The City Held Its Silence byIrel Knx 184

184 Unable to accept 

184 Unable to accept 

Watkins‘ turned toward me as I looked up at him in the witness seat. 

“Jasmine Acland, is it true you were fully financially dependent on the Keith Acland during your entire marriage up until you requested the divorce correct?” the judge 

asked me. 

“Yes, your honour,” I replied. 

“If you can describe your experience and when the financial abuse started?” he asked. 

A silence ensued for a moment as my response came to mind. 

“I felt extremely vulnerable your honor,” I started. “When Keith had my son and I move out of his estate that is when the abuse started. He made his mistress, Diana Rockford in charge of all home affairs including the transactions made to the Aardvus bank account. A thousand is barely enough to do anything with. Even for someone who has no dependents,” I answered trying to sound as sympathetic as possible just as my lawyers had taught me. 

“With no choice, I had to get a job to provide for my son,” I answered. 

“In the evidence presented presented by your party you confirm the main cause if the financial abuse was Diana Rockford?” 

Say only what is a fact. I recalled my lawyer’s advice to me. 

“On the financial abuse, I cannot say if it was his mistress acting alone or if Keith helping as well but the two of them were controlling the account at the time as well as all the transactions made.” 

“What do think would happen if Mr Acland were have custody of your son?” he asked. “If Keith was to have partial custody of our son I would be extremely worried. Given the neglect and abuse we have faced, I would my son facing it again all on his own,” I explained. “Even if he was not the one causing my son and I direct harm, it’s him who assigned his mistress to control everything so he’s just as responsible. 

“Did you try talking to Mr Acland about this issue?” he asked. 

“Yes, I did but he didn’t take me seriously,” I explained. 

Keith scoffed. My eyes met his and he was absolutely fuming. 

“Very well. No further questions, you may return to your seat,” he told me. I stood up 

500 UIABLY to accept 

and slowly made my way to my lawyer’s desk and table. 

“Excellent job,” Ms Towers my lawyers congratulated me as I sat down with them. “Would the defense like to refute the claims? he asked Keith’s lawyers. 

“Yes, your honor,” one of the lawyers replied. 

“Go ahead,” the judge allowed. 

“Your honor we would like to dispute the accusation. Made by Jasmine Acland and her team. The alleged financial abuse Jasmine Acland claims occurred was never brought up to our client. Our client has always provided for her and their son. The only time he stopped sending her money was when she specifically asked him to,” His lawyer replied. 

“Can you provide evidence of these transactions?” he asked Keith’s lawyers. 

“Yes,” one of them answered and went through the documents on their desk before handing them over to the court officer. 

Surprisingly, they came prepared with their own bank statements and papers. 

“No further comments, Your Honor,” he said. 

“Is it true Mrs Acland refused her allowance?” Watkins asked my lawyers. 

“Yes your honor our client did request Mr Acland stop sending her his allowances. However, it was after she started working at The Garden House restaurant. You may refer to the bank statements and in her work contract at the restaurant we provided indicating the dates all intersect,” he explained. 

“If those are all the statements then court will go into a recess and we will resume shortly to give the final statements of this hearing, Watkins announced. 

He then stood up from his seat. 

The court officer told everyone in the room to stand up for him as he left the 

courtroom. 

Keith immediately stood up from the desk with his lawyers and he came to mine. “What the hell is going on, Jasmine?” he asked me. What’s this about? Where is this evidence coming from? Would you go this far to fabricate evidence just to win the case?” 

I stared him straight in the eye. 

“As usual Keith. Quick to assume I’m lying about something,” I snapped. 

20-10 

2/4 

tal Unable to accept 

“I double checked those statements myself I found nothing suspicious!” he told me. “So where did would you suddenly find this new evidence?” 

How clueless I thought to myself. “Who gave you that information? Diana?” I laughed. “If it’s true why didn’t you show it to me first?” he asked. 

“Because I don’t want you anywhere near my son and I,” I told him and I’m glad I did. “Why are you fighting so hard for custody of child you barely try to see unless it’s to get under my skin.” 

Keith still hadn’t explained that part–What does he want from me? Control? 

As I searched his determined ocean blue eyes I hoped to find the answer. 

I won’t let you get it. I thought to myself. Whatever it is you’re after I won’t let you 

have it. 

“Keith if you’re so sure you are right then why are you worried? The judge is going to confirm the evidence so why not wait for confirmation?” I pointed out to him. 

His eyes narrowed as he seemed dissatisfied by my lack of a reaction. 

I then felt Louis come behind and place his shoulders on me. I could tell it was him from his cologne. 

Keith seemed to get even angrier as he glanced from 

“This is ridiculous, is this something the two of you plotted?” he asked as his glare flashed from me to Louis. “Jasmine just because you want to get rid of me doesn’t you have to fabricate things. You’re only going to embarass yourself in the end.” 

The reality of the situation hadn’t sunk in for him yet. The audience in the room all stared at him. 

“Keith, everyone in the room is watching,” I pointed out to him. 

Keith ‘s eyes glanced around the room his lips pressed into a thin line line as he contemplated. “Jasmine…” he started. “We’ll talk after the hearing when this I just didn’t think you would go to this extreme.” 

He walked away and returned to his table. 

185 Temporary order