Chapter 2 - THE CUSTODY PAPERS
The older man approached me first.
“Emily Whitmore?”
I held Lily tighter.
“Yes.”
“My name is Thomas Keene.”
He handed me a thick packet.
“You’ve been served.”
James stepped between us.
“Served with what?”
Keene did not answer him.
He looked at me.
“Emergency petition for temporary guardianship of Lily Whitmore.”
The ballroom erupted into whispers.
I stared at the first page.
Margaret Whitmore was asking a judge to remove Lily from my custody.
She claimed I was emotionally unstable.
She claimed I had displayed violent behavior.
She claimed I had concealed questions about Lily’s parentage.
And at the bottom of the page was a sentence that made my stomach twist.
Petitioner possesses genetic evidence establishing a direct biological maternal relationship to the minor child.
James grabbed the packet.
“You filed this against my wife?”
Margaret remained perfectly still.
“She assaulted me in front of two hundred witnesses.”
“You filed it before she slapped you.”
That silenced her.
The filing date was yesterday.
The slap had happened tonight.
This had been planned.
Every detail.
The gala.
The DNA report in her purse.
The court papers arriving while hundreds of wealthy guests watched.
Margaret had expected some kind of confrontation.
Maybe she had even wanted one.
I suddenly remembered Lily sitting beside the dessert table.
Margaret watching her.
Margaret criticizing the way she ate.
Margaret grabbing her arm.
My chest tightened.
“You provoked me.”
Margaret smiled faintly.
“You struck an elderly woman.”
“You threw a child onto the floor.”
“Prove it.”
That was when Noah raised his hand.
“I can.”
Everyone looked at him.
Noah pointed toward the ceiling.
“There are cameras covering the ballroom.”
Margaret’s smile disappeared.
The hotel manager stepped forward.
“We have security cameras, yes.”
“Then pull the footage.”
Margaret’s attorney immediately interrupted.
“My client will not participate in this spectacle.”
James faced the manager.
“Get the video.”
The manager hesitated.
Margaret Whitmore had donated millions to charities represented in that ballroom.
James understood the hesitation.
He reached into his jacket.
Then stopped.
“No.”
His voice changed.
“I’m done asking people to choose between my mother’s money and the truth.”
He took out his phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
Margaret’s eyes flashed.
“You will do no such thing.”
James looked at her.
“You hurt Lily.”
“I disciplined her.”
“You shoved her.”
“She needed correction.”
Lily buried her face against me.
James heard her crying.
Something inside him finally broke.
“Get away from my family.”
Margaret stared at her son.
“Your family?”
“Yes.”
Her expression became almost pitying.
“You still don’t understand.”
She pointed at Lily.
“That child is not your daughter.”
James’s voice went dangerously quiet.
“The DNA report only mentions you.”
“Exactly.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“You should be asking yourself why there is no paternal match listed.”
James looked down at the test.
I watched the blood drain from his face.
Because she was right.
There was a maternity result.
There was no listed father.
James turned to me.
I knew what he was thinking.
I shook my head immediately.
“No.”
“Emily.”
“No.”
“I’m not accusing you.”
“I never cheated on you.”
“I know.”
But Margaret laughed softly.
“You both continue to assume this began six years ago.”
May you like
She looked directly at me.
“It began before Lily was ever inside your body.”
