Chapter 125: THERE IS NO NEED

Chapter 127

REN

The moment we step outside, Lumi’s fingers tighten around mine.

She doesn’t say anything, but I feel it. The nerves are back.

I glance at her as we walk toward the car. She’s dressed and ready, her hair neatly arranged, but her eyes keep moving between the people around us and the vehicle waiting at the curb. She looks as though she’s trying to prepare herself for everything that could happen today.

I open the car door for her. "You’re quiet."

"I’m thinking."

"About the hearing?"

She nods, then looks at me. "And Theo."

I take her hand before she climbs inside. "We’ll see him."

Her eyes search mine. "You promise?"

"I promise we’ll do everything we can."

She seems to accept that, though I can tell she wants something stronger. Something that guarantees the day will end with Theo in her arms.

I wish I could give her that certainty. Instead, I help her into the car and sit beside her.

The drive to the airport is quiet. Lumi watches the passing buildings through the window, her thumb moving back and forth over the side of my hand. Every so often, she takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly.

I don’t interrupt her thoughts. When we arrive, the jet is waiting. Darren has already sent the final details to our legal team, and the lawyers are expecting us.

Lumi looks at the aircraft, then turns to me. "You really arranged all this?"

"Yes." She looks at me for a moment, then shakes her head, a faint smile touching her mouth.

"You’re impossible."

"That’s what I’ve been told." She laughs softly, and the sound eases something inside me.

I guide her toward the stairs. She pauses before climbing, looking back at the car as if she might still turn around.

I squeeze her hand. "Ready?"

She nods. "Ready."

The journey feels longer than it should. Lumi sits beside me, her hands clasped in her lap. She tries to read through the papers our lawyer gave her, but I notice she keeps returning to the same page.

Eventually, she lowers them. "What happens if the judge doesn’t believe us?"

I turn toward her. "They’ll believe us because we have proof."

"What if Sienna says something that makes it sound like I’m a bad mother?"

"She can say whatever she wants. It doesn’t change the truth." Lumi looks down at the papers again.

"I know, but what if..."

"Baby." I wait until she looks at me. "You don’t have to prepare yourself for every terrible thing she might say."

Her lips press together. I take the papers from her and place them on the small table.

"Let the lawyers do their job. You just need to tell the truth if the judge asks you anything." She nods, but her eyes are still troubled.

I reach for her hand. "And remember, this isn’t about proving that you’re perfect. Nobody is. It’s about what is best for Theo."

She looks at me, and I see the words settle. "That’s all I want," she whispers.

"I know." I bring her hand to my lips. "And that’s why we’re here."

By the time we arrive at the courthouse, Darren is waiting outside with our lawyer.

He approaches us as soon as we step out of the car.

"Everything is ready," he says.

Lumi looks at him immediately. "Have you heard anything about Theo?"

Darren’s expression softens. "He’s safe. He’s being looked after."

"But will I see him?" Darren glances at me before answering.

"Ren has made arrangements. We’ll discuss everything after the hearing."

Lumi turns toward me. I give her a small nod.

Her eyes fill, but she blinks quickly and takes a steadying breath.

"Okay."

I place my hand at the small of her back and guide her inside.

The courtroom is colder than I expect. Lumi sits beside me, her shoulders drawn tight, while our lawyer arranges the documents in front of us.

Across the room, Sienna sits with her own legal team.

She looks composed. Too composed.

Her gaze moves to Lumi, and a faint smile touches her lips. I feel Lumi stiffen beside me.

I lean closer. "Don’t look at her."

"I wasn’t."

"Then keep it that way." She lets out a quiet breath and turns toward the front of the room.

The judge enters, and everyone rises. The hearing begins.

Sienna’s lawyer speaks first, presenting her as Theo’s biological mother and arguing that she should be given a chance to build a relationship with him.

He brings up the allegations Callum made about Lumi, the hospital records, and the claim that she had been unable to care for Theo safely.

I feel Lumi’s hand tighten around mine.

The lawyer continues, but I barely listen to the details. I know what he’s trying to do. He’s using the same accusation that was used to take Theo from her before.

Our lawyer rises when it’s his turn. He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to.

He presents the adoption documents, the previous court order, and the evidence that the allegations against Lumi were false. He explains the circumstances under which she adopted Theo and the years she has spent caring for him.

The documents are placed before the judge.

