Chapter 20

Ethan’s POV

I know Serene has to put in a lot of work before Talia starts calling her mom because she thinks crystal is her mom but crystal is a sick lady who was thrown out of my house. She’s nothing to me, and I’d never like her anymore. 

She thinks she can survive without me in her life, but I’m going to make her life miserable. 

Hurting her was all I could think about while driving to the courthouse. I wanted to see my lawyer and speak to him about the divorce because it’s only right that I impose more fines on her and leave her drowning in debts that she can’t pay. 

“Where’s Judge Johnson?” I asked the man who stood in my way of going into the courtroom to see the judge. 

“What do you want?” He replied rudely, trying to put his hands on my suit. He doesn’t know how much it costs, hence he’s trying to touch it. 

“I’d like to see him, let him know it’s Ethan Anderson. He knows who I am.” I explained to the man standing at the gate,e stopping me from going into the courthouse. 

I could tell he was handling a case, which is why the officer couldn’t let me into the courthouse. I was asked to sit in the reception hall and wait for his call. 

“You walk in here looking for Judge Johnson. He’s one of the elites; only important people can see him. I don’t know if you’re even going to see him.” I was shocked when the man sitting close to me spoke to me about Judge Johnson. 

I wanted to meet him so he’d rule the divorce in my favor and impose those fines on her and let her rot in misery and debts. 

“Do you think I’m part of the middle class? I’m way above you; I’m up here, and you’re down here.” I had to put that man in his place for trying to direct me. He thinks I’m part of his people. I don’t belong to the middle class; I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but that doesn’t make me poor. 

“I’d like to see how you’d walk past this line to see Judge Johnson. They all want to see him.” 

“They all want to see him. Judge Johnson is going to see me before every one of you, and trust me, I don’t need any interferences.”

“Let’s see how it goes.” He chuckled as Judge Johnson stepped out of the court to attend to people, le but I was shocked that he went straight to meet a man who was standing with a lady. 

Looking closely at the man, I realized it was Kieran. I wished he knew how much I hated him. 

“Judge Johnson. How’re you doing?” I chimedin, trying to interrupt their conversation, but I was shocked that he didn’t even look at me. 

“Kieran, you don’t need to fight over that case. If the land is settled to be yours, there won’t be a need to dig up gold, besides, since they don’t know the quantity,y and their research results are inconclusive.” Judge Johnson continued speaking to Kieran. 

They both acted like I wasn’t there, like I was an object that they missed. 

“Judge Johnson!” I called his attention, stopping Kieran from saying another word. 

“What do you want, Ethan? You’ve got a wife and daughter at home to take care of. Why are you here?” Kieran mocked me in front of the other people waiting at the reception hall. I was shocked that Kieran just walked in and got the attention of the judge, but I was made to sit in the reception hall. 

“My lawyer was supposed to speak to you. I don’t know if he’s done that.”

“Right now, my hands are full,l and I’m booked until I’m done with the man standing right here. Let’s go to my office.” Judge Johnson led Kieran and his lady to his office. At this point, I knew that I had failed in getting what I wanted. 

“What did I tell you?”

“Don’t fucking say a word.” I snapped before leaving the man who warned me against going to him. 

I got into my car and stomped my foot on the steering wheel repeatedly. I was infuriated and pissed as to why he’d do that to me. 

Just then, my phone started beeping. I turned on the screen and read the words, Jada. 

“How did the meeting go?” She inquired as I listened to the voice of Talia giggling. I knew only two things could make her laugh like that, crystal and her favorite cartoon. 

“Kieran stole my spotlight and mocked me right before the judge. It feels so disheartening.” I placed my phone on the dashboard so I could put my seatbelt and leave this place. 

“You don’t need to worry much about it because you can always find someone else to help you with the case, right?” Serene doesn’t know why I want Judge Johnson on my side in this divorce case. 

I want him to give me the win and also leave Crystall with I choice other than to work for me until she’s capable of paying all that she owes. 

“I wanted Judge Johnson because he’s one of the most respected judges. Every lawyer out there is scared of him, so whoever she brings to the table would be scared to defend him; that’s what I want.” 

“We don’t always get what we want, but we always create our own path. If Judge Johnson isn’t available, find someone close to him that can be gullible and use that as an edge over her, despite it not being solid like the one you wanted.” She advised,

“Have you had breakfast?” The moment I asked the question, I heard her footstep,s which could only mean she was leaving the space she shared with Tal, whether it be the living room, her room, or our bedroom. 

“Yes, we had salad. She loved it, but she said Crystal's meals tasted better. Talia said those words to me.” Serene wasn’t happy. 

“I’m sure she doesn’t mean them, she’s just a child.” I tried to calm her nerves, but she sprouted; 

“She’s my child, and yet she doesn’t know that. I shouldn’t have let her train my daughter.” 

“Mistakes that can’t be corrected. With time,e she’ll come around.” I had to keep it that way, make her believe that she can continue trying to convince Talia to love her as a daughter would love her mother. 

An awkward silence crept between us before she broke it. 

“What happens if she doesn’t?”