The silence in the courtroom was deafening as Judge Ellison adjusted her glasses, staring in utter disgust at Richard.
Judge Ellison: Mr. Hayes, you deliberately compromised a structural balcony railing above a solid floor, risking the life of an infant and your wife to stage a custody battle?
Richard: No! You don't understand! She was going to divorce me and take half the company stock! I had to protect my business!
Arthur Vance: Richard, stop talking right now!
Richard: The prenuptial agreement had a fault clause! If she was proven negligent, she got zero cash, zero assets, and zero custody!
Judge Ellison: You just confessed to felony child endangerment, attempted grievous bodily harm, and perjury in open court.
Clara: I filed for divorce this morning, Richard. And I’m suing for full legal control of the family trust estate on Maya’s behalf.
Richard: You can't do this! That money belongs to my family line!
Judge Ellison: Bailiffs, place Mr. Richard Hayes under immediate arrest. Hold him without bail pending formal criminal charges from the District Attorney.
Two armed bailiffs moved in quickly, grabbing Richard by his arms and forcing his wrists behind his back in silver handcuffs.
Richard: Clara! Please! Think of Maya! Don't do this to me!
Clara: I am thinking of Maya, Richard. That’s why you’re never going to see her again.
Richard was dragged out of the courtroom doors, shouting frantically as his high-priced lawyer nervously packed up his briefcase and bolted out the side exit.
Judge Ellison: Mrs. Hayes, this court immediately grants you sole legal and physical custody of Maya, effective right now. An emergency protection order is issued against Mr. Hayes indefinitely.
Clara: Thank you, Your Honor.
Clara walked out of the heavy wooden doors of the courthouse into the bright afternoon sunlight, where her mother was waiting near the steps holding baby Maya in her arms.
Clara: Come here, my sweet girl.
Clara pulled her baby tight into her arms, kissing her soft forehead as the nightmare finally came to an end.
Clara: You’re safe now. Nobody is ever going to hurt us again.
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