Forever Almost

Chapter 35

Taylor stood before the court, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt every gaze on her, each one heavy with expectation. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before she began.

"Your Honor," Taylor started, her voice surprisingly firm despite the turmoil inside. "I'm a therapist at Crestview Hospital, and I was also Kayla's roommate. From the moment she saw Dr. Kelce, Kayla wanted him. But Travis wasn't interested in her. He was interested in me." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle in the room. "Kayla couldn't stand that, and now she wants revenge because she couldn't get what she wanted."

The judge's eyes turned to Kayla, a question hanging in the air. Kayla's confident demeanor faltered for the first time. She stuttered, searching for words, but quickly regained her composure, twisting the narrative in her favor.

"No," Kayla exclaimed, her voice rising with a mixture of panic and anger. "That's not true at all! Yes, Taylor works in the same hospital, but she's not the victim she's pretending to be. In fact, she's also a victim of Dr. Kelce, just like me. Her story is even worse than mine!"

Kayla's voice grew louder, more desperate, as she continued to spin her tale. "Dr. Kelce made false promises to her. He even got her pregnant! And then he came to me, telling me he wanted to be engaged to me. He left Taylor alone on the streets, and now, without anyone to support her, Taylor has even aborted the babies!" Kayla's eyes narrowed as she turned toward Taylor, her voice dripping with venom. "You could ask Taylor yourself if it's true or not."

The courtroom was hushed, the tension thick and suffocating. Kayla's words had turned the story upside down, flipping everything against Taylor and Travis. Taylor felt the walls closing in, her mind racing. If she answered the judge's inevitable question, Kayla would win. The truth would be twisted beyond recognition, and they would be doomed.

Travis, who had been devastated by everything happening around him, suddenly went numb with shock. His world tilted on its axis as Kayla's words echoed in his mind. Pregnant? His Taylor was pregnant? And he didn't know? But Kayla had said she had aborted the babies. His mind spun, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of information, but it only left him more confused and devastated.

Taylor felt Travis's gaze on her, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion, shock, and hurt. She could see the questions in his eyes, but she couldn't answer them. Not now. The judge looked at her, waiting for her to speak. The pressure was unbearable. Every second felt like an eternity.

She knew that if she told the truth now, Kayla's twisted version would be validated in the judge's eyes. Everything would turn against them, and there would be no way to save Travis or herself.

Suddenly, Taylor's legs wobbled, and she felt her vision blur. She swayed, grabbing onto the edge of the stand for support. "I... I need some time," she stammered, her voice weak and trembling. "I'm not well. I'm pregnant, and I don't feel good."

The judge, seeing her distress, immediately called for a break. "The court will recess for a short time to allow Ms. Swift to recover," the judge announced, banging the gavel.

The tension in the room broke as everyone began to move, but the atmosphere remained heavy with unresolved conflict. Taylor, her head spinning and heart pounding, was helped by Donna and Jason to a bench outside the courtroom. Travis watched her with wide eyes, his heart breaking as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. He wanted to rush to her, to hold her, to get answers, but he was rooted to the spot, frozen by the shock of it all.

Kayla, on the other hand, smirked as she left the courtroom, confident that she had turned the tide in her favor. She believed she had won, that Taylor's silence had sealed their fate.

As Taylor sat down, Donna knelt beside her, her hands trembling as she held Taylor's. "Stay strong, Taylor," Donna whispered, her voice filled with concern. "We're with you. We'll figure this out."

Jason, trying to lighten the mood, said softly, "Don't worry, Taylor. We'll get through this together. You're not alone."

Taylor nodded weakly, tears streaming down her face. She could feel the weight of the world on her shoulders, but the presence of Donna, Jason, and even Travis gave her a sliver of hope. She had to stay strong, not just for herself but for her unborn babies and for Travis.

As they waited for the court to reconvene, Taylor's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. She knew the next steps would be crucial. The next words she spoke could change everything—for better or for worse.

Inside the courtroom, the clock ticked down the minutes until the trial would resume, the suspense growing with every passing second. The break might have provided a brief respite, but the real battle was far from over. Taylor knew she would have to confront the storm head-on when the judge called them back. The question was whether she could weather it and come out victorious on the other side.