His Ex-wife Betrayal

CHAPTER 6

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 Reeves called me last night. Someone contacted her claiming to have information about your fitness as a parent. Anonymous tip line."

Damien's exhaustion transformed into anger. "Let me guess. They said I was unstable? Violent?"

"They said you have a gambling problem and owe money to dangerous people. Complete fabrication, but Jennifer has to investigate every claim."

"This is ridiculous. I've never gambled in my life."

"I know. And Jennifer will figure that out quickly. But it's going to delay her report, which might push back the final hearing." Catherine's voice hardened. "Lisa's trying to run out the clock. If she can extend this process long enough, she thinks you'll run out of money for legal fees."

"Will I?"

Silence on the other end. Then, "Probably. Pro bono only covers so much. If this goes beyond the initial custody determination, costs will escalate."

Damien closed his eyes. Of course. Even when he was in the right, money found a way to tip the scales.

"How long do I have?"

"Realistically? If this extends past next month, you'll need to find additional funding or a payment plan. My firm can't carry the full cost indefinitely."

After hanging up, Damien looked at his bank balance. Three thousand dollars. That might cover another month of childcare and basic expenses. Definitely not enough for a prolonged legal battle.

He needed help. But who could he ask? His parents were deceased. His brother lived overseas working for an oil company. Friends had drifted away during his marriage, as Lisa had systematically discouraged those relationships.

Damien spent the morning calling the few contacts he had left. His college roommate Mike offered five hundred dollars. His former mentor from work promised a loan of two thousand if needed. Generous, but nowhere near enough.

At lunch, he picked up Emma from school early, claiming a dentist appointment. Really, he just needed to see her, to remember why he was fighting.

They went to Emma's favorite diner, a retro place with red vinyl booths and unlimited fries. Emma ordered a grilled cheese and chocolate milkshake, her comfort meal.

"Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Always, princess."

"If you and Mommy can't both take care of me, does that mean one of you doesn't love me anymore?"

Damien's heart broke. "No. No, Emma, that's not it at all. Both Mommy and I love you exactly the same as always. We just can't live together anymore."

"But then why can't I live with both of you still? Like switch houses?"

"That's actually what we're hoping for. You'd spend time with Mommy and time with me. The grown-ups are just figuring out the details."

Emma pushed a fry through her ketchup, not eating it. "Madison said after her parents divorced, her daddy moved far away and she only sees him on holidays now."

"That won't happen with us. I promise."

"You can't promise that. Mommy said you make promises you can't keep."

Lisa was poisoning Emma against him, bit by bit.

"What else did Mommy say?"

Emma looked uncomfortable. "I don't want to tell. I don't want you to be sad."

"I won't be sad. I just want to know."

"She said you care more about being right than about me. That you're making everyone miserable because you're too stubborn to accept when you lose." Emma's eyes filled with tears. "Are you making everyone miserable, Daddy?"

Damien struggled to control his emotions. "Princess, look at me. Am I making you miserable right now? In this moment, are you unhappy?"

Emma looked around the diner, at her half-eaten grilled cheese, the jukebox playing oldies music, and her father's concerned face. "No."

"Then Mommy's wrong about that. I'm trying my hardest to make sure you have a good life. Sometimes that means making difficult choices, but it's never, ever because I care more about being right than about you."

They finished lunch in relative quiet. On the drive back to school, Emma said, "I believe you, Daddy. Even if Mommy says different things, I believe you."

It was a small victory, but Damien clung to it.

That evening, Catherine texted: "Emergency meeting tomorrow, 8 AM. Important development."

Damien spent the night imagining worst-case scenarios. Another delay? Evidence he couldn't refute? Is Derek deciding to press assault charges after all?

At 7:45 AM, Damien walked into Catherine's office. She wasn't alone. A man in an expensive suit sat in the corner, expensive watch glinting in the fluorescent light.

"Damien, this is Richard Jeff. He's a partner at Jeff & Associates, one of the top family law firms in the state."

