06/03/2025
Shadowed Justice
Story by Tate (27681634598)
Chapter 8: The Storm Begins
Tari barely made it through the next two days.
She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the storm to hit. And when it did, it hit harder than she ever imagined.
It started with an email.
A cold, impersonal message from a law firm.
Subject: Custody Inquiry ā Brian Chikafa vs. Tari Moyo
Her stomach twisted as she read the words.
"We are reaching out on behalf of our client, Mr. Brian Chikafa, regarding his legal rights to establish custody and visitation of his biological daughter, Claire Moyo."
Her breath caught.
She gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, her vision blurring.
This was real.
He was actually doing this.
"Mommy?"
She turned quickly, blinking away the panic as Claire walked into the kitchen.
Claire: (Frowning.) "Why are you sad?"
Tari forced a smile, crouching down and pulling her daughter into her arms.
Tari: (Softly.) "Iām not sad, baby. Iām just thinking."
Claire studied her carefully, as if she knew her mother was lying but didnāt have the words to call her out on it.
Tari kissed her forehead.
Tari: "Go watch cartoons, okay? Iāll make us breakfast soon."
Claire nodded, but she kept looking back as she walked away.
As soon as Tari heard the TV switch on, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Kudzi: (Immediately.) "Tari? Whatās wrong?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Tari: (Whispers.) "Brian is suing for custody."
Silence.
And thenā
Kudzi: (Deadly calm.) "Iām on my way."
--------
Thirty Minutes Later ā War Room
Kudzi paced back and forth in Tariās living room, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap.
Kudzi: (Muttering.) "Unbelievable. He leaves for five years and now he suddenly wants to play father?"
Tari sat on the couch, staring at the email.
Tari: (Quietly.) "What if he wins?"
Kudzi stopped pacing.
He turned to look at her, his expression fierce.
Kudzi: (Firmly.) "He wonāt."
She let out a bitter laugh.
Tari: "Kudzi, the law doesnāt care about whatās fair. It only cares about facts. And the fact is, Brian is Claireās biological father."
Kudziās hands balled into fists.
Kudzi: "And where was he when she was in the hospital? Where was he when you were working yourself to exhaustion just to take care of her?"
Tari closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her.
Tari: "I donāt know, Kudzi. But none of that changes the fact that heās coming for her now."
Kudzi took a deep breath, kneeling in front of her.
Kudzi: (Softly.) "Weāll fight, Tari. Youāre not alone in this."
She looked at him, her chest tightening.
For so long, she had carried this weight by herself.
And now, someone was willing to carry it with her.
But before she could respond, her phone rang again.
An unknown number.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She hesitated, then answered.
Tari: "Hello?"
A familiar voice came through the line, smooth, confident.
Brian: "I told you, Tari. This isnāt over."
She gripped the phone tighter.
Tari: (Coldly.) "What do you want?"
Brian: (Laughs softly.) "To give you a chance to do this the easy way. Let me see my daughter, and maybe we donāt have to drag this through court."
Her vision blurred with fury.
Tari: (Sharp.) "You donāt get to manipulate me."
Brian sighed dramatically.
Brian: "I was hoping youād be reasonable. But if you want a war, Tariā¦" (His voice darkens.) "Youāll get one."
The line went dead.
Tariās hand trembled as she lowered the phone.
Kudzi knelt beside her, his eyes burning with barely contained rage.
Kudzi: "That bastard just made the biggest mistake of his life."
Tari exhaled shakily.
Because she knew, deep downā
This was only the beginning.
-----------------------------------
Shadowed Justice
Story by Tate (27681634598)
Chapter 9: Breaking Points
Tari barely recognized her own life anymore.
Every day felt like another punch to the gut.
First, Brianās legal threats.
Then⦠the whispers started.
She noticed it first at Claire's school. The way a few of the other mothers glanced at her, their conversations cutting off when she walked by.
Then, at the grocery store, the cashier, who usually greeted her warmlyākept her tone neutral, her eyes wary.
It wasnāt until she opened Facebook that she realized why.
Someone had posted in the "Parenting in Harare" group.
"Imagine keeping a child from their real father just because of old grudges. A child deserves both parents. Some women are so selfish."
Tariās blood turned ice cold.
There were hundreds of comments.
Some supportive.
Most⦠not.
"Fathers have rights too."
"Just because he wasnāt ready then doesnāt mean he shouldnāt get a chance now."
"Typical bitter baby mama behavior."
Her hands shook as she scrolled, nausea rising in her throat.
There were no names.
But she knew exactly who was behind it.
Brian.
"Tari?"
She jumped, her phone nearly slipping from her grasp.
Kudzi stood in the doorway, his brows furrowed with concern.
She exhaled shakily, running a hand over her face.
Tari: (Barely above a whisper.) "Heās turning people against me."
Kudzi took the phone from her hand, scrolling through the comments.
His entire body went rigid.
Kudzi: (Low, dangerous.) "That son of aā"
He cut himself off, his grip on the phone so tight it looked like he might break it.
Kudzi: (Gritted teeth.) "Heās not just coming for you legally. Heās trying to destroy your reputation."
Tari let out a bitter laugh.
Tari: "And itās working."
She gestured toward the screen.
Tari: "People are already choosing sides. And Iām losing."
Kudzi knelt in front of her, gripping her hands.
Kudzi: (Firmly.) "You are not losing. Heās playing dirty because he knows he doesnāt stand a chance if this goes to court."
Tari shook her head, her voice breaking.
Tari: "Heās winning the court of public opinion. And if he can paint me as the villain before we even step inside a courtroom⦠he might actually win custody."
Silence stretched between them.
Thenā
Kudzi: (Softly.) "Let me fix this."
She looked at him, tears threatening to spill.
Tari: "How?"
His jaw tightened.
Kudzi: "Iāll handle Brian."
A shiver ran down her spine.
There was something in his voice. Something dark.
Tari: (Whispers.) "Kudzi⦠what are you planning?"
His gaze met hers.
Kudzi: (Quietly.) "Whatever it takes."
And for the first timeā¦
Tari wasnāt sure whether she should be relieved or afraid.
-----
Meanwhile ā Brianās Next Move
Brian leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face as he scrolled through the growing flood of online comments.
This was almost too easy.
People believed what they wanted to believe.
All it took was a few strategic posts, a little bit of well-placed outrage, and suddenly Tari was the villain of the story.
He picked up his phone and dialed.
A female voice answered.
Woman: "Hello?"
Brian smirked.
Brian: "Ready to play your part?"
The woman laughed softly.
Woman: "Oh, Iāve been waiting for this."
Brianās smirk widened.
Because soonā¦
Tari wouldnāt just be fighting him.
Sheād be fighting the mother of his other child.
-------------------------------------
Whatās Next?
Chapter 10: The Other Woman ā Tari is blindsided when another woman steps forward, claiming Brian has been an active father all along.
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