Am I the defendant?
What happened.
besides...
Family Court, isn't this the court that deals with trivial family matters? Why is this court looking for me?
Lake was a little confused.
Sued by his own sweetheart Catherine?
Or was it sued by Helen, who is less than one year old this year?
There's no reason.
the next day.
Lake gave up the idea of going to Malibu and arrived directly at the Manhattan Family Court at nine o'clock in the morning. He didn't want the court to think that he had escaped because of this incident and then issue an arrest warrant.
fortunately.
Lake has always had a good relationship with the judges in the court system. Not to say that he knows every one of them, but at least the judge system has a good impression of him, Lake Edwin.
Just like delivering a subpoena, in principle, it must be handed directly to the party by the bailiff. This time, he handed it directly to his assistant, which was obviously a way of giving face.
People give me face, and I give them face.
Lake has always been like this, so he simply postponed his trip to Malibu and came here.
The third floor of the court.
Lake knocked on the door with a hint of confusion. After receiving a response, he walked in and said to the judge's assistant sitting at the door of the inner room: "Lake Edwin, I'm here to see Judge Rebecca."
Said.
Lake directly showed his federal ID. After the assistant took a look, he picked up the phone.
soon.
After the assistant hung up the phone, he said to Lake, "Mr. Edwin, you can go in."
Lake said thank you and pushed open the door to the inner room. The first thing he saw was Judge Rebecca, who took off her glasses, stood up from her office chair, and walked over to shake hands with him.
"Mr. Edwin."
"Ms. Rebecca."
After shaking hands, Lake learned that Rebecca was a good friend of his judge friend. After sitting on the sofa and chatting for a few minutes, he explained his purpose.
Lake said to Judge Rebecca, who was 52 years old and well-maintained, with some confusion, "Delia, I don't quite understand why I was summoned. Besides, it doesn't say what the reason is."
Delia was Judge Rebecca's first name.
After all, we are familiar with each other, so it is better to call each other by their first name rather than their last name.
Delia said, "Because this matter is rather special, if it is formally summoned, it may be recorded in the files."
Lake nodded, thanked him, and then said, "Why?"
Delia didn't hide it: "Five days ago, a fourteen-year-old girl filed a lawsuit against you."
A fourteen-year-old girl?
Lake raised his eyebrows, then felt a little absurd: "You sued me, for what?"
"You are required to bear the child support for fourteen years, and you must also fulfill your due child support obligations."
"What?"
Lake opened his mouth wide, his face full of disbelief: "You mean, she is my daughter?"
Delia spread her hands and said, "Obviously, that's the case."
Lake's face darkened. "You must be joking, Delia. If I had a daughter, do you think I would ignore her?"
That's bullshit.
Lake has always been a man who dares to take responsibility for his actions. He is different from those little hooligans who run away when they see a girl is pregnant, and he is also different from those rubbish rich men who have a bunch of illegitimate children outside and refuse to acknowledge them.
It's his.
Lake will fulfill his duties as a father.
Look at Emilia.
Look at Rachel.
Lake never shirks the responsibilities that should be taken on by him.
at the moment?
A fourteen-year-old girl came out and said that Lake was her father. No matter how you look at it, it feels a bit mysterious.
Delia smiled and said, "I don't believe it either. After all, you have a good reputation. That's why I asked you to come here."
Lake suppressed his surprise and said, "Thank you."
Delia then handed over a test report: "So, in order to confirm this matter, I did a DNA test with your DNA in the system database. After DNA confirmation, she is indeed your daughter."
Lake was shocked again and took the test report.
Delia said, "I hope you won't blame me."
Lake flipped through the DNA comparison report and glanced at Delia: "Of course, if you don't do this, I will also propose a comparison."
He is a senior federal official, and his fingerprints and DNA are preserved in the system data.
Of course.
The DNA comparison submitted by Delia has no legal effect because it was not authorized by Lake. In court, the DNA comparison results will be rejected.
But Lake didn't care whether it was valid evidence.
He only cares about whether the DNA comparison is real.
Good job.
When did I have a daughter left among the people?
Fourteen years ago?
Hermione's?
Not really, it's a bit early. How old was Hermione fourteen years ago? Was she nine years old?
Lake looked at the confirmed DNA comparison results in his hand and looked up at Delia: "Are you sure there is no problem with this comparison sample?"
Delia pointed to the sofa across from her: "The hair and blood samples were collected right here."
Lake looked confused. "I'm sorry, I really can't think of anything. If I had a daughter, I'm sure I would never give up on her and not take any responsibility."
