Chapter 52

"Your Honor, ten years..." Kathadoris began but he was cut off by the judge.

"You can spare me the history lesson. I have read all the notes.

Mr. Dwight gave away his rights. There and done. There is no use to keep beating it up. He signed away his right, so why are we here?"

"Your Honor, the contracts was not in the best interest of my client" Kathadoris argued smoothly.

"What part?" Judge Bailey questioned.

"Your Honor, the kids are part of a great bloodline that must be raised by the very best" he answered smoothly.

"Are you saying that my client is not raising her kids properly?" Nina interrupted.

"No. I am saying that they will take over a company that employs millions of Americans. He needs an heir. And he has those heirs. Due to some unfortunate circumstances he is not capable of reproducing any more offsprings. These kids are his dynasty and heirs. He must be involved to pass off his legacy"

"You still did not answer my question if you think that my client is not raising her kids properly?" Nina said in a bored voice.

"She is. But she is not tasked with the information to raise boys in an industrial environment as my client"

Diane rolled her eyes. As if she would force her sons to get into something that they did not want to do. Her boys had very different dreams and those dreams might change in the future, but she would never force them into anything that they did not want to do.

"I will take that answer as 'no she is not'" looking at him directly. She then turned to the judge to question him

"Your Honor, I doubt my opponent understands the meaning of Termination of Parental Rights"

The Honor nearly snorted. He was well aware of Nina's tactics.

"No I should be more specific Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights" placing emphasis on the word 'voluntary'

"In case he or his client don't, I am happy to explain it to him" getting in some snide comments.

"We are well aware of what TPR means" Kathadoris replied politely.

"Voluntary TPR" she corrected as she turned to face Collins and Kathadoris. "And it applies when a court approves a termination of parental rights, the parent-child relationship is completely extinguished and all the rights and responsibilities of parenthood are terminated. This means that the ex-parent no longer has an obligation to provide care or financial support. The parent also forfeits any rights to have input regarding the child's education, religion, place of residence or other child rearing decisions. They also, custody and/or visitation rights with the child" she finished.

Collins just glared at her.

"Therefore, Mr. Dwight has no right to question or make any suggestion on how Ms. Reyes and Mr. Sinclair raise their children. Which brings me to another point Your Honor."

"Before that, I have something to say" Kathadoris cut her off.

"Did you just interrupt me?" she demanded.

"I want to answer your statement. You made a point and I have a right to answer or refute it. That is my right"

"Fine" she sighed.

" would like to call Ms. Reyes to the stand"

Nina was slightly taken back by this. She didn't think this first deliberation would begin with witnesses. Just what was he getting at? Kathadoris was a very smart man. He had trained her and Jude. He didn't say or do anything without gauging the consequences. Nevertheless, she gave Diane a reassuring smile and nodded her head to her head. Jude gave her hand a squeeze.

Releasing a breath she stood up and walked to the stand. She could do this. She could handle this. She had gone through so many mock trial sessions with Jude and Nina. Anything that they could think of they threw at her. They had really prepared her. Nothing had been left out. Especially, when their nemesis was the lawyer of Collins Dwight. In the crowd she looked to the smiling and reassuring faces of George and Athena.

"Ms. Reyes"

"Mr. Kathadoris" she greeted back.

"Ms. Reyes, do you understand the meaning of Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights"

"Yes. I do"

"Good" nodding his head. "As a mother, Ms. Reyes do you think as a mother, it is right to deny a child a father?"

"Your Honor" Nina and Jude objected infuriated by the question.

"Mr. Kathadoris withdraw your question" Judge Bailey ordered.

Diane just cocked her head to the side "If it is alright with you, Your Honor I would like to answer that question" she said with a smile.

"Very well" the judge conceded.

"I am not denying my child a father" she simply retorted.

"Really? That is ironic when you would rather let your children be fatherless than allow their true father be involved in their lives?" he questioned. Placing a sight emphasis on 'true.

"I see Mr. Kathadoris I think you should do your research.

There are 12 million single parents in America and 80% of them are mothers. I don't think it is that uncommon"

"So you would prefer to be a statistic. And your children to be statistics?'

