. “That’s impossible!” 

“Order!” Watkins snapped. “Any more disturbances and you will be escorted outside!” Keith’s lips pressed into a thin line as he looked annoyed by the unfolding situation. Not so smug now are you? I thought to myself. My gaze then shifted to Diana and in contrast to Keith’s expression, she had gone completely pale and was frozen like a 

183 Court Hearing 2 

statue. Unlike Keith, her composure was gone–her face pale, her body rigid. She knew exactly what those transactions meant. She knew. 

“My client fortunately, despite the sabotage, has secured a stable job now. She works as an executive assistant. She makes a salary of over 4 million a year. She stays in a good neighborhood and in a secure home. She is able to provide for and take care of her son on her own. She cannot rely on Keith Acland whose promises for financial security and safety are false.” my lawyer finished off. 

There was another pause. 

Watkins looked through documents for a moment. “For the record, the documents will be checked for their credibility during the recess,” Watkins stated. 

“Would the claimant like to make a testimony on said financial abuse and neglect?” Watkins asked. 

One of my lawyers turned to me. “He would like to ask you some questions,” he said to 

1. me. 

“Okay,” I responded in understanding. 

“Yes, your honor,” the lawyer answered. 

I stood up from my seat and was guided by the court officer to the front of the courtroom. I was made to sit at the judge’s desk panel on a seat next to his but at a lower level. I looked at the small audience in thevroom that was staring back at me. My eyes found the pale and still Diana. Continue shaking in your boots I said to myself. 

Judge Watkins then turned to me. 

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