Finding My Soulmate

Chapter 40

Hazel

"We have some pictures here over the last week ma'am, showing Ms. Grey here with a young man, at concerts and going to parties and being out late. All photos don't show Chloe, so one can assume that she had dumbed the child so she could run off with her boyfriend. Who I will say in is a boyband and is traveling around the world. We think these photos here shows she in more interested in partying than taking care of her child. And we also have reason to believe that Ms. Grey has been away traveling with her boyfriends band, while the child is god knows where, " Ronald explained. I raise my eyebrows in disbelief. They have got to be joking right.

I look over at Stephen who is looking at the photos. There's one of me and Harry at the Ed Sheeran concert, each of us with a beer in our hands. Another photo was of Harry, Louis, Liam, Niall and I at dinner one night, where we all had a couple drinks, all which were shown in front of us. Another photo was of me at one of the One Direction concerts. These photos hardly prove anything. They couldn't prove anything. Stephen looks over at me when he's finished going through the photos and shoots me a look, confirming my thoughts on the pictures.

"These photos don't prove anything. All they show is a couple going out and having a good time together. It doesn't prove that Ms. Grey is an unfit mother. Clearly Ms. Grey is a responsible adult, she got a babysitter for Chloe. A parent is allowed to go out." Stephen counters, bringing up some pretty valid points if I do say so myself. I see Stacy nodding.

"Agreed. But what concerns me is all the drinking I see in these photos. I'm worried that there may be a drinking issue and I don't want that to effect the child. Also leaving your child while you are out being a groupie is also concerning," Stacy said, jotting down something on the pad of paper in front of her.

"Are you joking? I don't have a drinking problem. That's a few photos, not my whole life. And I'm not a groupie! I'm actually dating someone whose career has him move around a lot. Yes I was with him for less than a week, while Chloe was staying with my parents, who I called daily to check in. There's more to it than these ridiculous photos!" I said defensively.

"Hazel, let me handle this,"Stephen scolds me and I slump back in my seat. I look over and Derek is smirking, an expression I used to find attractive on him but now it makes me want to slap it right off his face.

"Ms. Grey here is a responsible adult with a respectable profession. If there was a problem with alcohol addiction, surly her career would have been effected. And surly the health and care of her child would have suffered. Considering Chloe is in perfect health and doing great development wise, I think it's safe to say that Ms. Grey is an outstanding parent."

"I agree, Mr. Marks, but since this is a serious issue, I'm afraid we will have to do some more research. Ms. Grey, if you could, would you write down the name and number of Chloe's pediatrician so I can get some information from her. I will need to to sign a release of medical records form as well. And also the name and number of your most recent or current employer." Stacy slides over the pad of paper and with shaky hands I wrote down everything she's asked. I can't believe this. I can't believe Derek would go and take photos of me from over the course of two or three weeks and try to make it seem like I do that type of stuff on a daily basis. That's low, even for him.

"Alright, I will get going on all this. I say we aim to meet again next week," Stacy says standing, leaning over to turn off the voice recorder. She waves at us and walks out of the room. The two lawyers shake hands and Derek and his lawyer leave.

"This is ridiculous! He can't do this! All those photos are from over the course of three weeks, I don't go to out drinking on a daily basis. And they don't even know the know story of why I was gone with Harry for that week." I spit out, angry and feeling like I need to hit someone, preferably Derek.