Chapter 9

The cold floor of the Religious Court corridor felt like an execution stage for anyone without power. Dewangga stepped in confidently, surrounded by a line of lawyers dressed in dark suits worth tens of millions of rupiah. Beside him, Emely walked with her chin held high, wearing an elegant silk kebaya as if she were attending a gala, not a trial that would determine her own grandchild’s fate.

Dewangga glanced toward the entrance, waiting for Serena. In his mind, he imagined her arriving with a pale face and swollen eyes, begging not to lose custody of Clarisa. He had prepared everything: money to bribe witnesses, influence to manipulate public opinion, and a narrative painting Serena as mentally unstable.

But when the doors opened, all eyes turned to Serena Zea.

She walked in calmly, dressed in an ivory-white suit that contrasted sharply with the dull courtroom atmosphere. There was no fear in her eyes. Behind her, Aditya Wardana followed, carrying a briefcase of documents ready to shatter the lies of Dewangga’s family.

“The court is now in session,” the judge’s gavel echoed through the silent room.

The First Strike: A Calculated Defamation

Dewangga launched his attack through his lawyer. They presented a cruel narrative: Serena was portrayed as a selfish mother who neglected her child in pursuit of her ambition to return to the film industry.

“Your Honor,” Dewangga’s lawyer began with feigned concern, “our client, Mr. Dewangga, is a responsible father. Meanwhile, Mrs. Serena is often absent from home, unable to provide proper care or nutrition for the child. Worse, she allowed their daughter, Clarisa, to grow up in fear due to her unstable emotional condition. We have witnesses who can confirm this.”

Emely stepped forward as the main witness. She sat in the witness chair with a carefully crafted expression of sorrow.

“I am deeply saddened, Your Honor,” Emely said, dabbing fake tears with her lace handkerchief. “Serena often yelled at Clarisa. She was never there when the child was sick. She would even leave Clarisa without food all day because she was busy chasing her ambition of becoming a producer again. Clarisa is afraid of her own mother. She feels safer with me and Vanes.”

Dewangga smirked faintly from his seat. He was certain his mother’s testimony would be the final nail in Serena’s custody case. To him, money could buy any truth in that room.

“Mrs. Serena is morally and financially unfit to raise a child,” the lawyer continued. “We demand full custody be granted to Mr. Dewangga.”

The Surprise Witness and the Truth Revealed

Aditya Wardana stood up with a calm smile, completely unfazed. “Your Honor, we have heard quite an entertaining drama from the opposing side. However, facts are not built on fake tears. We would like to present a surprise witness with authentic evidence of what truly happens inside Mr. Dewangga’s household.”

The courtroom doors opened again. Haris Nasution entered with commanding authority, followed by a middle-aged woman in simple clothing—Mbok Sum, a longtime housemaid who had worked in Dewangga’s home for years.

Emely’s face turned pale instantly. She recognized her. The servant she had always mistreated—someone she believed had no voice.

“Your Honor,” Haris spoke firmly, “I am here not only as Mrs. Serena’s business partner, but also as a witness to the crimes hidden behind the walls of Mr. Dewangga’s mansion. Mbok Sum has secretly recorded activities in the living room because she could no longer bear witnessing the abuse inflicted on Clarisa.”

Dewangga shot to his feet. “This is illegal! That recording is invalid!”

“The recording is valid, as it was taken in a common area within the house for the purpose of protecting a minor,” Aditya Wardana interjected sharply.

The courtroom projector screen descended. A video played.

The scene was heartbreaking. Emely was seen yanking Clarisa’s ear until the child cried in pain after accidentally spilling a drink meant for Vanes. Dewangga appeared as well—walking past his crying daughter without a second glance, too busy embracing Vanes.

The courtroom turned deathly silent. The judge stared at the screen, his brows furrowed deeply.

“Grandma… it hurts…” Clarisa’s broken voice echoed from the video, enough to pierce anyone’s heart.

“You can’t even carry a drink properly, you useless child!” Emely shouted, followed by the sound of a harsh slap.

Serena closed her eyes, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. The pain of watching that video was far worse than any slap Dewangga had ever given her.

The Collapse of Dewangga’s Narrative

Haris stepped closer to the judge’s bench, handing over a flash drive. “Not only physical abuse, Your Honor. We also have evidence of transactions showing Mr. Dewangga attempting to bribe medical personnel to falsify reports regarding Mrs. Serena’s mental health.”

The judge struck the gavel repeatedly to restore order as the room grew chaotic. “Enough! Mrs. Emely’s testimony will be reconsidered on the grounds of perjury.”

Dewangga turned toward his mother, his eyes wide with fury and fear. His carefully constructed plan had crumbled in an instant—undone by a servant’s courage and Haris Nasution’s strategy.

“Serena!” Dewangga shouted in the middle of the courtroom. “How dare you humiliate my family like this?!”

Serena stood tall. No longer lowering her gaze, she met his eyes directly—her stare filled with both hatred and liberation.

“I’m not the one humiliating you, Dewangga,” she said clearly. “Your own actions are. You wanted to show the world that I’m incompetent? Now the world sees that you and your mother are not even worthy of being called human—let alone a family for Clarisa.”

Aditya Wardana added firmly, “Your Honor, based on evidence of both physical and psychological abuse by the father and grandmother, we request that temporary custody of Clarisa remain with our client, and that Mr. Dewangga be prohibited from approaching her within a 100-meter radius until a final decision is made.”

The judge nodded. “Request granted. The hearing will continue next week regarding the division of marital assets.”

The Echo of Retribution

After the session ended, Emely slumped weakly in her chair, while Dewangga was immediately swarmed by reporters who had caught the scent of a major scandal.

“Mr. Dewangga, is it true you abused your child?”

“Mr. Dewangga, what is your response to the video?”

Serena walked out of the courtroom accompanied by Haris. Once outside, she took a deep breath, inhaling air that felt far cleaner.

“Thank you, Haris,” she said softly. “I never expected Mbok Sum to be that brave.”

“Good people will always stand up for what is right, Serena,” Haris replied gently. “Dewangga underestimated the strength of those he oppressed. That was his fatal mistake.”

Serena looked ahead. “This is only the beginning, Haris. He’s already lost custody of Clarisa. Now, I’m going to reclaim everything he stole from me. I want him to feel what it’s like to lose everything—just like I did that night.”

Haris smiled and opened the car door for her. “The stage is set, Producer. What’s our next move?”

Serena stepped into the car, her eyes gleaming sharply. “Next week, I’ll announce my new film project right in front of his office. I want him to witness my success with his own fading eyes.”