CHAPTER 49: GONE WERE THE DAYS

The feeling of disenfranchised and subjugated was what my inceptive reaction was the minute Penelope’s real identity was revealed in public. I was clueless about her newly acquired identity. I didn’t have a single hint that she wasn’t a Watsons, that she was just adopted by Pamela’s family. I don’t even have a wild guess if Pamela knew about this, nor her brother Peter, but the documents that are now lying in front of me stated the truth.


I couldn’t believe it. My mind couldn’t comprehend or grasp the legibility of all of these, but everything was authentic and legally sealed by the civil office of New York City. It never occurred to me that the Penelope I looked down at six years ago up to the present was an heiress. Her net worth now didn’t just exceed mine, but was way ahead of what I have by the trillion miles.


She was a trillionaire. The once nobody and who I treated as a ragdoll was now a trillionaire, which made my head spinned with a shocking and mind-blowing migraine. I heard about her biological father’s company before. Almost everyone in the business world knew about Hunt Global Corporation. It was one of the world’s most richest and successful companies all across the globe.


It never occurred to me, not even an inch, that Penelope would be connected with the owner himself. This made me sick and nauseated. I felt ashamed of myself with what I thought earlier about her not standing a chance against me, because by the looks of it now, I was the one who didn’t stand a chance against her. I am simply a single grain of rice to her now.


I should have guessed it earlier when they arrived inside the courtroom. I already recognized the old man with her when they walked past me and Pamela earlier, but my mind was grappling with excitement of the thought of winning this custody case, which I disregarded my curiosity earlier.


Now, my little hope of having Michelle was totally thrown into the deep sea as my daughter states the incident that happened to us the other day. What my beloved daughter said was hair-raising, which was more than enough to nail me right from where I was sitting. What I said to her days ago and seeing her right now so saddened and weeping was definitely the most regretful thing I ever did in my entire life. It pains me more seeing Michelle’s tears and I will never forgive myself, because I was the one who brought her those tears.


After much deliberation from both lawyers, we were given a short recess as Judge Demitri headed out of the room to review the case. My eyes gazed at Michelle, who was sitting on Penelope’s lap and was being hugged tightly by her. The sight made me feel disgusted with myself, for what I acted towards my own daughter. This was the mistake that would forever not hold me in peace. This mistake would forever haunt me in my sleep, if sleep would ever dare to visit me.


Even without hearing what the judge had to say, deep inside my heart I already knew what the verdict was. Based only on my daughter’s statement, the court will favor Penelope's side. Judging solely on what Michelle conveyed, it outstanded Penelope’s credibilities for the court to overrule me and give my ex-wife sole custody of our daughter.


“Fuck! What have I done?” I murmured under my breath as I gripped my hair tightly while helplessly hanging my head low.


Pamela was beside me, trying to soothe away the burden and heaviness I was feeling. “Calm down, Michael. We haven’t heard the verdict yet. There’s still hope. You shouldn’t give up on that hope.”


“Haven’t you been listening? Haven’t you heard who I am against now? This wasn’t just the old Penelope who was a ragdoll and a nobody to us, Pamela. She’s a trillionaire, for Christ’s sake. How could I stand a chance against her now? She could even buy Beechworth or the whole Victoria with the amount of money she has now with her. It’s over, Pamela. All the years dreaming of having sole custody of my daughter were gone by the wind and were hopelessly in vain now.”


I couldn’t suppress myself from shedding burdensome tears. I didn’t expect this to happen. After this day, I doubted if I could see Michelle ever again and that tore my heart devastatingly. I could bear not being with anyone else, but not my own daughter. She was my only shining glory, my most beloved one. I don’t know how my life would be if I would lose her.


Finally, recess was over and Judge Demitri reappeared in court. I could feel goosebumps crawling in my entire body, together with fear that was wrapping its sharp claws at my heart, as everyone waited in silence at what he was about to announce.


“After hearing each side and reviewing the facts given by both parties, also taking into consideration the child’s emotional welfare, by the power vested to me by the supreme court of Australia, I hereby declared this day that the sole custody of Michelle Smith will be granted to her mother. Session concludes. Case dismissed.”


The courtroom was divided into two strikingly overpowering emotions. At Penelope’s side, it was filled with uproaring cheers and congratulations as everyone rejoiced at the success, while right here on my side, an eerie silence of grief and sorrow filled the air as defeat succumbed to everyone's hearts.


My eyes were filled with agonizing beads as they rolled down in excruciating pain for my loss. I could literally feel my heart being tightly gripped with thorns as Pamela weepingly hugged me and continuously utter the words I highly doubted will ever come to pass.


“We will have her back, Michael. We will have Michelle back soon.”


