124 With Arms Wide Open

A/N: For those of you who haven’t given up on me and are still reading thank you so much. Consider this chapter the calm before the storm… 😉

Sometimes I think destiny is overrated,
placebo meant
a meant to soothe us
when things aren’t going our way.
That we’re in charge of our own future,
that we hold the key to our own fate
and our decisions are what define us.
But days like this make me
want to believe in destiny.
On days like this, I hope that
there’s some greater power at play.
Something, anything to make sense of all
that’s wrong with my life.

~Phoenix Mode~

Phoenix Wright and Trucy Wright
Wright Talent Agency
April 20, 2026, 8:15 AM

“Baby girl, I beg you…” Phoenix’s loving voice was calm but slightly weary. “Please, try to calm down…”

“I can’t lose you too, Daddy!” Trucy wailed for the hundredth time that morning, her small hands clutching at his sweatshirt as though he were a life raft in a raging storm, gripping the material so tightly against her clenched fists that the hobo felt the circulation in his arms becoming somewhat constricted. “I – I just can’t!”

He closed his eyes against the stinging sensation building behind them and tried to soothe the hysterical teenager for the umpteenth time, as he had countlessly been doing since the night before, but to no avail. Trucy still refused to be consoled and had been glued to his side ever since he had been driven home by Meekins, miraculously unscathed, from the police station the night before. The magician had been like a clinging vine the entire night and had even insisted on sleeping with him, something she hadn’t done since she was a little girl. But although her father hadn’t slept a wink, even in her restless slumber, his daughter had been whimpering in her troubled sleep, alternating between snuggling against his shoulder and tightly gripping his pajama top the entire time, as though subconsciously terrified that if she were to let go, he would disappear.

It was no surprise whatsoever that she hadn’t taken the news of his murder charge very well. Phoenix had anticipated his daughter to be as nervous and panicked and scared as he inwardly was – but was trying his best not to convey to her. He had, perhaps somewhat naïvely, expected her anxiety to have somewhat quelled overnight and had harbored somewhat vain hopes that his comforting efforts had been partially effective.

Evidently, they hadn’t.

Conversely, the teen was somehow even more hysterical now, on the morning of his trial, than she had been the night before. Try as he might, there was absolutely nothing Phoenix could say or do that could placate her!

Never before had he felt as hapless as he did then, as he held the sobbing teen in his arms and stroked her hair, his calming words falling on deaf ears as he unsuccessfully tried to quiet her.

“Y – You’re all I’ve got left!” She wept, as her unending torrent of tears drenched his shoulder. “I love you so much, Daddy! What am I going to do without you?”

“Hey now,” Phoenix said softly, lifting her chin and gazing at her tear-stained face with gentle eyes. “Don’t talk about your old man as though he’s got one foot in the grave, Truce! Like I’ve told you before, nothing’s going to happen to me! And don’t say that you haven’t got anybody else. You know that Aunt Maggey and Uncle Gumshoe love you as much as they do their sons, and will always be there for you…”

Her efforts were futile; her mind had ceased functioning. She felt clammy, drenched in cold sweat, and her eyes widened as if anticipating a fatal blow. Yet, what unfolded before her eyes remained invisible to others. Ensnared in her own fixation, she lived a nightmare, meticulously crafted by her mind to exploit her deepest fears. For a harrowing moment, he pondered if she had genuinely succumbed to the overwhelming turmoil. Thankfully, she eventually found her voice.

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you truly believed there wasn’t risk about you being wrong that nothing was going to happen!” Trucy finally cried, her entire body shaking with the force of her sobs. “When are you going to stop bluffing to me, Daddy? We both know that there is a very good chance that if you’re found guilty of this murder, you’re looking at facing death row, if not going to prison for life, and the latter is only if you’re lucky!”

The ugly truth of her words hung suspended over father and daughter like a guillotine blade. There was absolutely nothing Phoenix could say to refute them.

“Daddy, I’m not a little girl anymore, and you’ve got to stop trying to hide things from me!” Trucy’s teary blue eyes suddenly turned accusing and defiant. “I know who Shadi Smith was! I know that you’re going to be on trial today because the police think you murdered my biological father!”

The unexpected allegation floored him, causing him to reel back, and fall heavily against the kitchen counter, which the pianist had been leaning back on as he held the distraught teen. His eyes were round as he stared at his daughter in shocked dismay at being confronted with the ugly truth, something which he wholly acknowledged she had every right to be aware of, but which he’d had zero intention of letting her know until a more appropriate time had come. And the night before, never mind an hour before his court trial most definitely hadn’t qualified!

Trucy – she knew?! Somehow, despite his efforts to conceal the matter regarding Shadi Smith’s true identity, she still knew that it had been her father, Zak Gramarye, who had been the murder victim. How was that even possible?! Phoenix had known for quite a while now his daughter possessed some sort of mysterious, otherworldly, innate skill she’d inherited, which gave her the uncanny gift of perception, but since when had that morphed into full-blown clairvoyance?!

