Chapter 56

Jake

Our weekend was quiet and peaceful. We spent that time together learning about each other. I found out my wife's birthday was May Twenty Eight. She despises Green beans. She's allergic to strawberries and nuts. She loves stormy weather. She hates the colour Pink and yellow, she refuses to wear it even in underwear.

She likes horror and comedy movies. She prefers to stay indoors. She's a fast learner. She loves to read. She's never worked out in a gym. She doesn't like flashy things. She preferred jeans, sneakers and t-shirts. She rarely ever wears Makeup. I ended up finding out some things about myself too.

I had already showered and I was waiting for her in the living room. We were heading to the courthouse. She kicked me out of the room because I kept hovering around her. Irene, Sherry and Esther wanted to go too. So I let them. Hell even Shawn wanted to be there. So I told him okay. The office would survive two hours without either of us.

I was going over some documents when I saw her coming down the stairs and I Did a double take. Was I seeing right?. I was left staring at her. When she got down to me she smiled and I was left staring at her. She was wearing a Blue Two piece suit with a white blouse. It wasn't the clothes, it was her. Her face had very light makeup and her hair was pinned up and she was wearing small and simple jewellery.

She truly looked like the wife of a billionaire. Like my wife . I pulled her into me. “ I'm no longer keeping you at home. You'll start going to dinners , events and what's not with me. Fuck baby girl. You can look anyway you want. Everytime I see you coming down those stairs you take my breath away “.

She started laughing. “ That's so corny Jake”.

“ Hey I'm serious “. I smiled because she was smiling. I was one lucky son of a Bitch. After her laughing fit we left. Landon was driving us, the others were with Teo. When we pulled up to the courthouse,it was swarming with reporters. Landon got out and so did the rest of the security team. They cleared a path for us.

I got out and took her hand. The minute they saw her , they started with the questions. She ignored them. I led her up the stairs. Landon was In Front making sure no one got to her. When we got up the stairs, James was waiting for us.

” Good morning Mr and Mrs Woods “. She just smiled at him. Yea that would be online soon. When we walked into the room everyone started whispering. We ignored them. Irene, Sherry, Esther, Shawn and Landon were beside us.

Honestly, I zoned out the minute the judge walked in. It wasn't until she nudged me That I focused on her. She nodded towards Alexis who was sitting in a wheelchair, staring at me. When Renee's lawyer called for her to take the stand,I almost said Fuck it and threw her over my shoulder and walked out.

She squeezed my hand before standing up and walking towards the Lawyer. I found myself staring at her. How the Fuck does she do that. One minute she looks So sophisticated, elegant and poised. then she can look like she is a teenager, then she can look like my wildest fantasy. Fuck my woman was everything I wanted. When the lawyer swore her in , I focused only on her.

Lawyer : Ms Anderson

Avery : Mrs Woods. My name is Mrs Avery Woods. Please address me correctly, I'm not being rude Mr Dennings, but if I'm correct I am legally married and prefer to be addressed by my name.

Holy Fuck. I wanted her, no I need her right now. I heard The idiots besides me snickering.

Lawyer : Very well Mrs Woods. How long have you lived with Ms Peterson?

Avery : Please clarify which of Ms Peterson?

Lawyer : Ms Renee Peterson

Avery : Well Ms Peterson moved into my home when I was eleven, along with her daughter.

Lawyer : Did Ms Peterson provide and raise you?.

Avery : No . My father Garrett Anderson did.

Lawyer : How would you describe your relationship back then with Ms Peterson and her daughter?.

Avery : Cinderella

Lawyer: Meaning

Avery : Mr Dennings, Cinderella is a children's story. Everyone in this Courtroom knows it. You're a smart man. Very well let me simplify it in layman terms. I was Their slave, I was Their punching bag, I was the court jester.

Lawyer : I see . Do you have any proof of this?.

Avery : Yes I do

She knew it would come up. Irene had said that every time Renee, Alexis and Janice hit her. She would video it, Take pictures and keep them hidden away.

Lawyer : Oh is that so ?. And where exactly is this proof?.

Avery : Right here in this room. Irene Can you please bring it forward.

Irene stood up and walked over to James and handed the envelope to James, Who handed it to the judge. He opened the envelope and pulled everything out.

Judge : Bailiff we have a USB device here. Please plug it in. When he played it the first video that came on Showed a young girl being beaten. I looked at her in time to see her turn her face away from the screen and she flinched. Every Time she heard herself scream she flinched.

I looked towards James. When he realised I was Looking at him I looked at her. That's when he looked at her and saw her flinching. It was affecting her. He walked over to the judge and spoke to her.

Judge: Bailiff, please pause that. Mrs Woods are you okay?.

Avery : Yes, I'm sorry. I'm okay. It's just hearing myself begging , screaming and pleading with them to stop makes me feel like it's still happening.

Lawyer : Mrs Woods,how can we be Sure the person in the video is you?.

Irene : Because I was there when it happened.

Judge : And you are?

Irene : Irene Pendleton. I worked with the Anderson family before Avery was born. I was the one that tried to intervene and stop them from hurting her.

Janice : Your honour, everything Avery has said is the truth. I am also guilty of hurting her. I beat her up so badly once that she almost died. Irene intervened and we fired her. I will accept my punishment. Renee, you and Alexis should accept your punishment.

Judge: Okay I've heard enough.Mrs Woods ,you may step down.

Avery : Thank you

Judge : you three won't need a jury. At least one of you knows you've done something wrong and you've accepted it. But you two. You had the nerve to get a lawyer and try to defend yourself Even though you did wrong. What did she do to you?.She was just a child. And you Ms Peterson as a mother we try to raise our children the right way. But you led your daughter into your own twisted ways.

Assault, Kidnapping, Identity theft, Attempted murder.The list goes on. You three actually planned and carried out that plan to kidnap Mrs Woods. Have your daughter undergo surgery to look like Mrs Woods and replace her.

Lawyer : Your honour. My clients…

Judge : Enough. There is no argument you can give that would change any of this in their favour.
Janice McLean your charges of Kidnapping in the first degree, . Three years.

Renee Peterson, two counts of murder in the first degree, Assault, Kidnapping twenty five years. Without parole.

Alexis Peterson, Attempted murder, Kidnapping, Assault, assault on an officer of the law, Resisting arrest, identity theft, slander fifteen years, without parole.

This Court is adjourned. Get Them out of here. As she sat next to me she squeezed my hand. It was over. Renee started screaming And yelling. It happened so fast. She pulled away from one of the officers and grabbed his gun out of his holster. She ran towards us ,she pulled the trigger. I grabbed her, shielding her , and Landon was behind me. I heard Two more gunshots.

“ Boss, Garrett “.

When I moved I saw Garrett on the floor, blood on his chest. Renee was on the floor also,blood staining the prison jumper. When she turned around and she saw him she ran towards him.