Chapter 5: The Day Victor Seemed to Win
Victor was waiting outside the courtroom with his attorney.
He rose when Lily and I approached, but Lily moved behind me.
“Don’t hide from family,” he said.
“She isn’t hiding from family,” I answered.
“She’s hiding from you.”
His attorney lifted a hand.
“Mrs.
Reed, we can settle this privately.”
“Then withdraw the petition.”
“Give Victor the key and everything from Daniel’s box.
In return, he won’t seek permanent custody.”
Victor adjusted his cuff.
“You keep the house too.
I’m being generous.”
“You threatened Daniel, and now you’re threatening me.”
“I offered you a deal.”
“You offered to leave a child alone if I surrendered evidence.”
His attorney leaned close to him.
“Victor, stop talking.”
The courtroom door opened.
Natalie met us inside, and the judge asked Lily to wait with an attendant.
Victor’s witness was a former hospital administrator named Harold Dunn.
“Daniel told me the marriage had been a mistake,” Harold said.
“He wanted it dissolved.”
My attorney, Rachel Cole, placed Daniel’s medical chart on the table.
“What time did that conversation occur?”
“Around nine in the evening.”
“Daniel was unconscious from six that evening until he passed the next morning.”
Harold’s face reddened.
“I may have confused the date.”
Victor’s attorney stood.
“The exact date does not change Daniel’s concern.”
“It changes whether the conversation happened,” Rachel said.
The judge raised her hand.
“Continue.”
Victor produced the older guardianship paper naming him as Lily’s caretaker.
It carried Daniel’s signature and had been witnessed by Harold.
“That document predates the marriage,” Rachel said.
“The later guardianship replaces it.”
“Only if Daniel understood what he signed,” Victor’s attorney replied.
“We have concerns about undue influence.”
Victor turned toward me.
“You found a lonely man with a house and attached yourself to him.”
“You didn’t visit that lonely man once.”
“I respected his wish for privacy.”
“He was afraid of you.”
“According to a woman who benefited from his passing.”
I stood before Rachel could stop me.
“I cleaned his room.
I fed his child.
I held his hand when he couldn’t lift it.
Where were you?”
Victor’s mouth hardened.
“Building the company Daniel nearly destroyed.”
The judge struck her desk.
“Both of you, enough.”
She ordered an examination of Daniel’s final documents and froze access to his estate.
Then she looked directly at me.
“Until the court verifies the guardianship, Lily will spend seventy-two hours with her biological uncle.”
“No,” Lily cried from the doorway.
She had heard everything.
I dropped to my knees and held out my arms.
“It’s only three nights.”
“You said you wouldn’t let him take me.”
“I’m going to bring you home.”
Victor came forward.
“Lily, get your coat.”
She clung to my neck.
“Dad chose wrong, didn’t he?”
The words emptied the strength from my arms.
Rachel caught my shoulder before I fell.
“No,” I whispered.
“Your dad chose me, and I choose you.”
Victor pulled Lily away and guided her toward the corridor.
“Say goodbye.”
“This isn’t goodbye,” I told her.
“Listen to me.
This is not goodbye.”
Lily looked back until the elevator doors closed between us.
Natalie approached while Victor’s attorney packed his files.
“She slipped this into my hand.”
A folded drawing showed our house beneath a yellow sun.
On the back, Lily had written seven words in purple crayon.
Uncle Victor wants the key.
Aunt Claire knows why.
“Who is Claire?” Rachel asked.
May you like
Victor’s attorney stopped at the courtroom door.
His face answered before anyone else could.
