His Lost Trouble

Chapter 33

"That fucking imbecile," Mason scoffed and shook his head. "Can't do anything right."

"That's enough Mr. Bennett," The judge scolded as Owen's phone rang.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor, it's the hospital," Owen said glancing down at it. "She just woke up."

"Put it on video call and give it to my bailiff," The judge said and Owen nodded then handed the phone to the bailiff who passed it over to the judge. "Hello Mrs. Bennett."

"Your Honor," She croaked then winced.

"I am sorry you had to endure so much lately," The judge said softly. "How severe are your injuries?"

"If I may Your Honor? I'm Dr. Green," Sean said as he stepped into view. The judge nodded, "She had severe blood loss and some damage to her kidneys from the multiple stab wounds. She hit her head on a rock and had to get stitches there as well. There is no brain injury but I am still monitoring her for a concussion. She got an infection from the dirt getting into her stab wounds and she also has bruises not only from the attack but from the stalker grabbing her forcefully. He also stabbed her service dogs, they are not life threatening but they did receive multiple wounds as well."

"How long do you think she and the dogs will be in recovery?" The judge asked as he took notes.

"The vet said the dogs need to rest for at least two weeks and she will be need to take off from work for two or three months to give her body adequate time to heal," Sean said calmly.

"And how much were you paid Mrs. Bennett?" The judge asked.

"I was working three jobs Your Honor," She winced as she tried to shift to get more comfortable. "Owen..."

"If I may answer for her Your Honor?" Owen asked and the judge nodded. "She had just recently moved to different jobs because her previous employment was harassing her for not taking her up on his sexual advancements. She had to work three jobs because her daughter was in two different day cares so she was able to work since Mr. Bennett was not helping financially. She is currently working for Mr. Axel Toma at the aquarium as his personal assistant making $15 an hour. There is a children's section for her daughter to be in while Mrs. Bennett works so that helps with day care costs. Other employees also bring their children so it's not just for Mrs. Bennett. She also works at the Lost in the Pages bookstore with Mr. Dakota Lee where there is a children section so she can bring her daughter as can other employees, she currently gets paid, $12 an hour. Her last job was a bartender at Blaze Bar under the employment of North Taylor where she was paid $18 an hour plus tips where she had to find nighttime care for her daughter. She works Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the bar, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the aquarium, and Tuesday and Thursday at the bookstore."

"So she has no full days off?" The judge asked and Owen shook his head.

"Not when she is the sole provider for her daughter," He explained. "Nighttime care is expensive and if she has to stay a full day such as double or triple shifts it costs more."

"I understand," The judge nodded, "I was raised by a single mother."

"I also have evidence of Mr. Bennett's infidelity during the marriage, notarized statements from his multiple mistresses as well as his company lost some business when a couple of those mistresses started speaking out on abuse they endured from Mr. Bennett. Infidelity and abuse does not look good for his family based company. There is also evidence that he is only trying to be involved in the child now because he has a new mistress and he recently took a life insurance policy out on both Mrs. Bennett and the child."

"I've heard enough," The judge raised his hand cutting off Owen. "Mrs. Bennett?"

"Your Honor?" She weakly asked as she tried to stay awake.

"What do you want from this?" He asked.

"I just want my daughter and I to be free from him forever," She sighed as tears slid down her face. "I want nothing to do with him ever again and I don't want him to be able to contact us ever again. His family knew what they were doing to me and did nothing to stop it. I don't want anything to do with any of them and I don't want my daughter to have to deal with them ever again. I don't want child support or spousal support if it means I have to deal with them in any aspect. I can't pay the debts he made in my name ruining my credit because he already ruined his, Your Honor. I mean I could very very slowly but it would take forever and would affect me being able to properly care for my child but if it meant never having to deal with him or his family I would somehow figure it out. I just want to be my daughter and I to be free from him and his family forever."