Chapter 5 - The Legal Battle and the Hidden Truth
The following week was a whirlwind of legal summonses, depositions, and anxious hours spent pacing the floor of the third-floor suite. While Sebastian’s high-powered legal team systematically dismantled Artem and Veronika’s fabricated claims in family court, my life at Zorenko’s House transformed entirely.
The staff treated me not just as a colleague, but as someone who had survived the crucible of Veronika’s tyranny. Cook Nazar made sure I ate three hearty meals a day, often sending up extra fruit and pastries for Milana—who was now crawling and exploring every corner of the spacious guest suite with endless curiosity.
Sebastian checked in on us every evening after the restaurant closed. Sometimes we talked about legal strategies; other times we simply sat in silence while Milana played with the tassels of the Persian rug, babbling happily at Sebastian’s polished leather shoes. I learned more about the man behind the icy facade during those quiet hours: how he had rebuilt his life after the tragic fire in Lviv, how he personally selected every ingredient in his restaurant kitchen, and how deeply he valued absolute loyalty and honesty.
By Friday afternoon of the second week, the climax of the custody battle arrived.
I sat in the sterile, high-ceilinged courtroom of the Kyiv District Family Court, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. To my right sat Sebastian’s chief legal counsel, a sharp-eyed woman named Bozhena who wore a crisp navy suit and carried a leather briefcase filled with devastating evidence.
Across the aisle sat Artem and Veronika. They looked different now—the arrogant swagger completely gone, replaced by nervous sweat and desperate whispers. Veronika kept glaring at me with venomous hatred, but every time she shifted her gaze toward Sebastian—who sat quietly in the back row observing the proceedings—she quickly looked away.
The judge, a stern-faced woman with iron-gray hair, adjusted her glasses and looked down at the thick stack of files on her desk.
— The court has reviewed the emergency custody petition filed by Artem Salohub, — the judge announced, her voice echoing off the marble walls. — As well as the counter-petitions, financial disclosures, and submitted digital evidence from both parties.
She paused, picking up a flash drive labeled Zorenko’s House Security Archive.
— The petitioner claimed that the mother, Marina Salohub, willfully abandoned her infant child in unsafe conditions, rendering her unfit for custody. However, video evidence recovered from the establishment's internal surveillance system paints a vastly different picture.
The judge pressed a button on her desk, and a large monitor in the courtroom displayed the crystal-clear footage of Veronika Pavlivna entering the linen storage room at 5:03 p.m., lifting Milana from her blanket, and carrying her toward the restricted basement.
Gasps rippled through the courtroom gallery. Veronika buried her face in her hands, while Artem slumped heavily in his chair, muttering curses under his breath.
— Furthermore, — the judge continued, reading from a financial audit report, — financial records indicate that the petitioner, Artem Salohub, has contributed zero hryvnias toward the child’s upbringing over the past eight months, while accumulating significant debt and attempting to utilize fraudulent statements to manipulate family court procedures. Conversely, character testimonies from the employer and colleagues confirm the mother’s unwavering dedication, immaculate childcare within her means, and a hostile harassment campaign orchestrated by the paternal grandmother.
The judge slammed her gavel down once. The sharp crack echoed like thunder.
— The emergency petition for custody transfer is categorically denied. Full, unhindered primary custody is awarded exclusively to the mother, Marina Salohub. Furthermore, the court orders the petitioner to pay full retroactive child support within thirty days, failure of which will result in immediate criminal asset seizure.
I let out a ragged, sobbing breath, burying my face in my hands as the overwhelming weight of the past weeks finally lifted off my shoulders. I had won. My baby was safe. No one could take her away from me.
Bozhena patted my shoulder with a warm smile, whispering, — Congratulations, Marina. You did it.
When I walked out of the courtroom doors into the bright hallway, Sebastian was waiting by the tall windows. He wasn't smiling, but his gray eyes shone with a profound, quiet warmth.
— It is over? he asked as I approached him.
— It’s over, — I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. — They can’t touch us anymore.
May you like
Sebastian nodded slowly, reaching out to gently touch my shoulder. — Good. Now, let’s go home. The restaurant is waiting, and I believe someone upstairs has learned how to pull herself up on the coffee table.
I laughed through my tears, a genuine, radiant laugh that I hadn't felt in years.