This makes me wonder what other so–called secrets I’ve been fruitlessly trying to keep from her, which she nonetheless knows all about?!

“You – you know?” He echoed dazedly, completely dumbfounded. “H – How?”

It was a beyond ridiculous question. Considering the fact Trucy was entirely aware of this even more devastating news, on top of facing the fear of losing him as well, Phoenix knew that rather than questioning her, he should have been consoling her, now for entirely different reasons!

Regardless, they’d still been the first words to escape his gobsmacked lips.

Trucy shook her head and stared at him despairingly, despite the tears continuing to fall from her agonized blue orbs.

“I recognized that customized locket you’re wearing, Daddy,” she whispered brokenly. “I remembered that my other father used to wear it all the time. He had it especially handcrafted by some Italian jeweler friend of his right after I was born, and it’s the only one in the world. I’d know it anywhere, just as I know there’s only one way you could’ve ever gotten your hands on it.”

Phoenix gulped, his fingers instinctively flying to the gold ornament around his neck, which he hadn’t realized was presently visible, and had thought he’d managed to have kept hidden underneath his bulky sweatshirt.

“Tell me I’m wrong, Daddy.” She met his gaze steadily. “Tell me right now that if you opened up that locket, there’s not going to be a picture of me inside of it.”

“I can’t lie to you about something like that, Truce.” Phoenix shook his head, then reached out and pulled her back into his arms. “I’m so sorry you had to find out like this. But you do know I’d never have done anything to hurt your Daddy, don’t you?”

“I’m as sure as the day is long that my Daddy would never hurt a fly.” Her voice was muffled against his chest. “I’m as certain of that as I am that you had your own very good reasons for taking that trademark piece of jewelry off of him.”

She peered up into his somber face with a morose expression.

“I’ll shed my tears for my other father later. Right now, nothing matters to me more than you, Daddy. Because you’re more important to me than anything in the whole world, and I love you more than I ever loved Shadi Enigmar.”

Phoenix was rocked to his core.  He felt his eyes welling up at this unexpected proclamation. While the words were music to his ears, and a joy to behold for his battered heart and mind, he still hadn’t been prepared for them and found himself rendered speechless.

He had never known what selfless, parental love was until that fateful day in May when he had summoned Trucy Enigmar into his office seven years ago. He had known kindness but the negative influences in his life had outweighed the good until then. The happiest day of his life was when the adoption papers had been finalized and declared Phoenix was Trucy Wright’s father, making it official that his daughter was really and truly his, as close as law and love could make them. It had been the most perfect feeling he had ever known.

It swept through him once again, full force, as he wrapped her in his protective embrace, as though he’d never let her go.

Undaunted by his silence, Trucy earnestly continued.

“Daddy, you’ve been my steadfast guide for as long as my birth father was present. Your compassion and love were my lifeline when he abruptly left. Growing up with a performer parent led to an unstable life, constantly on the move as a traveling magician. I never had a stable home until you embraced me with open arms. You became not just my father and guardian but also a confidante and friend. In your big, kind heart, I found stability, a place to call my own. You’ve been the sole rock in my life—an anchor, always keeping me grounded, safe, and where I truly belong.”.”

A fresh wave of tears flooded her eyes.

“Which is why I can’t bear the thought of losing you! We need to find a way to get you out of this mess! You must think like a magician at times like this, Daddy! Don’t you have some sort of plan?
B trick up your sleeve?”

“Trick?” The pianist eyed her warily. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, baby girl but I’m telling you, right now, that I’m not about to stoop to any sort of illegalities to get my name cleared!”

“But Daddy, surely you have to have some sort of evidence to prove your innocence!” She insisted. “Something that takes the finger of suspicion away from being directed at you and towards the real killer!”

The poker champ refrained from letting his daughter know that he had secretly recorded his phone call to Kristoph, thinking there was no point in further upsetting her or getting her hopes up in case his plan failed.

“Trucy, the bad man I suspect is the true culprit behind your father’s murder was foolish enough to make a slip of the tongue once already. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to trip him up into confessing once more.” He attempted to smile reassuringly. “I know I’ve been out of the courts for some time but there’s still the heart of a lawyer lurking beneath this tracksuit of mine. Have faith in your old man.”

“I can’t just leave this to faith, Daddy!” Suddenly, Trucy’s eyes lit up and Phoenix spotted a calculating expression in them that he wasn’t sure he was entirely comfortable or familiar with. “If there was no actual evidence available to prove that you’re not the culprit here, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little bit of insurance, just to be safe, would it?”

“Trucy …” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the gleam in the suddenly determined blue gaze. “Whatever it is you’re even thinking about planning, I want you to remove that thought from your mind immediately! You already saw what happened to me because of being framed over forged evidence, and you should know better than anybody how just as I am incapable of committing murder, I’m equally as incapable of resorting to such a treacherous act, the very one which got me disbarred in the first place!”

