‘And as such it was considered to come under their intellectual property disclosure.’
‘Yes.’
‘In fact, the use of the designs caused you great emotional stress?’
Célia bit the inside of her cheek before responding.
‘Yes.’
‘In what way?’
‘I... It just did,’ Célia replied, not quite sure what he wanted from her.
‘In fact, it severely damaged your relationship with your father whom you were estranged from for nearly five years, it led you to leave a promising future in computer sciences and...it made you doubt yourself.’
His eyes bored into hers as if to say that he hated this. Hated hurting her. But she would bear it. For him.
‘Yes.’
‘Why did you leave me?’
The abrupt turn in questioning made Célia’s stomach lurch.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Why did you break our engagement and leave?’
‘I... Do we have to do this here?’ she asked somewhat desperately.
‘Yes,’ he pressed resolutely. ‘Why did you break our engagement?’
‘Because it would risk your guardianship over Annabelle.’
‘And why was that so important?’
Célia stared at him. As if she could demand to know what he was doing. Why he was putting her through this.
‘Because I love you. And I’ve come to love Annabelle. And I don’t want to see you both hurt because of my actions.’
As if the spell had been lifted, Loukis smiled, broad, wide, beautiful. His eyes sparkled and she’d never seen him look so wondrous.
‘Good. Because I love you too.’
Célia’s heart leapt.
‘But I’ll get back to that in a minute. I promise.’ He turned to face the judge. ‘Your Honour, if the courts are here to decide about protection, about family, then this is me. Protecting my family and fighting for the woman I love. I have a written statement from François Paquet completely freeing Célia d’Argent from any knowledge of what her technical specifications were to be used for. And I am devastated that she was so mistreated by the questions posed by my mother’s lawyers, devastated that someone so good, so full of love and self-sacrifice was hurt by my actions and my needs. A woman who challenges me to be and do more each and every day, a woman who makes me a better person. And if this custody case is the price of Célia’s love for me and my love for her, it is not one I’m willing to pay. Nor am I willing to teach Annabelle that lesson either. Annabelle has told you in her own words that she would like to stay with me. Would like to maintain her life here, with her friends and family that love her. I urge you to take this into consideration in your decision. But for now, I’d very much like to kiss my fiancée if that’s okay, Your Honour?’
A rueful smile played at the mouth of the wigged judge and Célia practically fled the chair, at the same time as Loukis crossed the room, and they met in the middle in a kiss that Célia would remember for the rest of her life.
She gave no heed to the chaos that erupted around them, as his lips found hers and she felt the greatest well of love spring within her. Tears once again escaped her eyes, but this time they were full of joy.
‘I love you,’ he whispered against her lips.
‘I love you too,’ she whispered back.
Finally the commotion around Meredith’s lawyers’ table became too intrusive, Byron’s anger boiling over and Meredith’s panicked voice hastily trying to call him back. The large oil baron’s arm cut through the air punctuating the word ‘done’, and he turned, taking a few short steps towards them.
‘I’m so very sorry about how painful that must have been for you,’ the American said. ‘It should never have happened. And while I do love her,’ he said helplessly, ‘I cannot condone Meredith’s actions. Other than to say that desperation made her...but it is inexcusable.’