Chapter 31 The Court Day

Hannah burst through the heavy glass doors of the courthouse, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. Her chest was tight, heart pounding in her ears like a storm of anxiety and adrenaline swirling within her. She clutched her phone in one hand, fingers trembling as she juggled a flurry of messages, amped by the urgent tone of her lawyer’s latest call, and simultaneously glanced at the incoming text from her nanny, Maddie:

"Ethan and the twins are safe, but they’re asking for you. Please come quickly."

Her breath hitched, and her mind raced. She knew the stakes. This wasn’t just a courtroom. It was a battleground. Her son’s safety, her mother’s secrets, her very identity all were intertwined here.

The hum of murmuring voices and the squeak of polished leather court shoes faded into the background as she navigated her way through the crowded entrance. Her designer blazer was slightly wrinkled, her hair pulled into a no-nonsense ponytail that now felt like a shield. Her eyes, sharp and determined, darted across the room searching for her lawyer, her legal anchor in this chaos.

At a nearby bench, a woman with platinum-blonde hair, dressed in a couture suit that screamed wealth and entitlement, shot her a dismissive glance.

Charmaine, Spoiled, petulant, with a smug smirk that barely masked her underlying fury. Clutching tightly to Ethan, her tiny hand clutching the boy’s small shoulder protectively. Ethan, the stolen son, whose dark, wide eyes flicked nervously between Charmaine and the strangers surrounding him.

Hannah’s stomach clenched. Every inch of her screamed protectiveness, but she kept her composure, her professional veneer masking the storm beneath.

Hannah was a force, a woman who had built empires from scratch, single-handedly transforming a modest startup into a business juggernaut. She was used to commanding rooms, making bold decisions, and wielding her influence with a fierce, unwavering grip. Behind the polished exterior, however, was a woman carrying secrets as a hidden heiress to a sprawling fortune, concealed behind layers of business deals and societal facades.

She had become an expert at balancing chaos, her hectic schedule divided among boardrooms, diaper bags, and late-night negotiations. Her phone buzzed again, jolting her from her thoughts.

She yanked it out, reading the message from Maddie once more: “Ethan and the twins are OK, but they want to see you. Please hurry.”

Just then, her lawyer, DANIEL, approached swiftly—his eyes wary but determined.

“Ms. Carter, we’re ready. The judge is waiting.” His voice was steady, but beneath it, Hannah detected a flicker of concern.

She nodded, exhaling sharply. “Let's get this over with.”

The Court Session Begins

As she was led toward the witness stand, her heels echoed ominously against the hardwood floor, each step echoing her resolve. Her heart pounded fiercely a visceral drumbeat against her ribs. Memories flooded Ethan’s chubby cheeks, the stolen moments of motherhood she’s fought so hard to protect.

The judge’s stern face gazed down from the bench,an imposing figure, eyes sharp and unyielding.

Miss, Please step forward and state your name for the record.”

Hannah took a breath, straightening her shoulders. Her voice was calm, measured, and precise.

“Hannah Balsam-Wright.”

As she began to testify about her relationship with Ethan, the circumstances leading to his disappearance, and her suspicions of Naomi’s involvement, a shadow fell over her,the crackling tension of anticipation. Every word was a thread in the complex web of her case, every glance at Naomi and Charmaine piercing like a knife.

Naomi’s Entrance and Threat

Naomi Waverly -Balsam, the accused, was brought into the courtroom. Her posture is regal, her expression icy. She was dressed impeccably, her eyes cold as she surveyed the room with disdain. The prosecuting attorney read her charges for kidnapping, unlawful custody, interference with parental rights. Each causing Naomi’s lips to curl into a contemptuous smile.

Charmaine, sitting beside her, looked like a spoiled princess betrayed, her fingers tight on Ethan’s arm. The boy looked frightened but protected under her watchful gaze.

Naomi rose as her lawyer whispered last-minute instructions. She strolled past Hannah as if she owned the entire courtroom, her heels clicking ominously.

“Naomi Waverly-Balsam,” the judge called.

Naomi’s voice was smooth, dripping with calculated calm. She approached the stand, her gaze cutting across everyone, including Hannah. Her voice was measured, yet beneath it lurked a dangerous undercurrent.

“Your Honor,” Naomi said softly, “If I may, I’d like to make a statement.”

The judge nodded. “Proceed.”

Naomi’s eyes flicked to Hannah’s, a piercing, knowing look.

“You may think you understand what’s best for Ethan,” Naomi began, her voice lilting with quiet menace. “But we are the only family he needs. Where was Hannah when Ethan was a baby? My daughter brought him up as her own. I will do what’s necessary to protect him.”

A low murmur spread through the courtroom. Hannah clenched her fists, but kept her expression steady.

And then, as Naomi turned to leave the stand, she paused, and her lips curled into a sinister smile.

