Two Years Later:

Early in the morning,the scene in the courtroom was very familiar and yet very heart wrenching.The silent tears of a woman rolled down her cheeks as she tried to save the custody of her child.But the ruling would certainly turn out against her.The biggest reason for this was not because the woman was not a suitable mother but because the *father*of the child was a ruthless bas**** who had the judges in his pockets and the immoral attorney who thought nothing of degrading a woman to suit his means.The woman in the court's last row heard the 'options' provided by the court and almost wished to bash the slimy attorney and judge.She would have shouted if not for the fear of being thrown out or barred from court in the future.She remained seated in the shadowy corner as the court cleared out.the gloating face of the attorney enraged her even more so.

The court had given the woman a day's time to find a suitable representation for her baby's custody suit.The baby in question was only 2 years old and had never been away from it's mother.The so called father and his family had not even held the baby in their arms..not even once..not even in the presence of the court had they looked at the child,while the mother looked malnourished and a blow away from keeling over.Finding a lawyer was easy enough but finding one that could help you win was next to impossible.Add in the fact that the person wanting the services was a foreigner and a penniless one at that while the opposing attorney was a big hot shot,n.o.body would even dare to think of taking on this case.

Lawyer Zheng took a final look around the courtroom and seeing that it was finally empty,went to the witness table in the front.Coming to a stop in front of the mother,she took out a business card and put it on the table saying,"If you can get this person to become your lawyer,there is still hope of you retaining your child.I suggest you stop crying and not waste your time.You have all of today to convince him.If you are unable to meet him do not waste your time trying to find someone else.Take your child and run!Good Luck."

The cryng woman looked up at Lawyer Zheng and asked pitifully,"Will I be able to live in peace if I run away with my Alicia?"

Lawyer Zheng looked at the woman carefully now..."Alicia".The name rung a bell and Lawyer Zheng thought it was a strange co incidence.The case she had been just thinking of also had the name Alicia who had played an important role...Maybe it was fate.Lawyer Zheng looked into the eyes of the woman who had just been pitifully crying and saw the determination to live with her babt in them.Sighing she said,"Live longer with her if you run?Yes.Live longer and peacefully?No.for that you need to get to that person."

With that Lawyer Zheng turned on her heel and went towards the exit.She had accomplished what she had come for.Her reason for handing out the card was not to help the woman but to defeat the slimy lawyer.Oh She knew she was also slime but she still had some standards.She could have asked to take onthe case herself,after all she was the second best attorney but even if she had pulled a rabbit out of a hat,it would have been difficult to win.And why would she do that when she could just sit back and enjoy the show as the slimy Attorney Chan was brought to his knees.Lawyer Zheng had kept a handle on the news for the last few years about that man and his cases.He had never lost one case but that was not astounding.What was astounding was that not even once had he needed to use any underhanded means like the others.She could not help but admire someone like that.She too had once been this idealistic.

With a smirk on her lips,she went out of the door and crossed her fingers that the woman would be able to convince Neil Long to fight her case.

The crying woman wiped her tears and picked up the card in front of her.She had already given up all her hope but the woman just now had given her a speck of some hope.She read the name on the card and her fingers tightened.A flirty smiling face from the past flashed in front of her eyes.She traced the name on the card with her finger and a small smile crossed her face.But that was wiped away soon.She had cut ties with the past.And that man also existed in the past.Dare she open the pandora's box?

Sitting there in the dank courtroom she looked in the pram where her baby was sleeping and her hands fisted at the sides.Two years ago,she had left everything and everyone behind just to be with her baby.And now she had been forced to knock against those closed doors to save her Alicia.She had even sacrificed her pride and begged her parents to help her.But they had refused.And she could not even blame them since they had made it clear that they would never accept an illegitimate child and if she chose the child she could forget about her parents.

The hold on the card in her hand tightened and she looked at the sleeping Alicia again.She had sacrificed so much for her.Now only time could tell that if her sacrifices would be acceptable and rewarded by the fates.Picking up the files and baby bag,she held the pram's handle and walked out of the court to try one last time.