The judge looked over them, slowly nodding his head.
« That seems to be in order. »
Dad’s jaw clenches.
But arrogance is tenacious. It does not give way easily.
He leaned forward, his elbows on the table.
“My daughter has had a difficult life,” he said. “She is fragile and impressionable. I fear that the responsibility of property management will overwhelm her. My advice would respect her mother’s wishes.”
Fragile.
That word hit me like a pebble, not like a stone. Not anymore. Something small, irritating, almost laughable.
Mark replied softly.
« Your Honor, my client has kept her job, paid her bills, and responsibly handled numerous legal documents over the past two years. She is neither frail nor incapable. This is simply a matter of respecting her will. »
The judge nodded again.
A crack appeared in Dad’s smile.
This only motivated him further.
« My wife always said that our daughter wasn’t prepared for working life, » he said. « She struggled at school, had difficulty making friends, and never persevered in anything. »
« That’s enough, » the judge stated firmly.
Dad blinked.
The court held its breath.
« This is a probate hearing, not a character assessment of your wife. We are here to interpret the will and determine its legality. Unless you can provide written evidence that your wife’s wishes have changed, we will proceed with the document as signed. »
Dad opened his mouth, closed it again, then changed his strategy.
« Well, Your Honor, » he said, pointing to the mistress’s stomach, « the real issue is one of fairness. If my daughter takes everything, there will be nothing left for my next child. A child who deserves their inheritance. »
The teacher raised her chin, playing her role perfectly.
I waited.
Mark waited.
We both knew what would happen next, but letting Dad shoot himself in the foot gave us a strange satisfaction. A silent and relentless revenge.
The judge clasped his hands.
« At this stage, the rights of the unborn child depend entirely on paternity and the applicable state law. This assertion has been vigorously contested by the applicant. »
The teacher intervened: « There’s no dispute. He’s the father. He always has been. »
Mark finally spoke, in a voice as calm as a lake.
« Your Honor, we will address the issue of paternity shortly. »
My father glared at him, then gave me a dark look, as if I had summoned the universe out of pure malice.
The judge turned the pages.
« Mr. Hall, there also appears to be a financial management issue. Several accounts show significant withdrawals in your name, without justification. You were the executor of the will at the time. »
Dad looked stunned — really, for once.
« These are routine expenses, » he quickly stated. « Home repairs, bills. You can’t expect a man to remember everything. »
Mark slid a folder onto the table.
« Your Honor, we have detailed records and testimony from the contractor indicating that no such repairs were carried out. Furthermore, several withdrawals coincide with casino fees. »
The teacher stiffened.
His father gave him a warning look.
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