Sienna’s lawyer objects to parts of the evidence, but our lawyer responds calmly, referring to the records and the findings already established.

Lumi sits very still beside me. I can feel her holding her breath.

When our lawyer finishes, the judge looks down at the papers for several moments.

Then she looks toward Sienna’s legal team.

"Can you provide evidence that the existing order was obtained through fraud or that the child’s welfare is currently at risk in the care of the applicant?"

Sienna’s lawyer begins to answer, but his words are less certain now.

He refers to the biological connection, the past allegations, and Sienna’s desire to be involved in her son’s life.

The judge listens. Then she turns to our lawyer.

He stands and explains that the biological connection is not in dispute, but it does not erase the existing legal order or the child’s established home.

He also points out that the application has not demonstrated that removing Theo from Lumi’s care would serve his welfare.

I glance at Lumi. Her eyes are fixed on the judge. Her fingers are cold in mine.

The judge looks down at the documents again. Then she speaks.

"Having considered the evidence before me, I find no sufficient basis to set aside the existing order. The application is dismissed." For a second, Lumi doesn’t move.

The words seem to reach her slowly. The judge continues, confirming that the existing order remains in place and that any future application must be supported by proper evidence and assessed with Theo’s welfare as the central concern.

Then the hearing ends. Everyone rises but Lumi remains seated.

I turn toward her. "Baby."

She looks at me, her eyes wide. "Is it over?"

I nod. "It’s over."

Her mouth trembles. "She can’t take him?"

I take both her hands. "Not today. The existing order stands."

Her breath catches, and she presses her fingers against her lips.

Then she starts to cry. I pull her into my arms, holding her close while she lets the tears fall against my shoulder. She clutches the front of my jacket as though she needs something solid beneath her hands.

"It’s okay," I murmur. "You can let it out."

"I thought..." She tries to speak, but her voice breaks. "I thought I was going to lose him."

I close my eyes and hold her tighter. "I know."

She draws back, wiping her cheeks quickly. "Is he here?"

I look at Darren and he nods.

"He’s waiting nearby," he says gently. "Everything has been arranged."

Lumi turns toward me. "Ren..."

I brush a tear from her cheek. "Let’s go see our boy."

The moment we reach the room where Theo is waiting, Lumi stops.

I feel her hand tighten around mine.

Theo is sitting on a small chair, his feet swinging beneath him. He’s holding a toy car, moving it back and forth over the arm of the chair while the woman looking after him sits nearby.

He looks up when the door opens. For a second, he just stares. Then his face changes.

"Mummy?" Lumi makes a small sound beside me.

Theo drops the toy car. "Mummy!"

He scrambles down from the chair and runs toward her. Lumi falls to her knees before he reaches her, opening her arms.

Theo throws himself into them. She catches him and holds him so tightly that I worry she might never let go. Her face disappears into his hair, and her shoulders begin to shake.

"My baby," she whispers. "Oh, my baby."

Theo wraps his little arms around her neck. "Mummy."

"I’m here." She kisses his cheek, then his forehead, then his cheek again. "I’m here, sweetheart."

He pulls back just enough to look at her. His small hand touches her face.

"No cry, Mummy." Lumi lets out a broken laugh, trying to wipe her tears.

"I’m okay, baby." Theo looks at her for a moment, then presses his face against her shoulder again.

She closes her eyes and holds him. I stand a few feet away, watching the two of them, and feel something inside my chest loosen.

This is what she has been waiting for. Not a victory in court. Not a dismissal or a legal order.

This. Her son in her arms.

Theo lifts his head and looks around the room. His eyes land on me.

"Uncle superman Ren!" I crouch beside them.

"Hey, little man." He reaches one hand toward me but keeps the other wrapped around Lumi’s neck.

I take his hand and kiss his knuckles. "Did you miss us?"

He nods, then looks at Lumi.

"Mummy come home?" Lumi’s expression changes. I see the question hit her, and her arms tighten around him.

She looks at me. I know what she’s asking without a word.

I move closer and rest my hand on Theo’s back.

"We’re going to take things one step at a time," I tell him gently. "But Mummy is here now."

Theo seems satisfied with that. He turns back to Lumi and rests his head against her shoulder.

She looks down at him, stroking his hair.

"I missed you so much," she whispers.

I sit beside them, keeping my hand on her back. For a long time, none of us says anything.

There is no need.

Lumi has her son in her arms, and Theo is right where he wants to be.

And for today, that is enough.