Troy was called to the stand and Maria began questioning. "Troy, how would you describe your relationship with your father?"
"I wouldn't call it a relationship, we've never been close. He was very controlling and even though I tried to follow his rules and be the son he wanted, it was never good enough and I was punished."
"What do you mean by not good enough?"
"Well unless I was getting straight As and only studying or practicing then it wasn't good enough for him, even then, there was always something I did wrong."
"Why didn't you tell anyone about the abuse?"
"Coach threatened to hurt my mother and I refused to let him touch her."
"You referred to Jack as coach just now, why is that?"
"Unless someone was around, usually my mother, I was only allowed to call him Coach or Sir. I don't like to think of him as my dad, that's not how a father should treat his kid."
"And how should a father treat his child?"
"In my opinion, no parent could treat their child better than the way my girlfriend treats her daughter. That's nothing against my Mom, I believe she has done a wonderful job raising me and she has been an amazing mother, but I have never seen a parent's relationship with their child as pure as Gabriella's relationship with Isabella. Despite having had Isabella at such a young age, she has raised her to be an extremely bright and well-mannered young girl. I have never seen a mother so devoted to her daughter and who fully understands her daughter the way she does. She never talks down to Isabella, even if she's reprimanding her, she'll always get down to Bella's level. Watching my girlfriend with her daughter is amazing and I only hope that I can be half as good of a father in Isabella's eyes as Gabriella is being her mother."
Maria inwardly smiled at his response and she nodded to him, "no further questions."
Jack's lawyer started questioning. "So you were said to have self-harmed, how can the court believe that my client was the one who was abusing you when you could have just as easily given those injuries to yourself?"
"I may have self-harmed in the past, but I would only ever cut my thighs. I stopped self-harming a few months after I met Gabriella so I haven't done it for over 6 months.
"You have been around your girlfriend's child for some time now. How do you know that you won't become abusive down the track?"
"I know that I won't because I know how it feels, and I refuse for Isabella to feel what I did growing up. I love Isabella like she was my own daughter, she's my little angel and I hope I treat her as such. I would hate for her to see me anything like the way I see my father now. I would have to be a terrible person to treat that little girl the way I have been treated for the past ten years."
Before anyone could stop him, Jack leapt from his seat, his fist colliding with Troy's cheek. "You little sh**"
"Dada." Isabella whimpered and Jack turned his attention to the little girl. "Shut that little brat up before I do." The guards grabbed Jack and yanked him back.
Isabella clung to her mother, whimpering, "Dada." Troy got up from his seat on the stand only to be interrupted by the judge.
"Troy, you have not finished your questioning."
"Just give me a minute your honour." He continued walking over to Gabriella and Isabella and kneeled in front of them, placing his hand on the little girl's back.
"Bella, it's ok Angel."
"Dada." She placed her hand on his cheek.
"Daddy's ok Baby Girl, don't be scared." Her lip quivered and he took her into her arms. "Don't be scared Angel, you're ok. Daddy's ok, he's just going to go back up and answer some questions then we can go home."
"Daddy cuddwes?"
"Sure Baby Girl, you can cuddle up with Mommy and Daddy when we get home. Now I'm going to give you back to Mommy and go answer some questions. You're ok, Mommy's got you."
"I wove Daddy."
"I love you too Angel." He handed her back to Gabriella with a kiss on both their foreheads before taking his place back on the stand only to see the amazed expression of the jury and the judge.
"Troy, how did you know to do that?"
"Gabriella had said that Isabella only calls her Mama when she's scared or just woken up, I've realised it's the same thing with me and I know how to comfort my daughter."
Jack's lawyer spoke up, "may I continue questioning?"
"No, I will not allow this trial to go on any longer, especially not after the display from your client. Jack Bolton is charged with assault and child abuse, Mr Bolton you will spend five years in jail. Court dismissed."
Lucille ran over to her son and hugged him tight. "It's over Bud, you did well." He hugged her closer before releasing her, turning to Gabriella who had Isabella in her arms. He took the little girl from her, holding her in one arm before pulling Gabriella into a hug. He looked down to see her tear-filled eyes.
"What's wrong Baby?"
She shook her head, "he's not going to hurt you anymore." She hugged him tight and kissed his chest where her head rested.
"It's ok now Brie, everything'll be ok now."