For illustrative purposes only
The night before court, rain hammered against the windows.
I sat on Howard’s bed while he pretended to sleep.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
“You’re crying again.”
I smiled weakly. “I’m trying not to.”
He sat up quietly.
“Are you scared Dad’s gonna take me away?”
The honesty of the question nearly destroyed me.
I pulled him into my arms.
“I would never stop fighting for you.”
He hugged me tighter.
Then he whispered something strange.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I pulled back slightly. “What do you mean?”
But Howard just shook his head.
“You’ll see tomorrow.”
The courtroom felt freezing cold the next morning.
Aidan sat confidently beside his lawyer in a perfectly tailored navy suit. His mistress sat behind him wearing sunglasses and pretending not to stare at me.
Howard squeezed my hand tightly.
When the hearing began, Richard Holloway wasted no time tearing me apart.
“Mrs. Whitmore,” he said smoothly, “is it true you liquidated nearly all your assets within the last year?”
“Yes, to—”
“Please answer yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“And would you describe that as financially responsible behavior?”
My attorney objected, but the damage was already happening.
Holloway continued for nearly an hour.
By the time he finished, I sounded reckless, unstable, and incapable.
Then came the final blow.
“We believe the child would benefit from a more stable environment with his father.”
I stopped breathing.
Howard’s fingers tightened around mine.
The judge adjusted her glasses thoughtfully.
Then suddenly—
