The Seven Shade System - Adventures!

"Leonardo St Chadwick… When it comes to 6-year-old Pamela, you are …" The court fell silent. “Not the father!" the judge said, finalizing the verdict with a resounding bang of the gavel. “Yes! Finally,” Maggie said, leaped to the air as she ran to hug her family, who opened their hands and took her in the embrace. Leonard felt as though the ground had been ripped out from under him. “Six years!” Leonardo said and spun around the box to look at the crowd. He then looked back at the judge. “I spent six years in jail for not being able to pay child support. And I'm not the father?” Six years of his life spent behind bars for a child he believed was his own, only to be told now that he was not the father. It felt like a cruel joke, a nightmare he couldn't wake up from. As he looked over at the Houstons, their smug smiles and celebratory gestures cutting through him like a knife, Leonard's heart shattered into a million pieces. The sight of his wife, Maggie, holding hands with the man who was now deemed Pamela's father, was a gut-wrenching sight. Tears welled up in Leonard's eyes as he struggled to hold back his emotions. His lawyer approached him, "I'm sorry we lost the case, Leonard. I know this must be difficult for you," his lawyer said, his voice filled with sympathy. “How can this be? She is my daughter. The judge is bought can't you see it?” he asked. “What can we do? Other than appeal.” Leonard nodded, unable to find his voice amidst the turmoil of emotions raging inside him. He felt like a puppet on a string, powerless and defeated in the face of forces beyond his control. The injustice of it all burned through him like a fiery rage, but beneath that anger was a deep well of sorrow and despair. Turning to leave the courtroom, Leonard hesitated before looking back at the Houstons. Seeing Maggie and Pamela's new supposed father together, happy and united, was a sight that tore at his soul. Without a word, Leonard walked towards them, his heart heavy with sorrow and regret. The pain of losing his daughter, of being cast aside and forgotten, was a burden too heavy to bear. As he approached Maggie and the Houstons, Leonard's eyes were brimming with unshed tears. His voice cracked as he spoke, the words choked out through a lump in his throat. “Maggie, you know the truth. It's okay if you don't want me as your husband but you can't…” Jamie Doss pushed him away and hindered him from completing his plea. They went out and he followed them. They were gathered around the limousine that brought them and then took selfies to celebrate their winning. Again, Leonard approached them, he could see the gleam in Jamie's eyes. "Jamie, we both know Pamela is not yours," Leonard said, cutting right to the chase. Jamie's thugs were ready to pounce on Leonard, but Jamie held up a hand to stop them. He then stepped close to him and looked him in the eyes. "Yes, Leonardo St Stupid! I know she is not my daughter. Pamela is your daughter. Your sperm made her. I only started f*****g Maggie two months before you went to jail.” As Jamie said those words, Leonard wanted to punch him. Just like the statement from the judge broke his heart, Jamie's words did the same. He was talking about his wife, the mother of his child. He was saying it as though it was his right to do so. As though he was unbeatable and invisible and invincible. He wondered how Maggie became just a b***h. That was not the woman he married. All because of money and fame? Also, Jamie knew that he didn't father Pamela. So why? His answer came immediately. "But I can't just lose a court case to a miserable fellow like you. I have murdered a man and got away with it. I have won a political case, I have sold drugs across this city. How do you think you can beat me?” Leonard was taken aback by Jamie's words. He could see now that Jamie was not just interested in the truth, but in asserting his power and dominance over him. The billionaire was playing a dangerous game, and Leonard knew he could swallow him. But he didn't care. "You bastard!" Leonard spat out, his frustration boiling over. But before he could say anything else, a sharp slap landed on his cheek. It was Mrs. Lucia Houston, Maggie's mother, who had struck him. "You are a disgrace to our family!" she said, her voice filled with contempt. "I regret ever giving my daughter's hand in marriage to a pathetic man like you." Leonard felt the sting of her words and the physical pain of the slap. He clenched his fists, but before he could react, Maggie stepped forward and delivered another slap across his face. "How could you do this to me, Leonard?" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "You couldn't be the father that Pamela wanted. Jamie is. Jamie has been a better man in every way. He has provided for us, protected us, and loved us. And you? You have brought nothing but shame and disappointment.” She moved close and whispered to him… “He even f***s better than you do.” Leonard's heart sank as he heard Maggie's words. He had always believed he was doing the right thing by pursuing the truth and being legal. But now he could see the damage it had caused. “Have you no shame?” Leonardo said and finally, Maggie's elder brother stepped forward and delivered the final blow. "You are nothing but a selfish fool, Leonard," he said, his voice filled with anger. "Jamie Doss has lifted us and given us a life we never could have imagined. And you? You want to drag us down with your lies and deceit. f**k you, Leo.” Leonard was left reeling from the series of slaps and verbal assaults. He felt a deep sense of shame and regret wash over him. The realization that he had lost everything - his family, his dignity, and now even the respect of his own wife - hit him like a ton of bricks. “Just go. Y'all,” Jamie said and the Houstons walked on. He then stepped close to Leonard. “Arturo, what do you think?” Arturo was his henchman. “He survived three slaps. He took it like a champ that he wasn't. How about he entertains us in the SlapBoxing arena?” “Ouh…! That's nice,” Arturo said. Leo headbutted Jamie and he staggered. Arturo wanted to hurt Leo and again, Jamie held him. “We are in the courtyard. Get him and bring him to the arena.” *** Leonard was about to board a car when a van parked beside him, and he was pummeled and forced into the van.