Damien couldn't sleep that night. He sat on the couch until dawn, staring at nothing. At six, Emma's alarm chimed. Damien forced himself up and started making breakfast. He made Emma's favorite, pancakes. Emma appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. "Is Mommy home yet?""Not yet, princess. She'll be at the hospital a bit longer." Damien flipped a pancake. "But I'm here."They ate together, Emma chattering about an upcoming field trip while Damien nodded at the appropriate moments. His phone kept buzzing with messages from Lisa. He ignored every one.After dropping Emma at school, Damien sat in his car outside the building. He should deal with this like an adult. So he drove back to the hospital.Lisa was sitting up in bed, scrolling through her phone when he entered. She looked up, her expression turning to relief."Finally. I've been trying to reach you all night.""I was with Emma." Damien remained by the door. "She told me about Derek."Lisa's face paled. "Damien, please. Let

Judge Morrison's courtroom felt smaller than Damien expected. Every sound echoed, his breathing, the shuffle of papers, Lisa's quiet sob that he knew was performative.Lisa's attorney spoke first, a sharp-featured woman named Patricia Valdez who worked for one of the city's most prestigious firms. Damien recognized the power play immediately. This wasn't just about custody. This was about demonstrating Lisa's superior resources."Your Honor, my client fears for her daughter's safety," Patricia began, her voice measured and sympathetic. "Yesterday, Mr. Webb violently assaulted her partner, Mr. Derek Campbell, breaking his nose in an unprovoked attack."Catherine stood. "Objection. Mr. Campbell is not a party to this marriage and his relationship with Mrs. Webb is the reason for the divorce proceedings.""Sustained. Keep to relevant facts, Ms. Valdez."Patricia didn't miss a beat. "The relevant fact is that Mr. Webb has demonstrated violent tendencies. He works excessive hours, leaving

The police officer taking Damien's statement looked skeptical. "So you think your estranged wife tried to break into your daughter's school to access files?""I don't know who did it. I'm just saying the timing is suspicious. We have a custody hearing in four days.""Schools have hundreds of students, Mr. Webb. This could be completely unrelated."Damien knew how it sounded. Paranoid and desperate. But Catherine had warned him that Lisa was getting unpredictable.The officer closed his notebook. "We'll investigate, but without evidence connecting this to your situation, there's not much we can do. The school's security system scared off whoever it was before they got inside."After the officer left, Damien sat in the dark living room, listening to Emma's soft breathing from her bedroom. He checked every window lock twice, tested the door chain three times. Sleep was impossible.At six AM, Catherine called. "Did you hear about the school?""I was there when it happened.""Jennifer Reev

Judge Morrison's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Primary physical custody to Mr. Damien Webb."The courtroom exploded. Lisa's scream tore through the air. She collapsed against Patricia's shoulder, her body shaking with sobs that seemed to come from somewhere deep and broken. Derek shot to his feet, his chair scraping violently against the floor. His face flushed crimson, veins bulging at his temples. Judge Harrison's jaw clenched so tight that Damien could see the muscle twitching. His eyes promised vengeance. Richard Chen remained seated, perfectly still, but Damien caught the ghost of satisfaction flickering across his features. Victory felt surreal, like watching someone else's life unfold on a screen. Damien's hands trembled in his lap, and he pressed them together to stop the shaking.Judge Morrison continued speaking, her voice steady and authoritative. “The evidence clearly shows that Damien had been Emma's primary emotional caregiver despite his work schedule.

The rain hammered against Damien's windshield as he sat frozen in his car, the threat still ringing in his ears. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.Tell Rachel Santos to keep her mouth shut, or her sister pays the price. The black sedan had disappeared into traffic, swallowed by rain and taillights. This wasn't just legal warfare anymore. Derek had crossed into something darker, something dangerous. Damien fumbled for his phone with shaking hands and dialed Richard Chen. The lawyer answered on the second ring, voice alert despite the late hour. "What's wrong?""Someone just threatened Rachel Santos. A man in a black sedan followed me from the coffee shop. He told me to warn Rachel to stay quiet or her sister would pay." The words tumbled out fast and jagged.Richard swore softly on the other end. "Where are you now? Are you safe?" Damien looked around the empty street, rain blurring everything into shadows. "I think so. He drove off. But Richard, they know we met. They