***


Overjoyed was an understatement to what I was feeling right this very moment. It exceeds the greatness of my father’s power and even exceeds the wealth he has with him. I am at my utmost self right now and words could not express the extremity of joy I have inside my heart.


Finally after years of longing to have Michelle all by myself, it has ended here today. Gone were the days of wishful thoughts to have sole custody of her. Gone were the days of dreaming to be with her without thinking of Michael’s interruption and disturbance of our time together. All was concluded this day and I owe everything to my father, who was now tearing with indescribable joy for the success and victory as he hugged me and Michelle in his loving arms.


“I told you Michael Smith will go down, princess. Am I right or am I definitely right?” He gladly whispered in my ear, which made me laugh loudly while hugging Michelle securely in my arms.


“Thank you so much, Daddy. I couldn’t do this without you.”


“Anything for my little munchkin, who Grandpa Handsome loves dearly” He shuffles Michelle's hair, who gazes at him with a big smile. “So, shall we go? Let’s do the victory party back in New York City. What do you say, little munchkin? Are you ready to fly with Grandpa and see your new home?”


“Wait, Grandpa. I couldn’t leave without princess teddy? I can’t leave her behind! She will be sad without me!”


“Princess Teddy is already at St. Charles Inn, Michelle. I brought her there. Your mommy told me to get her earlier before I decided to follow all of you here.”


“Thank you, Aunt Carol. Now we can go, Grandpa! I’m excited to see my new home. Do I get to have my own room as well?” I put her down and she held on to daddy’s hand and mine as we started to march out of the courtroom.


“But your mommy said you will sleep with her in her room.”


“Can I have my own room, Mommy? I’m turning seven, so I wanted to have a little privacy” Everyone who heard it, especially my father, burst into laughter.


“Alright, you can have your own room then.”


“Yes! Thank you, Mommy! You’re the best mommy in the whole wide world!”


“Gregory, make a call at the mansion now. Tell the servants to prepare the third floor for my little munchkin’s room.”


“Right away, Sir.”


We were almost out of the door when Michael immediately rushed towards us. Swiftly, I shielded Michelle from him and used my body to block her. Some of daddy’s soldiers alertly barricaded us before Michael could even get closer.


“Penelope! I simply wish to talk to Michelle! Please, let me speak to her. Please, Penelope, let me have a word with my daughter.”


By the look of Michael now, he was completely losing his mind and barely cautious of his physical state. He was bloodshot with miserable tears, obviously emotionally breaking down, it was evident in his eyes how he is suffering now. I saw myself in him, how I felt the same as what he was feeling now, for six long years of being his wife.


Karma was definitely manifesting in him now. It came to him like a thief in the night where he didn’t have a clue it would eventually hit him. I looked at him evilly, remembering all the pains I suffered in his hands and those pleas I pleaded to him before that he had given deaf ears to my cries.


“There's no use talking to her now, Michael. The court had decided. I won. I guess it didn’t occur to you that I would, right?” I started walking away from him as I held tightly on Michelle’s hand.


“PENELOPE! I BEG YOU! LET ME HAVE A WORD TO MICHELLE! EVEN FOR A WHILE, PENELOPE! PLEASE!”


It was my turn to give him a deaf ear for his cries. It was now my turn to disregard his pleas and not to take heed of his wails as I continued walking ahead the hallway.


“Mommy?” Michelle’s single word made my pace halt.


“What is it, Baby?”


“I wish to talk to Daddy before we leave, Mommy. Can I talk to him first before we go to New York City?”


Although if I were to decide, I wouldn’t let her have a word with her father. But I didn’t want my daughter pleading with me, so I immediately nodded my head and released her hand. I watched her as she walked back to where Michael was.


“Follow her. I want her secured and safe, unharmed and unbruised” Dad swiftly ordered his men with extreme authority, which five of his soldiers hastily followed Michelle back. “I’ll wait for you and Michelle in the car. I need to call Brandon for our departure later.”


“Alright, Dad.”


“Lewis, stay with my daughter. Timothy, have two of your men to stay with them. The rest, let’s go outside” Dad concluded before walking ahead of us. I had a glimpse of how Nicole stole a displeased glance at us before following my father out to the courtyard.


“Congratulations on this success you acquired, Penelope. I am extremely buoyant for you and Michelle.”


“Thank you, Lewis. I couldn’t have done it without anyone’s help.”


“Michael was destined to fall, Penelope. I knew it right from the start, even when we were still in New York. None of what your father ventured on failed, he always succeeded with everything he does. It truly amazes me. I wonder what’s his secret.”


“Maybe the truthfulness of his heart was his secret. How he does everything with love and compassion.”


“I should follow his footsteps then, so I can achieve success with what I am aiming to have.”


I tried disregarding his words by simply keeping quiet, but I know well enough what he was aiming to acquire. It’s me.