CHAPTER 45: Contempt of Court

Patricia filed the contempt motion within an hour.

"The text message is a clear violation," she explained over the phone. "The judge specifically ordered him to cease all contact and public statements. He couldn't even wait twenty-four hours."

"What happens now?" I asked.

"The judge issues a bench warrant. Police pick him up. He appears before Judge Rodriguez to explain himself. If she finds him in contempt, he could face fines or jail time."

"Jail?" My stomach twisted despite everything James had done.

"Up to six months for contempt. Given his pattern of behavior, I think she'll throw the book at him."

After she hung up, Alexander found me staring out the window.

"You're worried about him," he said. It wasn't a question.

"He's going to jail because he sent me a text message."

"He's going to jail because he violated a direct court order hours after receiving it. That shows contempt not just for the court, but for any authority or consequences."

"He's still your son."

Alexander was quiet for a long moment. "I keep waiting to feel something. Guilt. Sadness. Something. But all I feel is relief that he can't hurt you anymore."

"That's sad."

"That's survival." He pulled me close. "I spent months trying to save James from himself. Making excuses. Offering chances. He threw every single one back in my face. I'm done mourning the son I wish I had. He made his choices."

Luna kicked between us.

"She's restless today," I said.

"She knows something's happening." He touched my belly. "Don't worry, little one. Your uncle James can't hurt your mom anymore. Dad's making sure of it."

---

The police found James at a bar in Brooklyn at 11 PM.

Victoria, monitoring social media, showed us the video someone posted.

James, drunk, being led out in handcuffs. Yelling. Struggling.

"This is illegal! I'm Alexander Sterling's son! You can't arrest me!"

"You have a warrant, sir. Please don't resist."

"My father did this! Tell him he won! Tell him he destroyed his own son!"

The video cut off.

"Twenty million views already," Victoria said quietly. "He's trending again. Not in a good way."

I watched it twice, feeling something twist in my chest.

Yes, James was cruel. Vindictive. Dangerous.

But he was also broken. Lost. Spiraling.

"I need to go see him," I said suddenly.

"Absolutely not," Alexander said immediately.

"He's in jail. There are guards. Cameras. What can he do?"

"Hurt you emotionally. Stress you out. Risk another medical emergency." Alexander's voice was firm. "You're seven months pregnant, Bella. You're not visiting my son in jail."

"Someone needs to talk to him. Make him understand he needs help."

"Let his lawyer talk to him. Or a therapist. Or anyone except you."

"Alexander—"

"No." His tone left no room for argument. "I've lost too much already. I won't risk losing you or Luna because James needs a reality check. He made his bed. Let him lie in it."

---

The contempt hearing was held the next morning.

We watched via video again. James sat in an orange jumpsuit, his lawyer beside him.

He looked terrible. Unshaven. Exhausted. Defeated.

Judge Rodriguez entered. "Mr. Sterling, you're here because less than twelve hours after I ordered you to cease contact with Ms. Martinez, you sent her a threatening text message. Do you deny this?"

"It wasn't threatening—"

"'This isn't over. Not even close.' How is that not threatening?"

"I was upset. I just wanted—"

"What you wanted is irrelevant. You violated a direct court order." She looked at his lawyer. "Ms. Chen, do you have anything to say on your client's behalf?"

Margaret Chen stood. "Your Honor, my client was emotional and not thinking clearly. He's willing to apologize and commit to no further contact."

"He was willing to commit to no contact yesterday when I ordered it. Clearly his commitment means nothing." Judge Rodriguez turned to James. "Mr. Sterling, I gave you a chance. I dismissed a frivolous lawsuit with a clear warning. You responded by immediately violating that warning. This shows a fundamental disrespect for the legal system and a refusal to accept consequences."

"I'm sorry—"

"You're sorry you got caught. There's a difference." She paused. "I find you in contempt of court. The sentence is thirty days in county jail, suspended on the condition you complete a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation and anger management program. You will also pay a $10,000 fine. And if you contact Ms. Martinez or make any public statements about her or her family ever again, you will serve the full thirty days plus additional penalties."

James's face went white. "You're sending me to a psychiatrist?"

"I'm giving you a choice. Get help or go to jail. Most people would consider that generous."

After the hearing ended, I sat in silence.

Thirty days suspended. Psychiatric evaluation. Anger management.

"He'll never do it," I said. "He'll see it as weakness."

"Then he'll go to jail," Alexander said. "His choice."

"Don't you care? At all?"

He looked at me, his eyes sad. "I care that he's destroying himself. But I care more about protecting you and Luna. If that makes me a bad father, so be it."

"It doesn't make you a bad father. It makes you a good husband."

"I'm trying to be both. But if I have to choose..." He touched my face. "I choose you. Every time."

---

That evening, Catherine called.

"I visited James at the county jail," she said without preamble.

"How is he?" I asked, despite myself.

"Angry. Blaming everyone but himself. Refusing to admit he needs help." She sighed. "I told him I'd pay for the best psychiatric care available. Private facility. Top doctors. He told me to go to hell."

"Catherine, I'm sorry—"

"Don't be. He's an adult. He's responsible for his own choices." Her voice was firm. "I enabled him for too long. Made excuses. Protected him from consequences. I won't do it anymore. Even if it means watching him hit rock bottom."

After she hung up, Alexander and I sat quietly.

"Your whole family is choosing us over James," I said.

"Because you're worth choosing. And because James has proven he's not worth protecting anymore."

"That's harsh."

"That's reality." He pulled me against his side. "I'm tired of pretending James is a victim. He's an adult who made terrible choices and refuses to take responsibility. I'm done making excuses."

Luna kicked hard.

"She's got opinions tonight," Alexander said.

"She's worried about her uncle."

"Her uncle made his bed. She doesn't need to worry about him."

I rested my head on his shoulder. "When did our lives get so complicated?"

"When you walked into that hotel bar looking like trouble."

"I was looking for a quiet drink."

"You were looking like trouble. There's a difference."

Despite everything—James in jail, the family fracturing, the stress—I smiled.

"No regrets?" I asked.

"Not one." He kissed my forehead. "You and Luna are worth every complication. Every scandal. Every hard choice."

"Even losing your son?"

He was quiet for a moment. "I didn't lose my son. He lost himself. There's a difference."

And somehow, that made it hurt less.