“But Daddy – ” She protested weakly, just as Phoenix’s phone began to ring. Raising a hand to silence her momentarily, he quickly answered it.

“You’re out front now? Okay Chief, I’ll be out in a minute.” Snapping the phone closed, the DILF tucked it into his pocket and affixed his daughter with his most stern expression.  “Uncle Gumshoe is here to take me to the courthouse. I want you to go to school like my good little girl and promise me you’ll annihilate any crazy schemes you may be harboring Trucy Wright, and that’s an order! Do I make myself clear?”

Trucy’s eyes welled up with tears again, this time of defeat, and her shoulders slumped, but she managed to nod, even though her gaze remained on the ground.

“Yes, Daddy,” she mumbled, swallowing back the fresh set of histrionics threatening to erupt from her. “I promise.”

“That’s my girl.” He flashed her a tender smile, then leaned down and pressed a kiss on top of her head. “Now, you better get ready for school, otherwise you’re going to miss your bus! Just think happy positive thoughts for me, and try not to worry too much, OK baby girl?”

Trucy nodded miserably, eyes still downcast.

“Don’t look so sad.” Phoenix forced himself to sound cheerful and optimistic as he lifted her chin with his finger. “Just wish me good luck, and let Daddy see that beautiful smile of yours before he leaves.”

Her lower lip began to quiver in response.

“Please, Truce.” The card shark kept his plastered grin intact, even though he felt his heart was being torn to shreds little by little, realizing this could very well be the last time he’d be able to see his beautiful daughter without a thick, bulletproof glass separating them. “Can’t you smile for Daddy?”

“I love you, Daddy.” Trucy swallowed back the lump in her throat and treated him to a watery smile. “G – Good luck in court.”

“I love you too, Truce. Thanks for the good luck wishes!” He gave her one last kiss on the forehead before grabbing his keys and heading downstairs. “Take care, baby girl.”

The minute Trucy heard the office door downstairs slam shut behind him, she anxiously began pacing the kitchen back and forth like a caged panther, while she wrestled with her conscience. She had never before defied her father in the nearly 8 years she had known him, and yet that was exactly what she was sorely tempted to do, despite her hasty promise to the contrary.

Go to school?! She let out a humorless laugh. What a joke that was! As if she could just keep calm and carry on, and somehow concentrate on inane things such as Shakespeare and algebra when her father’s life was on the line! She was almost insulted that he’d seriously expected her to do such a thing in the first place, as though she were the same happy-go-lucky child he’d adopted, who hadn’t had a care in the world!

I’m not a little girl anymore. I grew up many years ago. Life was never easy with my other father after my mother was gone, and as much as I enjoyed the performing life, at times, worrying about the safety of Daddy, fretting about whether or not he would suddenly vanish, due to an unfortunate accident, just like Mommy did, was utter hell.

She angrily scrubbed away at her fresh tears with her magician’s cape.

Constantly moving like wandering vagabonds left me frequently feeling adrift and isolated. The transient nature of my existence prevented the formation and preservation of friendships. I empathized with cut flowers, understanding the absence of roots—no connection to ground, yet expected to bestow beauty, thrive, and uplift others’ spirits. My vulnerability remains unseen, the absence of roots unnoticed. Still, I embellish the world with the vibrancy of my laughter and the enchantment of my magic.

Trucy had never felt more conflicted in her entire life. She needed a sign of some sort if she was going to make up her mind and she needed it now.

“Pearly!” She gasped out loud as her levelheaded best friend suddenly sprang to her mind. She raced to the wall phone and frantically began dialing the spirit medium number listening impatiently as it rang and rang. “If I can let her know what’s going on and get her opinion, and she manages to talk me out of it, then I’ll be a good little girl and obey my Daddy like I said I would.”

The phone rang half a dozen times before it went to voicemail. Unfazed, Trucy hung up the phone. Hey, she’d tried! But this was most definitely a sign if she’d ever heard of one! The answer was crystal clear to her now.

“Forgive me, Daddy,” she whispered out loud, clenching her gloved hands into little fists as a steely glint of resolution came to her eye. “I know what I have to do.”

Moving in with my new Daddy significantly improved my life in various ways. Despite not having much money, he’s a remarkable man who genuinely cares, ensuring I have enough food and clothes. Being Phoenix Wright’s daughter instilled in me a sense of anticipation for the future, motivating me to excel in all my endeavors. Unlike my other Daddy, who left me like an unwanted burden on a stranger’s doorstep, my new Daddy promised never to abandon me, and I believed him. It’s challenging to mourn someone who simply walked away, leaving me like an unwanted puppy. My new Daddy has been the opposite, pledging to provide everything my other Daddy didn’t – security and unconditional love. I pray for the strength to channel the love he’s given me into my future children. Right now, I need the courage from above to navigate through this and ensure my new Daddy can uphold his promise to never, ever leave me.

Creed – With Arms Wide Open