“Oh, Hannah,” she whispered loudly enough for all to hear, “be careful. You may think you’re safe now, but the past has a way of catching up.”

A shiver ran down Hannah’s spine. Naomi’s threat hung heavy in the air, more than words, a promise, a warning. She now knows that Naomi killed her mother and who knows maybe her dad too.

As Naomi was escorted past Hannah, the judge’s gavel struck the bench, commanding silence.

“All rise,” the bailiff announced.

The courtroom stood, the atmosphere thick with tension.

Naomi’s glare locked onto Hannah’s momentarily, then she passed, her heels clicking a rhythmic warning.

Hannah’s eyes didn't leave her. Her hand instinctively clutched Ethan’s photograph in her pocket.

Suddenly, the judge’s voice cut through the quiet.

“Ms. Balsam-Wright, please step forward. The court would like to hear from you directly.”

Hannah’s stomach twisted. She took a deep breath. As she moved toward the stand, Naomi’s final words echoed in her mind—an ominous chill sealing her resolve.

The hush after the judge’s call to stand stretched uncomfortably. Hannah, her pulse pounding like a drum, stepped toward the witness stand, her jaw clenched, eyes fixed. Her hands trembled slightly as she placed her notes on the stand, then looked directly at the judge.

“Ms. Balsam- Wright,” the judge prompted softly, “you may proceed.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Hannah said, her voice steady but with underlying resolve.

She glanced briefly at Naomi, whose icy gaze remained fixed on her. Charmaine, sitting nearby with her arms crossed, sneered at her.

Hannah took a deep breath. “My name is Samanth Hannah Balsam-Wright. The people gasped realizing she is the Balsam Heiress. I am the mother of Ethan Wright, and I am here today to clarify the circumstances surrounding my son’s disappearance.” My son was first taken from me at his birth and I was told he was dead by Charmaine Waverly- Balsam. Later she presented him to Darrian Wright, my husband and pretended he was her son.

Naomi leaned forward slightly in her seat, eyes narrowing.

Hannah pressed on: “Ethan was taken from my care without my consent, and I believe Ms. Waverly -Balsam Naomi, my stepmother was involved in orchestrating his kidnapping. I have evidence to support this, including witness testimonies and correspondence between Naomi and her associates.”

Naomi’s lawyer, a sharp-looking man with a piercing gaze, gestured to Naomi. “Your Honor, if I may.”

“Keep to the facts,” the judge interrupted. “Ms. Balsam-Wright, continue.”

Hannah hesitated a moment, then gathered her courage. “Ms. Waverly-Balsam has a pattern of manipulative and illegal behavior. She’s not the caring grandmother she pretends to be. She’s a manipulator.”

“Objection!” Naomi’s lawyer interrupted, standing abruptly. “This is hearsay.”

“Overruled,” the judge said firmly. “Ms. Balsam-Wright, please stick to the facts relevant to the case.”

Hannah nodded, swallowing her brief irritation. “Yes, Your Honor. I have reason to believe that Naomi Waverly-Balsam orchestrated the kidnapping of Ethan in an attempt to retaliate for my legal actions, actions that threaten her reputation and her control over certain assets.

Naomi scoffed quietly, but her eyes flicked to Charmaine, who barely concealed her smug smile.

The judge looked at Naomi. “Ms. Waverly-Balsam, do you wish to respond?”

Naomi straightened, voice silkily calm. “Your Honor, this is a baseless attack on my character. I am a devoted mother and grandmother who would never harm her child. Any claims against me are purely malicious.”

Hannah’s gaze hardened. “If Ms. Waverly-Balsam truly loved Ethan, she would not have stolen him. She would not have”

Naomi cut her off, voice sharp. “Enough. Your accusations are unfounded, Ms. Balsam-Wright. I trust the court will see through these lies.”

The judge looked between them, then addressed the courtroom. “We will now hear from witnesses and review the evidence. Ms. Balsam- Wright, you may step down.”

Hannah’s shoulders eased slightly, but her mind was racing. She knew the battle was far from over. 

As Hannah stepped down from the witness stand, she sought a moment alone, her heart pounding. Daniel caught her arm gently.

“You did well,” he said softly. “But Naomi’s not going to go down easily.”

“I know,” Hannah whispered. “I can feel it. She’s dangerous.

Daniel nodded slowly. “We’ll get there. But we need to be strategic. Naomi Waverly is not just a thief of children; she’s a master manipulator. We need proof of her involvement in the kidnapping and hard evidence.”

Hannah’s brow furrowed. “What?”

The guard nodded toward the courtroom. “She just screamed at her lawyer, something about, ‘you better not betray me’,and then she stormed out, saying she’s ‘not afraid of consequences.’”

Hannah felt a chill run down her spine. Naomi was unpredictable, dangerous even.