He threw the pages onto the dresser.
“You think because you used to be some lawyer you can destroy me?”
The word destroy hung in the nursery.
I looked at the empty crib.
“I was trying to keep Noah alive.”
That finally silenced him.
Only for a moment.
Then the front door opened downstairs.
Daniel spun around.
Footsteps came up the stairs.
Vivian appeared in the hallway.
She took in the scene: Celeste near the staircase, Daniel furious, me holding the folder.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What have you done?” she asked me.
Daniel pointed toward the papers.
“She went to court.”
Vivian stared at me as though I had committed a social offense worse than infidelity.
Then she gave a thin smile.
“With what money?”
I almost admired her consistency.
Even now, she believed money was the only form of power worth recognizing.
“My former firm is representing me.”
Her smile weakened.
“Daniel has excellent attorneys.”
“I know some of them.”
“You have nothing.”
I looked at her.
“You said that at the hospital too.”
She stepped closer.
“Daniel owns this house.
He controls the business.
The accounts are managed through him.
Do you really want to find out how difficult your life can become?”
Daniel said, “Mom.”
But she continued.
“You have a newborn.
You’re exhausted.
Think carefully before you turn one mistake into a war.”
I heard my former partner’s voice in my head again.
Do not argue with threats.
Document them.
So I took my phone from my pocket and placed it face down on the dresser.
Not recording.
Just visible.
Vivian immediately stopped speaking.
That told me enough.
“Is that supposed to scare me?” she asked.
“No.”
I picked up the folder.
“The hearing is Thursday.”
Daniel stared at me.
“You’re actually going through with this?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
It was the first useful question he had asked.
“I want Noah protected.