Delia smiled and reiterated, "Lake, your reputation is why I choose to trust you."
Follow the normal process.
If a family court suddenly revealed that a high-ranking federal official had an illegitimate daughter and filed a lawsuit, I guess all the newspapers in New York would have reported it long ago.
fortunately.
Delia is a friend of Lake's friend, and New York is Lake's base, so Lake has always maintained a good reputation.
No matter whether it is the police system, the court system or the prison system, as long as they are Lake's friends and need Lake's help, Lake will choose to help.
Lake shook his head: "Can I see her?"
Delia said, "Of course," then looked at the time on her watch and said curiously, "Wait a moment."
Get up.
Delia opened the door and spoke to the assistant outside. Then, she turned and went into the house and said, "That's strange. The appointment was at half past nine, and she hasn't come yet."
Lake frowned: "Are you late?"
Delia nodded and said, "Wait a minute. The traffic in the morning is terrible."
Lake nodded and then said, "Delia, if it's convenient, could you tell me her name?"
"Hebe!"
"Hebe?"
"right."
Lake frowned and asked, "What's your last name?"
Delia looked at Lake thoughtfully.
"Her identification," Lake said.
Delia said, "She's not from the Federation, she's from Sokovia. According to the immigration department, she entered New York last month..."
Lake raised an eyebrow: "Sokovia?"
Delia looked at Lake: "Why, have you thought of anything?"
Lake knew what Delia was thinking and shook his head. "I've thought about going there, but I can guarantee that I've never been to Sokovia in my life."
What is Sokovia famous for?
Maybe.
But in Lake's memory, the most famous person in Sokovia is undoubtedly the Scarlet Witch.
You can't say that this Hebe is the Scarlet Witch and his child.
Damn it.
Can it be achieved through spiritual communication?
The most important point.
In his version, there is no Wanda in Sokovia.
In the blink of an eye.
It's already ten o'clock in the morning.
The assistant pushed the door open and said to Delia, "Sir, the ten o'clock guest has arrived."
Delia nodded and looked at Lake: "It seems that she gave up?"
Lake stood up and said, "Please believe me, Delia, if it really is mine, I will not ignore it. If there is any news, please be sure to inform me as soon as possible."
Went out the door.
Get in the car.
"Red Queen!"
Lake called out, and after Red Queen appeared on the car's screen, he said, "Help me investigate, Heber, the fourteen-year-old Sokovian immigrant who just arrived in New York last month. Where is her registered address with the Immigration Bureau?"
Said.
Lake drove the car directly. Ten seconds later, Red Queen sent the address to the car navigation. Lake glanced at it and turned around on the spot.
"Hi..."
"Wow wow wow!"
Several people were so angry about Lake's violation of traffic rules that they rolled down their windows and cursed him, but soon, Lake took out a police light and installed it on the roof of the car, and all the cursing stopped.
Speed 80 miles per hour!
Lake simply ignored the traffic lights along the way and managed to reach the address registered in the Immigration Bureau system in half an hour, a journey that should have taken an hour.
and...
It's also an upscale community.
The kind with a single door and a single house.
Lake slowed down the car and after a while, he found what he was looking for.
A white three-story building with a well-maintained lawn at the entrance. You can tell at a glance that it has been carefully cared for.
get off.
Lake adjusted his cuffs, ready to find out what was going on.
"Hi."
"…"
Lake stopped and walked towards a woman in the next courtyard, then said, "Hello, Lake Edwin!"
The woman put down the things she was using to build the garden. "Agnes."
Lake showed his ID: "Ma'am, Heber, do you live here?"
Seeing that it was from the Department of Homeland Security, Agnes nodded and said, "Yes, it's Hebe who's in trouble. That's impossible. Hebe is only fourteen years old. She's a very cute and loving girl."
Lake said: "Ms. Agnes, Heber's mother..."
Agnes said directly, "Did you say Lady Edwin?"
Lake's eyebrows twitched.
Good job.
She put on such a show that she even called herself Mrs. Edwin?
MMP.
When did I get a wife? How come I didn't know? Besides, Emilia said Mrs. Edwin, Rachel said Mrs. Edwin, and Severus said Mrs. Edwin, and there was no problem. Even when Hermione said Mrs. Edwin, Lake said he could accept it.
But this now?
Did it come out of the stone?
After Agnes finished speaking, she seemed to have thought of something. She pointed at Lake and said, "So you are Heber's father. Mr. Edwin, are you back from your business trip?"
Lake: "…"