Chapter 4 - THE BATTLE IN THE COURTROOMDespite Richard’s victory in the boardroom, the darkness was not finished fighting back.
Two days after Arthur Vance was forced to resign from the project, a heavy knock echoed through the front door of Richard's penthouse.
Richard opened it to find two uniformed Chicago police officers standing alongside a sharp-faced woman in a navy suit carrying a yellow court summons. Beside her stood a slick, greasy-looking lawyer named Thomas Sterling—Victoria’s cousin and a senior litigation partner at Vance Capital.
"Mr. Richard Adams?" the woman asked coldly. "I am Special Investigator Brenda Vance from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. I have an emergency judicial warrant for the immediate removal of the minors Isabella Stevens, Ryan Stevens, and Michael Stevens."
Richard froze, his blood running cold. "On what grounds? I have temporary custody papers signed by Judge Miller!"
"That order was revoked thirty minutes ago by the Circuit Court," Thomas Sterling sneered, stepping forward with a smirk. "An anonymous complaint was filed alleging that you, a single billionaire with zero parental experience, are harboring these children in an environment with active corporate litigation, security threats, and improper supervision. Furthermore, a distant maternal uncle—Mr. Gregory Stevens—has come forward claiming legal kin custody."
"Gregory Stevens?" Richard spat. "Constance Stevens didn't have a brother!"
"He’s her half-brother from Indiana," Sterling corrected smoothly. "And under state law, biological kin takes absolute precedence over an unrelated, unmarried third party. Hand over the children, Mr. Adams. Or my officers will arrest you for obstruction of justice."
From behind the corner wall, Isabella emerged, holding little Ryan in her arms while Mrs. Gable held Michael. Her face was white as a sheet.
"No..." Isabella whimpered, backing away toward the bedrooms. "No! Not him! Gregory is bad! Mama ran away from him five years ago! He used to steal her money!"
"Isabella, step forward!" Inspector Vance commanded sternly. "You are coming into state custody until a family court determines permanent placement with your uncle."
"Get out of my house," Richard growled, stepping between the police officers and the children.
"Mr. Adams, do not make this difficult," one of the police officers said, placing his hand on his holster. "We have a signed court order. If you resist, we will handcuff you right here in front of them."
Isabella saw the officer's hand on his gun. She looked at Richard, tears streaming down her face, remembering how he had fought for them at the hospital. She couldn't let him go to jail because of them.
"Stop!" Isabella sobbed, stepping forward. "Don't hurt him! Don't arrest him! I'll go... I'll go just please don't hurt Mr. Richard!"
"Isabella, no!" Richard shouted, reaching for her.
The police officer stepped into Richard's path, shoving him back against the wall. Inspector Vance grabbed Isabella’s arm, while the other officer roughly took Ryan and Michael from Mrs. Gable’s trembling hands.
"Richard!" Isabella screamed as she was pulled toward the elevator, her small hands reaching out through the closing doors. "Richard! Don't leave us! Please!"
"ISABELLA!" Richard roared, charging forward, but the heavy elevator doors clicked shut, plunging the penthouse into a sickening, deafening silence.
Richard stood alone in the foyer, his chest heaving, his hands shaking with violent rage.
May you like
He pulled out his phone and dialed his chief legal strategist, Harold Sterling.
"Harold," Richard said, his voice terrifyingly calm, dark, and lethal. "Call every attorney in our firm. Call the Mayor. Call the Governor. I want an emergency injunction hearing in Family Court at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. We are going to war."
