Chapter 6 - The Counterstrike(Approx. 1,800 words)
Two weeks later, the preliminary hearing for temporary orders was held at the Richmond City Circuit Court.
I sat at the plaintiff’s table beside Elena Guzmán, wearing a tailored navy suit, my hair pinned back neatly. I looked calm, composed, and prepared.
Across the aisle sat Diego and his hired attorney, a pompous man named Richard Vance, who looked noticeably flustered as he shuffled through a messy pile of motions. Teresa sat in the front row of the public gallery, glaring at the back of my head with pure venom.
Judge Carolyn Mercer, a stern woman in her late fifties with sharp brown eyes, presided over the bench. She adjusted her reading glasses and picked up our case file.
"We are here today regarding Case FAM-2026-0892, Santos v. Castillo," Judge Mercer announced, her voice echoing clearly in the quiet courtroom. "We have emergency motions for temporary custody, child support, spousal support, and exclusive use of the marital residence. Mr. Vance, I will hear from the defense first regarding the asset freeze."
Richard Vance stood up quickly, buttoning his suit jacket. "Thank you, Your Honor. My client, Mr. Diego Castillo, requests an immediate lifting of the freeze on his personal and corporate accounts. The freeze has caused extreme financial hardship, preventing my client from meeting his basic living expenses and supporting his extended family."
"Extended family?" Judge Mercer raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Vance, according to the bank statements provided by the plaintiff, your client transferred forty-eight thousand dollars out of his joint marital account forty-eight hours prior to the filing of this petition. Fifteen thousand went to his mother, eight thousand to his sister, and twenty-five thousand to an undisclosed real estate entity. Is that correct?"
Vance cleared his throat nervously. "Your Honor... those were... legitimate family financial arrangements that had been planned months in advance—"
"Planned in advance?" Elena Guzmán interjected smoothly, standing up from our table. "Your Honor, we have subpoenaed the bank creation records for Real Estate Holdings LLC. That entity was created by Teresa Castillo online three hours after the incident of physical child abuse occurred at the marital home. It was a deliberate attempt to hide marital assets from the court."
Judge Mercer’s expression turned icy cold. She looked over her glasses directly at Diego.
"Mr. Castillo, did you authorize these transfers?"
Diego stood up, his voice trembling slightly. "Your Honor... I am the primary earner in my household. I believed I was acting in the best financial interest of my family's broader estate—"
"Your primary family obligation, Mr. Castillo, is to your wife and your child," Judge Mercer interrupted sharply. "Not your mother, not your sister, and certainly not a shell entity created three hours after your daughter was injured."
She tapped her pen against the desk. "The asset freeze will remain in full effect until a forensic accounting audit is completed. Furthermore, the court orders Mrs. Teresa Castillo and Real Estate Holdings LLC to return the full forty-eight thousand dollars to the court registry within fourteen days."
Teresa gasped loudly from the gallery, standing up from her seat. "That is my money! You have no right—"
GAVEL CRACK.
"Silence in the gallery!" Judge Mercer warned, pointing a finger toward Teresa. "One more outburst from you, ma'am, and I will have the bailiff escort you to a holding cell for contempt of court!"
Teresa sank back into her seat, her face turning pale with shock and fury.
"Now, regarding custody and the protective order," Judge Mercer continued, turning her attention back to the file. "I have reviewed the medical reports and the photographic evidence regarding the minor child, Sofía Castillo. The physical mark on the child’s arm is deeply concerning."
"Your Honor," Vance attempted to interject, "my client was not the one who administered the physical discipline—"
"No," Judge Mercer said coldly, looking dead at Diego. "He merely stood by, condoned it, refused medical care for his daughter, and instructed his wife to apologize to the perpetrator. In the eyes of this court, that constitutes severe neglect and emotional failure as a parent."
She slammed her gavel down with a sharp, decisive strike.
"Temporary sole legal and physical custody of Sofía Castillo is awarded exclusively to the mother, Verónica Santos. The defendant, Diego Castillo, is granted zero visitation at this time, pending a full psychological evaluation and completion of a twenty-six-week mandatory parenting and domestic non-violence course."
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Diego looked as if he had been struck in the chest with a sledgehammer. He stumbled back slightly, grabbing the edge of the table for support. "Your Honor... please... she's my daughter..."
"Then you should have protected her like a father, Mr. Castillo," Judge Mercer replied without a shred of sympathy. "Plaintiff is granted exclusive use and occupancy of the marital home on Maple Avenue. Defendant has twenty-four hours to collect his personal clothing under police escort. Court is adjourned."
