Chapter 37 - The Storm Over Chicago
By 8:00 AM the next morning, lightning flashed violently across the black sky over downtown Chicago. Rain lashed against the towering stained-glass windows of the Cook County Chancery Courthouse.
Reporters from every major television network lined the marble steps, holding microphones under umbrellas. News of the "Billionaire Surrogacy Battle" had leaked to Wall Street, sending Vance Global stock plunging fifteen percent in pre-market trading.
Inside Courtroom 402, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Judge Miller sat at the high judicial bench, reviewing a mountain of legal briefs. Sitting at the petitioner's table was Vivian Vance, dressed in a sleek black suit, flanked by four top-tier corporate attorneys.
Sitting on our side of the courtroom were Noah and Sophie, holding each other's hands tightly. Sophie looked terrified, but ten-year-old Noah sat tall, staring at Vivian with a quiet, fierce dignity that matched his father’s.
"Your Honor," Vivian’s lead attorney stood up, smoothing his tie. "The seventy-two-hour statutory window for challenging the surrogacy agreement expires at precisely 9:00 AM today. Mrs. Clara Vance has failed to appear in court, and her legal team has presented no certified physical evidence to counter my client's biological claim."
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Judge Miller looked down at his watch. "It is 8:55 AM. If Mrs. Vance does not present her evidence within five minutes, I will execute the temporary custody transfer order."
"She isn't coming, Your Honor," Vivian smiled serenely, turning her head to glance at Noah and Sophie. "My sister was always weak."
