Chapter 5 - The Dirty Leverage
Judge Rollins froze completely still, the tip of her gold pen hovering millimeters above the paper.
My parents exchanged a look of pure panic, suddenly realizing they were losing control of the room.
"What ridiculous nonsense are you talking about?" Judge Rollins demanded, though her voice wavered.
Daniel casually swiped his finger across his tablet and cast a document onto the room's smart TV.
The screen illuminated with a complex web of wire transfers and banking records.
"Your husband's real estate firm has been receiving massive, untaxed deposits from a shell corporation."
"That shell corporation is entirely funded by the money Claire stole from my client."
The blood completely drained from the judge's wrinkled face.
"If you grant custody to these extortionists, I will personally hand this evidence over to the FBI," Daniel threatened smoothly.
"Your career, your pension, and your husband's freedom will be gone by dinner time."
The silence in the hospital room was incredibly heavy and absolutely deafening.
My mother lunged forward, pointing a shaking finger directly at Daniel.
"You cannot blackmail a sitting judge!" Susan screamed hysterically.
Daniel simply raised an eyebrow and smiled politely.
"I am not blackmailing anyone, I am simply reporting a massive conflict of interest."
Judge Rollins rapidly packed her documents back into her leather briefcase.
She looked at my mother with an expression of pure, unadulterated hatred.
"This emergency petition is formally denied," the judge announced forcefully.
"I am recusing myself from this case, and I suggest you never contact me again, Susan."
The judge stormed out of the hospital room, leaving my parents standing in stunned silence.
I looked at my mother and father, feeling completely disgusted by their greed.
"Get out of my room before I have you arrested for trespassing," I ordered them coldly.
My father grabbed my mother's arm and dragged her out into the hallway.
We had won the battle, but I knew the war was far from over.
Elena walked in a few minutes later, pushing a cart with my morning medications.
May you like
She handed me a small paper cup, but her hand was trembling violently.
"Someone just tried to sneak into the nursery wearing medical scrubs," she whispered fearfully.
