The Secret The Cheerleader Doesn't... - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

Ani POV
"We need to exploit the fact that Cassidy is emotionally unstable," Harmon said. He's a greedy man I've found. Apparently him and Jennifer are coworkers. They would make a hell of a team...
A team I would want to be part of.
"That's a good avenue," Jennifer said, jotting down notes as I drank my coffee, "Antonia, you should tell the court what she did to you in the past.  That was  make this win a landslide!"
"Absolutely not," I said, to their disappointment, "I won't be mentioning such things."
"It would guaranty you would get sole custody of the kids," Harmon said.
"I don't give a shit," I responded, "if you can't win this case without bringing up my trauma, then you aren't  as good as you say you are."  And with that I left the building.
~
As we waited for court to begin, Cassie came up to me, "How are the twins?"
"They've been shutting themselves away since the incident," I said, leaning back against the wall, "they won't come out unless it's for school or practice... or when you're coming for dinner."
"Try speaking to them," she said, as if it's the easiest thing in the planet.
"They don't want to."
"Well you're the parent," she said, about to leave since we were getting called in, "plus, those kids love you... if you told them you truly wanted to talk and not accuse anyone... they would do it.  See you inside."
"See you," I whispered, watching her rush over to her attorney.  Today her hair was pulled back into a tight bun.  The kind I saw her wear when she had cheerleading practice.  She wore a suit, a feminine suit.  It was black but it gave her a good shape... she was always good at styling herself.
"You ready?" Harmon asked.
Taking a deep breath, I muttered, "Yep."
"Your honor, we have one last reason as to why Ms. Cassidy Meryl shouldn't have custody over the children," Harmon said, but I was barely listening.  The evaluation would come after this last point and then the ruling.  This was it.  "Ms. Cassidy Meryl is mentally incapable of taking care of not only herself but others.  Here is a list of all her mental issues."
I glanced over at Cassie, seeing her prepare for her rebuttal.  The judge looked over the papers and turned his attention to her, "Ms. Cassidy Meryl, these are very concerning disorders and past legal situations you have."
"I understand that your honor," she said, "I do have many mental difficulties, but I have them under control."
"It says here you were hospitalized earlier this year to suicidal tendencies," he said.  I felt for her.
"Earlier this year your honor Antonia and I were having... marital problems.  I confess that I was heavily reliant on her... I even believed I could only live if she was in my life.  However, after my hospitalization I have been attending therapy sessions voluntarily," she handed a folder to the clerk, "here is a letter written from my specialist that I see three times a week.  He has written an unbiased report and I am unaware of anything he has put down.  I hope that after reading this, you will see that I have worked extremely hard to control and manage my emotions and disabilities."
The judge took a moment to read it.  It was awkward... unsettling even.  "It says here that you do have a tendency to have 'negative thoughts' but you have adopted and applied coping mechanism to such problems.  He has even stated that your love and adoration for the children makes it less likely that you would inflict harm on them or on yourself due to them being your responsibility," he said.
"Your honor," Harmon cut in, "Ms. Antonia Meryl is a specialized psychologist that has been in the field for over 15 years."
"I agree that Cassidy has shown growth and has obtain some control over her issues," I said, "but she isn't in completely control and still make irrational decisions.  With her mental illnesses it's easy for her to fall back into unhealthy and dangerous coping mechanism, something I've seen in not only her but in many patients throughout my years.  The kids need a stable and structured house, which I personally believe from my years of knowledge not in just the field, but knowing her, she cannot provide."
"Your honor, if I may," Cassie asked, which he granted, "Antonia is a brilliant woman who is excellent in her field.  She is the youngest ever to be employed in her current work, however, I do believe her statements and opinions of me are biased due to her feelings.  As you can see, her personal issues with me can be influencing how she sees me and what I am capable of doing.  My therapist that has not personal connection to me has offered a different opinion to hers.  I do not believe that to be a coincidence."
I almost scoffed at her statements... but I was proud of how far she had come.
"Your honor," Harmon spoke up, "there is evidence that backs my client's claims.  Back in 2021, Ms. Cassidy Meryl had sexual assaulted and abused my client."
I looked at him, enraged.
"There is no report on that," the judge said, looking through the report, "is this true Ms. Cassidy Meryl?"
"We plead the fifth your honor," her attorney spoke up.
"Ms. Antonia Meryl?" The judged looked at me, but I was focused on Harmon... he was smiling.  He was happy at this supposed win... he felt as if he was greatest person on the planet... to my expense. Looking over to Cassie, I instantly felt everything in that moment.  She was helpless.
For years I have dealt with the trauma of what happened... I've buried it and pretended it wasn't real or didn't matter.  I've experienced the nightmares, the chills, the pain... all of it.
So I could either admit to it and get away from her...
Or I finally move on from that haunting past and....
Move on with Cassie.
That was the problem.... That was why everything went to shit.  All these years I have silently resented her... I had blamed her and damned her even though I had told her it didn't matter and moved on... I kept it in and never allowed myself to heal.
Looking at Cassie, I realized what I wanted.
"Ms. Antonia Meryl?" The judge called.
I took a deep breath, "Yes your honor... such incident has occurred."
Harmon immediately piped up, "See your honor, Ms. Cassidy Meryl is a dangerous individual and shouldn't-" "No she is not," I interrupted him, "has Cassidy made mistakes, yes, but I decided to forgive her and moved on.  Your honor, that incident back then was a result to abuse Cassidy was facing from her family.  It was a cry of help, not a malicious act.  She was hurting so much inside that she felt the only way to escape it and have me understand was by hurting me.  I never pressed charges because I understood that.  That incident occurred 15 years ago, which by the statue of limitations is unable to prove nor take legal action on.  Cassidy Meryl would never hurt our children because she loves them so much.  Unlike me, who is technically indispensable, our children are her entire life... they are part of Cassidy and it is extremely unlikely that she would EVER hurt them due to it."  Finally I looked at Cassie and we made eye contact.  I knew it in that moment how much I fucked everything up... how I was just so fucking stupid, "Your honor, I would like to no longer push for sole custody of Jessika Maeve Meryl and Jakob Louis Meryl... actually I would like to have a discussion with Cassidy about our divorce in general."