Shayla
In the hushed courtroom, the judge, a middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, peered over her glasses at the two parties before her. After carefully reviewing the evidence and listening to arguments from both sides, she cleared her throat and began to speak.
"Ms. Jenson, Mr. Jenson," she addressed the couple, her voice commanding attention. "After considering all the factors presented in this case, it is the ruling of this court that custody of the children, Ethan and Shawn, shall be awarded to Ms. Jenson."
A wave of relief washed over me as I clutched the hand of my lawyer. My eyes shimmered with tears as I listened intently to the judge's next words.
"Mr. Jenson, you shall have visitation rights with the children during the summer months, starting on the first day after their school year ends and concluding on the last day before the new school year begins," the judge continued, her tone firm.
The judge then turned her attention to the matter of financial support. "Mr. Jenson, you are hereby ordered to pay child support in the amount of $1,500 per month for each child, for a total of $3,000 per month," she declared.
Additionally, she addressed spousal support. "Furthermore, Mr. Jenson, you are ordered to pay spousal support to Ms. Jenson in the amount of $1,000 per month for a duration equal to the length of marriage, or until Ms. Jenson remarries or cohabitates with a new partner."
The judge's ruling was met with a mixture of emotions in the courtroom. My face lit up with gratitude and relief, while Terrance's expression turned grim as he absorbed the terms of the court's decision.
With a final nod from the judge, the proceedings came to a close, marking the end of a chapter for the Jenson family, and the beginning of a new journey as we navigated the complexities of co-parenting and moving forward with our lives.
Terrance's face contorted with rage at the judge's words, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to contain his anger.
"This is outrageous!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the courtroom. "You can't do this to me! I won't stand for it!" The judge's eyes narrowed as she fixed Terrance with a stern glare.
"Mr. Jenson, I will not tolerate this outburst in my courtroom," she admonished, her voice sharp with authority. "You will calm down this instant, or I will have no choice but to hold you in contempt of court." Terrance's jaw clenched as he glared defiantly at the judge, but after a moment's hesitation, he begrudgingly forced himself to relax, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
"Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice laced with venom.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of apprehension at Terrance's ominous words. I knew that this was far from the end of our tumultuous journey, but for now, I allowed myself a small moment of victory, knowing that justice had been served.
As I step out of the courtroom, a weight lifts off my shoulders. The judge's ruling has granted me custody of Ethan and Shawn, along with the financial support we desperately need. I exchange a few words with my lawyer, expressing my gratitude before heading to the clerk's office to collect my paperwork.
As I approach the exit, I spot Terrance standing outside, his face contorted in anger. My heart sinks, knowing that our interaction won't be pleasant. Ignoring the knots of anxiety tightening in my stomach, I steel myself for the confrontation.
"Terrance," I call out tentatively, hoping to diffuse the tension before it escalates. But he whirls around, his eyes ablaze with fury.
"This is ridiculous, Shayla!" he spits out, his voice laced with venom. "You think you can just take everything from me?"
I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of his rage. "Terrance, the judge made her decision based on what's best for the kids," I reason, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside me.
But Terrance is beyond reason, his anger boiling over. "You're just trying to punish me," he accuses, his fists clenched at his sides.
I shake my head, struggling to maintain my composure. "That's not true, Terrance. I just want what's fair for all of us," I insist, my voice wavering slightly.
But he's not listening, consumed by his own bitterness and resentment. As our argument rages on, I can't help but wonder if there will ever be a way to find peace amidst the chaos of our broken marriage.
I stood there, my patience worn thin, as Terrance continued to deflect blame and refuse to take accountability for his actions. The divorce had been finalized, and I had nothing left to lose by speaking my mind.
"Terrance, I've had enough of this," I said firmly, my voice tinged with frustration. "You cheated on me and had a child outside of our marriage. You broke our vows, our trust, everything we built together. And now you have the audacity to act like I owe you something? Like I should give you another chance?"
"Well, I'm done," I declared, my tone final. "I'm done trying to make excuses for you, and I'm done pretending like everything is okay. I deserve better than this. I deserve someone who respects me, who values our marriage, and who doesn't betray my trust. And you know what? I'm going to find that person, someone who actually deserves me."
Terrance's eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "You never understood me, Shayla. You were never there for me when I needed you."
My eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "What are you talking about? I was always there for you. I took care of our home, our kids, and I made sure you had everything you needed. And our sex life? Don't even get me started on that. We were happy, Terrance. Don't try to rewrite history."
Terrance shook his head, his voice rising. "You think that's all I wanted? A clean house and good sex? I needed emotional support, Shayla. I needed someone who would listen to me, who would understand me."
I scoffed, my patience wearing thin. "Oh please, Terrance. You're just looking for someone to blame because your mistress left you for another man. You're upset because you realize now you're facing the reality of being alone. But that's not my fault. That's on you."
Terrance's face turned red with rage, but I held my ground. I refused to let him manipulate me any longer. My words hung in the air as Terrance seethed with frustration, his anger boiling over.
"You think you know everything, Shayla? You're so naive. You have no idea what you're talking about."
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Oh, I know more than you think, Terrance. I did my research on your precious mistress. Turns out, she's nothing but a gold digger, a bed climber who was only after your money."
Terrance's face paled, his hands trembling with disbelief. "You're lying," he spat out, his voice barely a whisper.
I shook my head, my expression firm. "I wish I was, but it's the truth, Terrance. She's already moved on to someone else, someone wealthier than you. She never cared about you. She saw you as nothing more than a means to an end."
Terrance staggered back, the weight of my words crashing down on him. He had been blind to the truth, too wrapped up in his own self-pity to see the reality of the situation. And now, faced with the harsh truth, he had nowhere left to turn but inward.
I watched him for a moment, a mix of pity and contempt in my eyes. Then, without another word, I turned and walked away, leaving Terrance to confront the consequences of his actions alone.
Terrance's hand shot out, grabbing my arm with a force that made me wince. Before the situation escalated further, the car door swung open with a deliberate force, and Chris stepped out, his presence commanding attention. His jaw was set, eyes narrowed with a silent warning.
Terrance's grip tightened for a moment, his gaze flickering between me and Chris. He scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "So this is the little boyfriend you've found to protect you now, Shayla? Pathetic."
Chris remained silent, his expression stoic as he stood by the car, a silent show of support and protection.
Terrance leaned in close to me, his words a venomous whisper. "You can run to him all you want, but you know deep down, you'll always be mine. Till death do us part."
My heart raced as I snatched my arm away from Terrance, my breath catching in my throat. Chris took a step forward, his eyes flashing with a silent warning to Terrance.
But before Chris could reach us, Terrance turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing into the distance. I stood there, shaken by the encounter, my mind reeling with a mix of fear and anger. Chris approached me cautiously, a reassuring presence in the midst of chaos, but the memory of Terrance's words lingered, haunting me like a dark shadow.