My Sugar-Coated Bad Boy Stepbrother

Chapter 2

Jessy's pov

I was still saddened that my parents were going to get a divorce, and I didn't wonder why. Well, that's because I already knew the reason. I never told mom this; mom had traveled the previous day and was going to be back the next day. I went to school that morning, but I forgot my lunch because mom wasn't home to remind me to carry it. I took a cab back home, and when I opened the front door, I saw dad on the couch with another woman who wasn’t my mom.

The way our living room was built, I could open the door without him seeing me. One day, I forgot my lunch at home, so I closed the door gently, left, and tried to forget about the whole incident. Mom must have found out, but I wanted to hear her own side of the story, so I went to meet her, but she was still sad and talking to someone on the phone. “He hurt me badly; I wish I had never met him," she said to the person on the other end. I couldn't hear what the person replied, but I could tell they were trying to comfort her. After a while, she hung up. “Mom, are we going to be alright?" I asked as I came and sat down close to where she was, then she started stroking my back like a little kid. “Baby, we are strong, and we will all get through this, I promise." I just nodded. “Mom, what did dad do wrong?" I asked again as she just rested my head on her chest and kept on petting me. “Honey, adults are complicated. I don't want you to think differently about your dad, so I will spare you the details." She said this as I just breathed out, knowing that she wasn't going to tell me.

Its been three weeks now we were set to go to court. This is going to be the first time in three weeks since I had seen him since the incident. I was feeling nervous.

A car pulled up in our driveway. “That's our ride," my mom said, not sure that I was seeing things right, but I think I just saw my mom blush. “Who is that?" I asked her, “Is Bernard an old friend of mine? Well, we used to be classmates," she said. I don't know why, but I didn't feel at ease with him. We both got into the fancy black car that he drove. “Woah, I have never seen you drive before Bernard; your driver always does that." "Well, I didn't see it necessary for my driver to tag along, so I decided to drive you myself," he said as my mom just chuckled a bit. “Don't get us killed, alright," she said teasingly. “You should see me drift." “No, no, we don't want to see that," my mom said as I was wondering what was going on. It seems like my mom had already replaced my dad, and I wasn't comfortable with this new change.

We all got into the courtroom, and to my horror, my dad was still with that woman I caught him cheating on my mom with. The judge wasn't here yet, so my dad walked up to us with that lady. “Wow, Letty, you replaced me quickly," he said, smiling stupidly. “Carl, I didn't replace you; Bernard is just my friend, and by the way, did you have to bring your w***e here?" my mom said, slightly upset. “Hey, hey, hey! Who are you calling a w***e? Mind your tone, alright, b***h, or I'm going to smack you with my shoe," the lady accompanying my dad said. I just wanted everything to be over. I was sick of everything.

The judge came in. “All rise for the honorable judge, Jodie presiding," the court clerk announced as everyone stood up. Wow, I can't believe it's really happening.

Carls's pov

The judge came in. “All rise for the honorable judge, Jodie presiding," the court clerk announced as everyone stood up. Wow, I can't believe it's really happening. The judge took her seat, and then everyone else sat down, but Leticia and I were standing at the witness stand. “Docket number 31120, the defendant filed a divorce against her husband," the clerk read out. “Do you two want to proceed with this hearing?" The judge asked the both of us, “I do your honor." I replied, and Leticia did the same: “Your case file says that your daughter turned 17 two months ago, so legally she is still a minor, and it's our job as legal council to choose between both parents who would be a good fit for her to live with until she becomes an adult.

“Your honor, I am capable of taking care of my daughter all by myself. Just grant me custody," I said, and her mom chimed in almost immediately, “no way my daughter is going to live with you, psycho, you hear me!" She said angrily, and I just smiled, “Order!" The court clerk commanded, and the judge spoke, “According to your file, Mr. Carl, it says here that you've got a good job, so finances are going to be an issue, but what kind of connection do you have with your daughter?" She asked, “We've always been really close. You know, when she was little, she always told me she wanted a pony, although back then I couldn't afford one, so on her 10th birthday, I took most of the money I had saved throughout the year and took her to a polo club and paid for a ride on a pony. I wish you could see the smile on her face that day." “Dad, I thought you had forgotten that day." Jessy asked me, “I can never forget such a day like that, honey." I said as the crowd in the court said, “Awwwn." I was happy that I was winning the case so far; in fact, I think I already have it in the bag, I thought within myself.

"Alright, over to you, Leticia. You are a stay-at-home mom who doesn't have a real source of income. Please convince the court how you plan to take care of Leticia by yourself," my lawyer said, and I smiled. “Your honor, you know that the father is supposed to pay child support," her lawyer chimed in. “Yes, he is supposed to, but supposing it gets delayed for some reason, like, say, he loses his job, how do you plan on surviving?" My lawyer shot back, leaving a smile on my face.

Her lawyer wanted to speak, but Leticia signaled for the lawyer to keep quiet. “Your honor, I might not be wealthy, but tell me, is it possible for a man to take care of a child as much as the mother? My baby girl needs me; please don't take her away from me," she pleaded. I could tell she had gotten to everyone in the court. Then the judge spoke up: “Having listened to both your petitions, I have granted you your divorce. Now, on the ground of custody of the child, Miss Leticia, it's true that you made a very compelling argument that a child is better taken care of by the mother, but the court doesn't make judgements based on sentiments; we are more concerned about both the physical and emotional well-being, and it's clear that your daughter Jessy and her dad have a connection, so with this data, I make my judgement, and the custody of Jessy goes to..."

The whole room was in suspense, but I didn't feel nervous; I already had it in the bag. “Well, Mr. Carl..." I had already started jumping and celebrating. “Baby, I knew you'd get custody," my lady friend said. “Let me finish, Mr. Carl. You have a track record of cheating on your wife on multiple occasions in your living room, so can you honestly tell me that you wouldn't do it again or tell me that you are the right kind of role model for your daughter?" the judge said. I gulped. “Jessy lives with Leticia, but you both have shared custody of her," she said, then hit her hammer-looking thing on the table. She arranged the papers on the table and left her seat.

"It was a surprising verdict, I would admit, but it wasn't too bad," I said to Cecile, then I walked up to my lawyer, who shook his hand. "Thank you very much for your work." "It's my pleasure, Mr. Carl," he said as he left. I and Cecile walked up to Leticia, Bernard, and Jessy. "We've been friends since high school; this is just going to be a new turnout in our adventure," then I looked at Jessy and said, “I'll be seeing you, Jessy.". I said this as I left the courtroom.

Leticia's pov

I was so happy that I got Jessy. I hurriedly hugged her after Carl had left. Jessy wasn't too thrilled. “Honey, what's wrong?" I asked her, “I don't know mom; I don't know how to feel." She said to me,then I understood that she would miss her dad. “Honey, you can visit him whenever you want," I said as Bernard came and met us. “You did it," he said to me, smiling. “I couldn't have done any of this without your help. Thank you, Bernard." I said, smiling. “We should celebrate, right?" He said “I don't really feel up to it," I said, trying to object. “Come on, it'll be fun," he said, holding both my hands. “Yes, we should celebrate," I said, smiling. “Smart choice; we'll do it at my house; I'll set up everything; no need to worry about anything," he said as we were heading towards his car.