Sweet Revenge: Jace & Emerald

“What’s this about?” Emerald asked angrily. She went to Jace’s office and confronted him as she showed him the summons from the court.

“Exactly what it is.” Young Higginson answered casually.

“What the hell are you thinking that you file a case like this?”

“Why? Are you planning on letting me know about our son?” Jace asked, looking at her intently. He already knew how she would react, and he was ready.

“Of course!” Emerald exclaimed.

“When? We’ve been working here for months, but you don’t even give me a hint!”

“After our project! I already told my son about you.”

“Our son, Emerald. Our son. Don’t forget that.” Jace replied, “And why must we finish our project?”

“So I don’t need to see you.”

“What? I have the right to be with our son. Is that how much you hate me that you didn’t want to see my face? After this project, I want to be with our son. How do you expect me to see him?”

“You get him in our house on weekends, but make sure to bring him back Sunday nights.”

“And what, you won’t face me whenever I drive our son back to your house?”

“Yes,” Emerald replied. It was the truth. She didn’t want to see him because she didn’t know if she could stop falling in love with him again.

“Is that how much you hate me? You’re willing to sacrifice the time that me and my son could bond together because of your damn hate?”

“Yes!” Emerald shouted. She felt like Jace was invalidating her pain because she prevented him from seeing their son. “What’s wrong with that? Didn’t you waste your money to invest in my father just so you can avenge your brother for something I didn’t do?”

Jace stiffened. He didn’t know what to say because he knew he was wrong and had done the worst. “I am a father, Emerald. I want my son to call me Daddy, and you let him call another man that way.”

“Do you think I want that? That is the reason why I decided to tell him about you. So he won’t stop calling Liam his Daddy. It’s because of my son; I had to look the other way and forget about my feelings because my heart breaks seeing how much he yearned for his father.” Emerald replied. “I was scared for him because I don’t know whether you would accept him simply because I am his mother. I am fearful that you will feel disgusted once you know that I conceived a child on that night when you finally break me with the completion of your revenge.”

“I’m sorry, I” Jace said in a low voice.

“You want to fight for custody? Fine, let’s do that.” Emerald said and turned her back.

Jace was left in his office, confused. ‘I should have been the one who had the upper hand because she hid the truth from me; why did it end like this? Why do I feel like I was at fault?’ he asked himself. ‘Yes, I was wrong for treating her that way, and I understand her fear. But can’t she see that I am different now?’

After Emerald told him about how he broke her heart, he felt his heart clenched. The pain he felt for his wife years ago came back, and so did the guilt. Now more than ever, he decided to take her and their son back. He will never stop until they are together and make up for her for the rest of their lives. He promised himself to do everything he could to pay for what he did to his wife and their family. ‘But for now, I need to take them back first for me to be able to show them my sincerity. None of my plans will happen if we’re not together,’ he thought.

Emerald was still furious when she went to her office because she didn’t expect Jace to know about their son. She tried everything she could to hide Ace until she was ready. Now that she’s facing the case, young Morgan wonders how her husband found out about their son.

‘Is this how you want it? I am not going to let things go easy on you.’ Emerald thought as she turned on her computer so she could finish their project so she didn’t need to be near him.

***

Driving in her pickup, Emerald went to the court, ready to face Jace. Daryl got her Atty. Cecil. A good lawyer who handles child custody and marriage cases. “Hello, Ms. Morgan.” The attorney greeted her as soon as she saw her.

“Just call me Emerald, attorney,” she replied, which made the lawyer nod and lead her to the court where Jace and his legal counsel were.

“Emerald,” Young Higginson greeted her, but she ignored him while showing how disgusted she was with him. Jace, who was hurt by what she did, sighed heavily. ‘I need to be patient and tolerant; I’m at fault,’ he told himself before he went back to his seat.

A little later, the judge came in, and they started the hearing.

“In addition to the evidence we submitted, your honor, we would like to add this as exhibit E.” Attorney Cecil said and handed the judge some photos. “It’s our proof that Mr. Higginson will not be a good role model for the boy.”

Jace and his attorney look at each other, “Your honor, we don’t have a copy of that yet.” Atty. Shane said.

“That’s why I said additional.” Atty. Cecil rebutted, and the two attorneys started to argue.

“Order,” The judge said, “I am going to give you 10 minutes to discuss this new evidence before we resume this hearing.” the judge added.

As both sides discussed, Jace admitted to his attorney that he had brought countless women into their mansion while living together. But he also explained to him that after Emerald left him, he never even looked at any woman and concentrated on his business and search for her.

“Are you willing to tell that to the court?” his attorney asked, making Jace’s forehead creased. “You want your wife to live with you and your son; if we prove to the judge that you are willing to start anew, she might suggest Ms. Emerald try your marriage once more for the benefit of your son.”

“Will that only look like I am using the boy to get her back?” Jace asked worriedly.

“It might. And I think everyone would think that way. But why does it matter to you when you knew deep inside your heart that you wanted to be with your family? Is trying to have a complete family a sin?” his attorney asked, and he thought he had a point.

After 10 minutes, their hearing resumed, and Emerald was called to the witness stand by the complainant. “Ms. Emerald, my client said that you let your son call another man, Daddy. Is that true?”

“No,” she replied,

“So the boy is not calling any man Daddy? He had no father figure as he grew up?”

“He called my friend Daddy, but I reminded him he was not his father.”

“Why do you think he was like that?” the attorney replied, earning a glare from Emerald because anyone would know the answer. She kept quiet, but the judge encouraged her, wanting to hear her response.

“Ms. Morgan, please answer.” the judge said, looking at Emerald, who sighed heavily.

“Because he wanted to have his father.”

“That would be all your honor,” the attorney said before he went back to his seat. Emerald was glaring at Jace, who met her eyes.

The hearing ended, and the judge made her decision. “The court gives Mr. Higginson his right as a father to the boy and Ms. Morgan; since both of you are not into any relationship and want your son’s wellbeing, I suggest you try to live together and make your marriage work out. Suppose you think you still didn’t want to be with him after Mr. Higginson admitted his fault and was willing to make things right. In that case, you can decide whether to continue, ” the judge said, widening Emerald’s eyes. “Of course, it’s only my suggestion; the decision is always yours. As a woman, I understand your pain and everything you’ve been through with your husband, so I didn’t want you to feel obligated to live with him. What matters is that the boy is happy knowing he has a mother and a father who will care for him.”

Emerald was furious; she couldn’t believe what the judge had decided. She thought she could just give Jace time to see their son on weekends, but to her dismay, young Higginson was allowed to see Ace anytime he wanted, which she thought would start another world war between them.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.