Damien shook the man's hand, confused. "Nice to meet you, but I don't understand."

"Mr. Webb, your case has caught my attention. Catherine's firm brought it to us as a potential partnership opportunity." Richard's voice was smooth, confident. "We'd like to take over your representation."

"I can't afford you."

"You don't have to. We're prepared to represent you pro bono through the entire custody determination and subsequent appeals if necessary."

It sounded too good to be true. "Why would you do that?"

Richard smiled. "Derek Campbell is a managing partner at Morrison & Barrett. Three years ago, his firm tried to poach several of our senior attorneys using questionable tactics. We've been waiting for an opportunity to return the favor."

"This is about revenge?"

"This is about principle. Derek Campbell destroyed your marriage and is now trying to use his connections to steal your daughter. That's not justice. We intend to prevent it."

Catherine leaned forward. "Damien, this is the opportunity we need. Richard's firm has resources mine doesn't. They can fight this battle on equal footing with Lisa's legal team."

Damien looked between them. "And what do you get out of this if it's pro bono?"

"The satisfaction of winning," Richard said simply. "And establishing precedent. Too many fathers get steamrolled in custody battles because they lack resources. If we can win this case, it helps others down the line."

It still felt like there had to be a catch, but Damien was out of options. "Okay. What do I need to do?"

"Nothing different. Continue being the excellent father you've been. We'll handle the legal maneuvering." Richard pulled out a thick folder. "Now, let's discuss strategy."

The next two hours were a blur of legal terminology and planning. Richard's approach was aggressive, proactive. Where Catherine had been playing defense, Richard was ready to attack.

"Lisa's weak points are the affair, her inconsistent parenting history, and Derek's unreliability as support. We're going to hammer those home," Richard explained. "We're also filing a motion to depose Derek's wife. If she's willing to testify about his pattern of infidelity, it undermines Lisa's character judgment."

"Won't that just make Lisa look like a victim?"

"She is a victim of her own poor choices. The question for the court isn't whether Lisa made mistakes. It's whether those mistakes affect her ability to parent. We're going to argue they do."

That afternoon, Emma came home from school excited. "Daddy! Guess what? I got chosen to read my essay at the school assembly!"

Damien swept her into a hug. "That's amazing! Which essay?"

"The one about my hero. I wrote about you."

Damien's eyes stung with unexpected tears. "Can I read it?"

Emma ran to get her backpack and pulled out a crumpled paper covered in her careful handwriting.

"My Hero" by Emma Webb

My daddy is my hero because he works really hard and always makes time for me anyway. Even when he's tired, he helps with my homework. Even when he's worried, he still makes me laugh. My daddy says families are like puzzles. Sometimes pieces don't fit anymore, but that doesn't mean the puzzle is broken. You just make a new picture. I love my daddy because he's teaching me to be brave when things are scary. That's what heroes do.

Damien couldn't speak. He pulled Emma close and just held her.

"Do you like it?" Emma asked, her voice muffled against his shirt.

"It's perfect. You're perfect."

His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: "Cute essay. Shame she won't remember you like that after you lose custody."

Damien deleted it without showing Emma. Lisa could send all the threats she wanted. She couldn't take this moment away from him.

That night, after Emma fell asleep, Damien stood in her doorway watching her breathe. Tomorrow, the final custody hearing will be scheduled. Soon, a judge would decide their future based on arguments and evidence, and legal precedent.

But right now, in this moment, Emma was his daughter and he was her hero. Whatever happened next, no one could take that truth away.

His phone buzzed again. This time, Catherine.

"Hearing scheduled for Friday at nine AM. Final determination. This is it."

Three days. Seventy-two hours until everything changed.

Damien texted back: "We'll be ready."

Because what choice did he have? Emma needed him to be the hero she had written about.

He had spent his whole marriage being reasonable, accommodating, trying to keep the peace. Look where that had gotten him.

It was time to fight.