The principal was holding a tablet in her hands. "Mr. Webb, I want you to see this."She turned the tablet toward him. Security footage played in black and white. Derek Campbell stood at the front desk, his expensive suit sharp against the modest school lobby.His voice was muted but his body language screamed aggression. Pointing fingers, leaning over the counter. The secretary shrank back, her shoulders hunching defensively."Turn the sound up," Damien said quietly.The principal adjusted the volume. Derek's voice filled the small office, polished and cold. "I'm her uncle. There's a family emergency so you need to bring Emma Webb to me immediately."The secretary's nervous voice responded. "Sir, I need to see identification and verify you're on the approved pickup list."Derek's expression turned venomous. "Do you know who I am? I'm a partner at Morrison and Barrett. I golf with Judge Harrison twice a month. You're risking your job over paperwork?"The secretary held firm. "School p

Richard worked through the night preparing for the emergency hearing. His argument was straightforward: Lisa was exploiting a crisis Derek had manufactured to steal custody. But proving Derek's direct involvement remained frustratingly difficult without concrete evidence.The courtroom felt smaller this time, more suffocating. Damien sat beside Richard, watching Lisa dab at her eyes with a tissue. Patricia Valdez stood with the polished confidence of someone who had already won."Your Honor, we're not here to assign blame," Patricia began smoothly. "We're here to protect a child. Emma Webb is currently living in an environment surrounded by chaos. Her father is unemployed, under investigation for fraud, and receiving credible death threats."Judge Morrison looked tired. "Mr. Webb, what do you have to say?"Richard rose slowly. "The unemployment is temporary and the investigation found nothing because there was nothing to find. As for the threats, they originate from Derek Campbell, a

Damien hung up with Lisa and immediately called Detective Chen. It was past midnight, but Chen answered on the second ring like she had been waiting."Derek threatened Emma, Lisa just called me. He told her if he can't have Emma, neither of us will."Chen was silent for three seconds. "I'll increase patrol near your building and Emma's school immediately. Can Lisa testify to what he said?""She's terrified of him, I don't know if she'll go on record.""Without her testimony, it's hearsay. His attorney will argue the statement was taken out of context." Chen's frustration bled through the phone. "But I'll document everything."Damien pressed his palm against his forehead. "So we just wait for him to do something?""I'm doing everything I can within the law, Mr. Webb. I'll have units drive past your building every hour. Plain clothes officers will monitor Emma's school."It wasn't enough. Damien knew it wasn't enough, but what choice did he have?Richard filed for an expedited hearing o

Richard was furious when Damien explained about the USB drive. He wasn't his calm self anymore as he paced his office like a caged animal."You should not have opened it without consulting me first. Now they can claim you hacked Lisa's accounts or hired someone to steal her data."Damien sat in the leather chair, exhausted. "I needed to know what was on it.""And now we're walking into court with poisoned evidence." Richard stopped pacing and looked at him. "Patricia Valdez is going to tear you apart with this."The hearing on Monday morning was a disaster from the start. Damien could feel it the moment he walked into the courtroom and saw Patricia's satisfied smile.She stood as soon as Judge Morrison took the bench. "Your Honor, we have serious concerns about Mr. Webb's recent behavior. He has become obsessed with destroying my client's reputation through illegal means."Richard objected immediately. "Your Honor, that's a baseless accusation.""Is it?" Patricia opened her briefcase

Damien did not want to believe it but he needed to know. The email's words burned in his mind all through the night and into the next day.Lisa's journal. The truth she had hidden for eight years.The next supervised visitation exchange happened at Lisa's apartment. She was arguing with the supervisor about extended time."I'm her mother. Thirty minutes extra shouldn't be a problem."The supervisor, a tired woman named Mrs. Billie, shook her head firmly. "The court order specifies exact times, Ms. Harrison. I can't deviate from that."While they argued near the front door, Damien cleared his throat. "Can I use your bathroom?"Lisa barely glanced at him, too focused on her battle with Mrs. Billie. "Down the hall."Damien walked quickly, his heart pounding. This was wrong. He knew it was wrong but he had to know the truth.He closed the bathroom door loudly, then moved silently to Lisa's bedroom. The space still smelled like her perfume, that expensive scent he used to love.Now it made