The First Court Move

“The twins are part of an unresolved engagement contract”.

The sentence replayed in my head that night until my chest ached.

I could not sleep that night.

In the morning, the house felt so different. Tenser like something bigger was going to happen.

—--

Cassian called for an emergency meeting before breakfast and different lawyers arrived in black cars.

Both men and women with calm faces and dangerous intelligence.

I sat quietly at the end of the long table.

While Cassian stood at the head with a commanding and controlling aura.

“This claim has no legal standing”, one of the lawyers said confidently.

“Children can't be bound to a business agreement”.

“Unless”, another added slowly, “the engagement contract included a future heir clause”.

My heart skipped.

Cassian's eyes darkened and he squeezed his fists in rage.

“She wouldn't dare”, he said.

“Mmmh…she already has”, the lawyer replied, looking through the brim of his eye glass and sliding a document forward.

I stared at the paper. It was written and stamped in Korean. It was official.

“She's claiming”, the lawyer continued, “that any biological heir of Cassian Blackmoor conceived before the formal dissolution of the engagement….”

I pushed back from the table abruptly.

“I need air”, I whispered.

Cassian turned instantly.

“Elowen….” He called with concern.

“I can't breathe,” I said, standing.

“I just need a moment”.

Cassian let me go.

I went to the hallway, fighting back tears.

Property, clause, heir. That's what my babies meant to her, not even lives or . I cried as I thought.

“She's not going to win”.

A soft voice said and I turned. It was Cassian.

He swore and assured me that Yura was never going to touch the babies.

“Why is everything escalating?” I asked him. I said amidst sobs

“Um…Because she knows that she's losing me and people like Yura don't lose quietly”.

—-

Across the city, Yura sat in a private conference room.

She signed another document with a steady hand and her lawyer smiled.

“This would force him into court”, he said. “And into the spotlight”.

Yura leaned back and relaxed

“Uh-huh. Good”, she replied calmly.

“I want her to see how small she is in his world”. She smiled evilly.

Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen.

“She's scared”.

Yura gave a shriek laughter.

“She should be scared”.

—-

That afternoon, Cassian ordered a tight security. But danger doesn't always come through gates. Sometimes, it arrives through blood.

Later my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I hesitated for a while then I picked it with mixed feelings.

“Hello?” I said but there was silence

Then….

“Elowen”, Yura's voice came. “You should start packing”. She said,

My heart skipped. I gasped when I heard her voice.

“Stay away from me”. I managed to say.

She laughed softly.

“Oh come on, sweetheart”, she said. “This isn't about you anymore”

She paused.

“It's about who the twins would belong to”. She said and ended the call.

In the evening, Cassian found me sitting on the bed, shaking and he knelt in front of me, took my hands, looked into my eyes with a hardened expression of someone who is ruthless and told me that Yura wants war and she would get it.

—----

Cassian and I entered the courtroom. His hands hovered near my back as we walked in, not touching but respecting the line I had drawn but close enough that I felt his presence.

Cameras were not allowed inside but eyes were everywhere. Men in tailored suits who didn't care about babies, only power and my twins shifted as if they sensed the hostility.

Yura arrived last and her gaze met mine and she smiled, not cruel but a victorious one.

The judge entered and the proceedings began.

Yura's lawyer stood up.

“Your Honor,” he said.

“This case is about a breach of contract, inheritance and rights and the custodial tie to an unresolved engagement agreement between Cassian Blackmoor and my client”.

My breath hitched and Cassian's lawyer stood up immediately and said that it was a gross use of civil law and children cannot be claimed as contractual assets

“Unless those children were conceived during the contractual period”.

Yura's lawyer replied calmly and I felt a cold shiver run down my ribs.

Evidence with dates, signatures, corporate clauses and Korean precedents were presented.

It felt like I watched my life reduced to lines on paper.

Then Yura stood up with a quiet confidence and said that she loved Cassian and stood by him even when his father used him as a pawn.

She turned slightly, giving me a side eye.

“And now, another woman appears carrying a child that should have been mine”.

I clenched my fists in rage because that lie burned.

Cassian stood up in anger but the Judge urged him to sit down and he reluctantly obeyed.

Yura turned towards me with a fake softened gaze while I looked at her with hatred. I felt like attacking her.

“I don't blame you, you didn't know”.

She said feigning gentleness.

The room murmured.

I stood with trembling legs.

“I know now”, I said quietly.

“And you won't take my children”.

The judge frowned and told me that it was not my time to speak but Yura smiled because it was what she wanted.

The judge struck the gravel on his desk .

“This court will review the contractual legitimacy”,

“Until then, there will be temporary restrictions”.

My heart dropped.

“Mr. Blackmoor”, the judge said. “You are not allowed to relocate the expectant mother or children outside jurisdiction”.

Cassian stared in rage.

“And all decisions regarding medical care must be reported”.

Yura smiled evilly and in satisfaction.

—-

Outside the courtroom, Cassian and I reached the car and we both agreed that Yura had planned it all to gain control.

Then, a message came into Cassian's phone.

He glanced at the phone and went still.

“Huh? What?” I asked frightened and my heart was beating again wondering what the message was about.

He swallowed.

“She filed an emergency motion”, he said.

“For what?”

He met my eyes.

“To request a court appointed guardian for the twins”.

My vision blurred and before I could respond, a sharp sudden pain shot through my stomach. I gasped.

“Elowen!” Cassian shouted, catching me.

My knees buckled and the last thing I heard before everything went dark was;

“Call a doctor, NOW”.