Chapter 323
Daniel’s POV
Staf House
“Daniel,” Isabella called as she came over.
“Are you alright p>
I exhaled as she hugged me, and I embraced her.
“I never thought I would say this, but I regret ever meeting her, let alone falling in love with her p>
“Adrian!” Isabella said the moment she saw him.
“Adrian, I p>
“Dad,” Adrian said as he came over.
“You had a choice in choosing her p>
“But I never chose her, yet she ruined my life p>
“It wasn’t until Aunt Veronica took care of me, that I realized what a real mother is p>
“I’m with you on this, I regret she’s my birth mother p>
“But Dad, why are you up so late p>
“I’m preparing to testify against Imelda tomorrow in court p>
“So, I’m gathering the evidence I have, the DNA, medical reports, and her facial surgery record as well p>
“The Imelda I know, will deny to the core p>
“But this time she will get what she deserves p>
The night was long and as the morning rose, I got ready and drove off for the court room.
Court Room
“NO…NO!” Imelda yelled as Vance who was speaking on behalf of not only Jonathan, and Veronica, but Jen as well.
“I disagree to all accusations you put on me p>
“I did nothing wrong p>
“I just wanted to be Mrs. Rollings, what’s wrong with that p>
I was shocked to see how she was portraying herself as a woman who only made a desperate choice to win her love rather than be seen as a woman who deliberately stole Veronica’s life.
I watched her intently as I recalled all the times and all the people who suffered cause of her deceptions.
I was feeling utterly disgusted watching her.
Just then Vance called out my name.
I walked up to the witness chair and sat after taking the pledge.
“I suspected her being Imelda from the moment I saw her at the hospital p>
“She did manage to convince us all, that she’s Veronica p>
“Ever since I’ve known Veronica, she’s been a great friend of mine and Jonathan is like a brother to me p>
“When she came back, I was perplexed as to why I felt I was around Imelda and not Veronica p>
“When I did realize I wasn’t mistaken, I began to investigate along with John, and gathered the medical records regarding her facial surgery p>
My heart was heavy as I sat on the witness chair, but now as I spoke the truth, I was feeling relived.
“Mr. Staf, do you have the DNA proof?” the judge asked.
Vance submitted the DNA report that was verified by the legal authorities clarifying Imelda’s real identity.
“Imelda’s face surgery records are also attached,” I said.
“It’s because of her face, that she managed to manipulate all of us p>
“That’s when Jonathan realized Veronica was still held captive somewhere p>
I saw Imelda was listening to everything I said with a hardened expression.
Maybe the old me would have felt bad for her, but over the past ten years, my feelings for her had changed.
Now it was impossible for her to deny the submitted evidence that was legally verified.
I knew the evidence would speak louder than any words would.
Then I gestured to Vance to present the biggest fault in Imelda’s plan.
The child birth records.
The judge leaned forward on seeing them.
“You may continue, Mr Staf p>
“The next evidence we are submitting are the birth records of Imelda and Veronica p>
“As you can see, Veronica has two children with Jonathan p>
“She had Janet, a normal delivery p>
“And Joshua, a c section p>
“Till date she has the scar p>
“As for Imelda, she only had one child, Adrian, who’s my biological son, and she had a normal delivery and has no c section scar p>
“That was the biggest getaway Jonathan noticed in her not being Veronica p>
Then the facial surgery records were presented.
The facial surgery reports clarified how she underwent a facial surgery to look like Veronica, and had Jen take her face so no one would question her as Imelda.
The evidence was sufficient to let the court know to what lengths she went in order to deceive Jonathan and his family, by taking Veronica’s place.
“Your honor, my facial surgery was in no intent to harm anyone,” Imelda retorted.
“Jen would get a million every month p>
“I was to release Veronica once I secured my place as Jonathan’s wife as Imelda, and she could have lived her life peacefully as Veronica Harmon, couldn’t she p>
Vance counterattacked her accusations and requested the court to hold her accountable in charges of facial surgery, identity swapping, giving false claims, and holding Veronica against her will.
Vance made sure her pleas didn’t reduce her months of deception and suffering to being her desperate wish to become Jonathan’s wife as not being an offence.
“What??” Imelda said shocked as she realized what was presented next.
“Your honor,” Vance said.
“On behalf of my client, Mr Daniel Staf p>
“We are also presenting a statement requesting Ms Imelda to relinquish her rights as Adrian Staf’s mother p>
“Adrian Staf also requests the same p>
The judge reviewed the document.
“According to these, Adrian is now nineteen, that already makes him a legal adult, still if he wishes then it will be implemented p>
“I will not sign any such papers!” She demanded.
“He is my son, and regardless of him being an adult, he is my son p>
“Your honor, she never did her work as a mother,” I said.
“The time my son was with her, she had nannies take care of him and was never around p>
“At school also, it was Jonathan who filled in p>
“So, she never truly was a mother p>
“The court legally instates the relinquish papers regarding Imelda’s legal rights as Adrian Staf’s mother p>
“From today onwards, she has no legal rights over Adrian Staff and his life from this second forward p>
“Mr Staf, do you have anything to say to Ms Imelda before I instate the verdict p>
“Who is he to say anything to me p>
“He’s the one who abandoned me when I was pregnant p>
“Did I?” I retorted back, I didn’t even bother I would be held for in-contempt of the court.
“I really don’t know who you are p>
“If you were even a fraction of who you are right now, I would have never loved you,
“Abandoning you when you were pregnant p>
“I found out about Adrian after eight years p>
“I found out I had a son after eight damn years p>
“I knew you were ambitious, I knew you were Fredrick Harmon’s daughter p>
“But to actually be a woman who can destroy a whole family p>
“I really no longer know you p>
I was actually mourning the death of the Imelda in my mind, the one I fell in love with.
“The court will now read the sentence,” the judge said as Imelda was told to rise.
“Based on the evidence provided by the defence, and the applicable charges against Ms Imelda,” the judge said.
“Ms Imelda is to be taken into custody this very moment and held in the prison, until a proper term sentence can be decided p>
“As of today, Ms Imelda’s rights as Adrian Staf’s mother, seize p>
I sat emotionless as I saw her confidence falter, realizing she finally understood her actions came with consequences that she can’t run away from.
The court was dismissed as she was taken away.
We all barely came out, a news bulletin flashed on our phone screens:
Fredrick has issued a public statement! He has announced he has canceled his adoption rights as Imelda’s father and says, ’he is not connected to her in any way. Whatever she did or does, she is fully responsible and he had whatsoever no clue about this.
I realized not only did she lose me and Adrian, but perhaps the only person who really could have helped her…Fredrick.