Chapter 6 - THE DAY LEO CHOSE HIS FAMILYThe court hearing lasted two days.
The judge reviewed the evidence.
Hospital records.
DNA results.
Financial transfers.
Marcus's confession.
Victoria's own statements.
Everything pointed in one direction.
Sarah was Leo's biological mother.
Victoria had illegally obtained custody.
The judge ordered Leo returned permanently to Sarah.
Sarah cried when she heard the decision.
Arthur stood beside her.
Leo ran into her arms.
“Mummy!”
Sarah hugged him.
“You're coming home.”
Leo smiled.
“With Daddy?”
Arthur crouched beside him.
“If your mommy says yes.”
Sarah laughed through her tears.
“Yes.”
Leo hugged them both.
The courtroom erupted in emotion.
Even the judge smiled.
But there was one difficult moment.
Leo looked at Victoria.
She was being escorted away.
“Mommy?”
Sarah looked down.
Leo pointed.
“Is she sad?”
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Sarah thought carefully.
“Because she made very bad choices.”
Leo looked at Victoria.
Then said,
“I don't hate her.”
Sarah kissed his forehead.
“You don't have to.”
Victoria heard him.
She stopped walking.
For a moment, she looked back.
Leo gave her a small wave.
Victoria began crying.
The officers led her away.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded Sarah.
“How does it feel to finally get your son back?”
Sarah looked at Leo.
“It feels like breathing again.”
“Will you forgive Victoria?”
Sarah paused.
“I don't know.”
“Do you hate her?”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want my son to grow up believing hatred is the only answer to pain.”
The reporters became silent.
Arthur looked at her proudly.
That evening, they returned home.
Sarah prepared dinner.
Leo sat at the kitchen table.
Arthur helped him with homework.
The scene felt strangely ordinary.
And that was exactly what Sarah wanted.
Ordinary.
Safe.
Peaceful.
After dinner, Leo looked at Sarah.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Can we have Christmas here?”
Sarah smiled.
“Yes.”
“With Daddy?”
Arthur looked up.
“If your mommy lets me.”
Sarah laughed.
“You're staying.”
Arthur smiled.
“Good.”
Leo jumped from his chair.
“Our family is together!”
Sarah froze.
Those words meant everything.
Their family was finally together.
But Sarah still had one thing left to do.
She wanted to rebuild the life Victoria had stolen.
May you like
Not with money.
With love.
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