*
*
Her brain refused to process the words.
Faith's eyes remained stuck to the cold smile of her ex-husband.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw that the Judge had already left, and most of the people were starting to disappear one after the other until the courtroom was already almost empty.
That was when it sank deep into her brain.
The court was dismissed.
She'd lost.
Jerked her fingers that had been grasping Sterling's shirt as though just being near his presence burned her skin.
She couldn't lose everything just like this!
She spotted Mr. Sullivan already walking towards the exit. Faith forced her legs to move to chase after him.
He turned towards her, wearing a weary expression.
"You assured me we were going to win! I_ I did exactly what you asked me to do, why did it turn out like this!" She voiced harshly.
"I should ask you why you behaved like that earlier! It didn't matter how unfair you feel, you should have composed yourself! There was no need to say those words to the judge and get her angry!"
He was blaming her? Didn't he see how obvious it had been that the judge had been bribed?
"You also shouldn't have spoken to your ex-husband during that break, I suspected this would happen and tried to prevent you from having any conversation with him!" The lawyer inhaled deeply, meeting Faith's hopeless look with a shake of his head.
"That conversation__ you insulted the judge, and started a fight in the courtroom! Your mistake diminished all chances of ever winning this case! you definitely could have done better!"
Faith felt her eyes moisten with tears.
"H_ I _I didn't know it was being r_recorded__" She tried to defend weakly.
"There was a probability! You should have thought about it!"
He was right!
How had she been so stupid!
She had celebrated her victory too early and completely let her guard down, forgetting that she was dealing with one as sly as he was.
"The only suggestion that I can give you is for you to negotiate with your ex-husband, reaching an out-of-court settlement might be a better option for you and the child."
Faith grew tensed, rejecting the idea almost instantly.
"I_I'm not negotiating with him! I_ I can't!"
She had already thought about this option before deciding to proceed with the case. Sterling was worse than the very devil!
How could she negotiate with him? Especially now that he'd won? he would only make her life a living hell.
She caught a glimpse of sympathy in Sullivan's gaze, he really wanted to help her as much as he possibly could.
"I know how difficult it can be in these circumstances, We can proceed to seek an appeal, but that might take months, or even several years, and I know you don't want that which is why the easiest option is to__"
"There has to be another way!" Faith snapped, shaking her head strongly, her knuckles turned white from clenching them too hard. Her heart was tightly coiled with uneasiness with each word Sullivan was saying.
"Why can't you do so for the sake of the baby? You are both Maya's parents after all, you don't have to get back together with him, you could agree on visitation rights until you can fight for the custody of your daughter again."
Faith's eyes were bleak, reflecting the despair and hopelessness she felt inside.
There didn't seem to be much of an option left for her.
"I will think about it." She muttered quietly, turning around, and she began to walk away.
She wanted to be left alone.
The sun was shining brightly, but she felt awfully cold. She wrapped her arms around herself barely registering the sound of the cars driving past, and the people walking around her.
It wasn't until she heard a loud honk that she jerked.
"Hey! Move out of the way!" An angry driver yelled.
Faith felt a strong grip wrapped around her wrists and before she knew it, she was being dragged to the sidewalk, he didn't stop walking until they were completely isolated beside a building.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you want to die!" Sterling hissed.
Faith's head snapped forward to meet the cold flecks of anger in his eyes.
She yanked her hands free instantly, pure hate flashing in her eyes. This was the man responsible for all her sorrows!
"What is it to you? Why are you here? To gloat? To make fun of me? It's alright, you can go ahead and do so!" She snarled, her tone was unrecognizable, even to her. She had never been this bitter and hateful towards anyone before. The new fierce emotion scared even her.
"Yes, I lied to you about the pregnancy, but you know damn well why I did so! Today you made me an insane worthless woman in front of everyone! You completely disgust me and I'll never forgive you for this!"
Her chest rose and fell furiously as she breathed heavily.
She flinched when his fingers touched her chin, forcing her eyes to lock with his dark ones. He spoke so quietly that she almost didn't hear him.
"I don't want your forgiveness. I only want you."
She was shocked by his blatant confession, she took a step back, wanting to set some safe distances between them but Sterling completely covered all the spaces until there was nowhere else for her to move.
"Come live with us!."
It wasn't a suggestion, he was demanding as usual.
A spark went off in Faith's head, if she got any angrier, there was no doubt that she would pass out.
The nerve of him!
"So do you actually expect us to just pick up where we left off?" She scoffed. " I will never return to you, I'll get my daughter back from you on my own terms!"
The heated gleam in his eyes and twitch in his jaw told her that he took her statement as a challenge.
"I already told you you wouldn't win, not when I want something as bad as this!" His steaming gaze threatened to consume her. She stared at him with as much hate as she could muster. Right! When he wanted something he didn't care who he had to hurt or get rid of.
God, please save her from him! Faith prayed silently.
She was getting cornered like a mouse and she wasn't liking this way of things.
She started to turn, but surprisingly, this time he didn't make a physical effort to stop her.
"Walk out right now and you'll lose all chances of ever meeting her again!" His authoritative threat followed her.
She had only taken three steps.
Her legs stopped moving on their own accord.
She didn't realize when he walked closer but his lips were almost touching her ears, his arms behind her suddenly encircling her waist.
Faith let out a gasp.
"You could see her right this moment if you want to, you could be there for her and watch her grow up, you could be there whenever she cries and needs you but it is your choice!"