"Aren't all humans one way or another become part of a statistic?" she questioned. Her people chuckled lightly and the judge smirked.

Kathadoris smiled at the stunning young woman but it was briefly wiped off by Diane's next words

"For example, your client is part of the statistics of men who sign their rights away and dead beat dads" in a strong voice.

Nina looked down to hide her smile.

"We seem to be going off a tangent. The question that I have for you Ms. Reyes is, has Mr. Dwight ever been involved in your children's lives?"

"No. Never. Not that I know of" saying exactly what Jude had instructed her to say.

"That will be all" taking his seat.

"Any further questions for Ms. Reyes?"

"No"

"You may step down Ms. Reyes"

After Diane has been stated Kathadoris rose to speak again.

"Your Honor, I have to call Ms. Reyes out on her lie"

"Excuse me?" Nina demanded.

"Yes. She lied"

"Care to explain?" the judge questioned.

"Of course. Your Honor, it seems that Mr. Collins has been involved in the lives of his children. He is not the evil man that he is being portrayed to be"

"Oh do go on. Tell us, when?

"Well, years before they were born actually"

"I do not understand" the ever patient judge responded.

"His money never touched her. That she has been aware of"

Nina answered. She knew that the trial was going too smoothly. This was the storm.

"It did in fact. And I will prove this to you if the court will allow me. Without further delay Your Honor, I would like to call Mr.

Eric Timmons to the stand"

'Of course he will call a liar and Collins lap dog' George thought rolling his eyes.

After Timmons took his seat Kathadoris began his questioning.

"Mr. Timmons, can you tell the court on your relation to Mr.

Dwight and Ms. Reyes"

"Yes. lam the godfather to Collins Dwight. And the biological father to Diane Reyes"

At this, the judge raised his brows. Now, this was becoming interesting. Mr. Timmons was related to Ms. Reyes. And now the biological father going against his own flesh and blood.

This ought to be good.

"Mr. Timmons are you aware that Collins signed away his rights?"

"Yes I am"

"Has Collins been involved in their lives?"

"Yes"

"Care to explain?"

"Well, Diane was living away from home she had a problem in her pregnancy and need pre-natal care" pausing for a while.

"Please go on" waving his hand.

"Well, Diane's mother came to me to ask for a sum to get Diane some care to save the life of her and her boys"

Diane's eyes went wide with shock and horror. No this could not be happening. This was lies. Her mother told her that she borrowed it from a friend. This "friend" could not be Eric

Timmons.

"Really?" in faux surprise.

"Yes. In fact, she came on the behalf of Diane" he continued.

"Did you give her the money, Mr. Timmons?"

"No. I was going to. But I thought it better to inform Collins.

And Collins wanted to handle it personally. So he gave me the money to give to her."

"So you will say that Mr. Dwight sowed into his children's life?"

He thought about it for a minute "Yes. I can say that he did"

Collins nearly laughed out loud. Good old Eric coming to the rescue. He was not expecting this.

"Thank you Mr. Timmons" he thanked Eric. "As you can see your honor, the contract was nulled the minute that Mr.

Dwight gave financial support. Breaking one of the rules of the Voluntary Termination Parental Rights. Thereby making the contract null and void"

Throwing a smirk at his opponents' side.

"That will be all Your Honor" taking a seat.

"Any questions for Mr. Timmons?" Judge Bailey asked Nina and Jude.

"No Your Honor" Jude spoke. "Your Honor we require a recess"

"Very well. We will reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m." banging his gravel.

"All rise" the bailiff called.

They all stood up as the judge left the stand.

"Why did you ask for a recess?" Diane asked in barely controlled rage. They should be poking holes in Eric's story.

Making him look like a fool.

Jude just cast his eves to the other side who were rejoicing.

"Let them think that they have won this battle"

He had seen the move that Kathadoris had played. He had to admit that it was good move to push the TPR contract as null and void. A very good mood. If they got the judge to see that the contract was null more than a decade ago and both parents forfeited the contract, all the better for Collins.

Kathadoris was going for a fatal blow. It was time to play a psychological war. They needed and were going to win this war, but for that to happen, they first needed to lose a few battles. This apparent victory was shallow.