“I just want my cat back and to be left alone so I can restart my life and move on from all of this.”
“And yet your lawsuit requests $2.4 million in damages, interesting” Blackwood’s implication hung in the air. “No further questions, Your Honour.”
I sat trembling as Blackwood returned to his seat. Marcus leaned over to whisper something to him, his expression concerned, as if I were the one who had just told vicious lies.
“Redirect, Mr. Richards?” Judge Patterson asked.
Damian approached, his controlled fury visible only in the tightness around his eyes.
“Alex, did you inflict the injuries documented in your medical records on yourself?”
“No. Marcus did.”
“Did you fabricate this abuse claim to extort money from Marcus Delaney?”
“No. I just want to be free of him.”
Damian turned to Judge Patterson. “Your Honour, I’d like to introduce photographic evidence of Mr. Lajeunesse’s injuries, taken at Toronto General Hospital on the night of September 17th.”
“Proceed.”
Damian handed a folder to the bailiff, who distributed copies to the judge and jurors. I looked away, unable to bear seeing those images again.
The courtroom fell silent as they examined the photographs. One juror gasped audibly. Another looked up at Marcus with undisguised disgust.
“Alex,” Damian said quietly, “the medical records indicate multiple fractures to your ribs, internal bleeding requiring emergency intervention, and injuries consistent with sexual assault. Could you have inflicted these injuries on yourself?”
“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t know that would be physically possible.”
“Thank you. No further questions.”
Judge Patterson examined the clock. “We’ll conclude today’s proceedings here. Court will resume tomorrow at 9 AM for the defence’s case.” He banged his gavel. “Court is adjourned.”
I remained seated as the courtroom began to empty, exhaustion washing over me. Damian squeezed my shoulder.
“You did well,” he said quietly. “Those photographs were powerful. The jury saw the truth.”
I nodded numbly, unable to process anything beyond the fact that my testimony was finally over. As we gathered our materials, Marcus and Blackwood stood to leave.
Marcus paused as he walked past our table. He didn’t look at Damian or Mitchell, only at me. His lips curved in a smile only I could see.
“See you soon, puppy,” he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
My blood turned to ice. Puppy—his private name for me, used only when we were alone. A reminder that he still saw me as his possession.
“He just threatened me,” I said, grabbing Damian’s arm. “Did you hear that?”
Damian whirled toward Marcus’s retreating back. “Your Honour!” he called sharply. “Mr. Delaney just violated the no-contact order by speaking directly to my client.”
Judge Patterson, halfway to his chambers, turned with obvious annoyance. “What exactly did you hear, Mr. Richards?”
“He threatened my client, saying ‘see you soon, puppy’—a pet name used during their relationship. It was clearly meant to intimidate.”
Judge Patterson looked at Marcus, who had adopted an expression of wounded innocence.
“I said nothing of the sort, Your Honour,” Marcus replied smoothly. “I was simply telling my attorney we should soon prepare for tomorrow.”
“Your Honour,” Damian pressed, “my client clearly heard—”
