Danielle’s POV
*****
“Alright!”
I took a long gulp from my glass right when Kimberly said that.
It burned so badly, but I ignored it, relishing the feeling that flooded me a few seconds later.
Or maybe I was imagining that.
“You’re going to talk with your lawyer,” Kimberly stood a few paces away from my office desk, gently swirling her glass like she had everything under control.
“Discuss this Simon crap. Then find out if there’s any easy way out… before finding out the best way to crush him if this turns out to be full-on war.”
I clinked my fingers rhythmically on the glass.
“Love the enthusiasm, babe.” Hopefully my tone didn’t come out flat.
“But I doubt this conversation is going to extend as long as you’re describing it.”
“Just call the woman, damnit.”
With a light breath, I picked up my phone, set my drink aside and clicked on Attorney Rain’s contact.
It rang a few times before she answered.
“Miss Holloway!” She chimed.
“Good day. Glad you took the initiative to call as soon as possible.”
I folded an arm in front of my chest.
“Of course,” Although she couldn’t see it, I arched a curious brow.
“Question before we begin our talk. What right exactly does Simon have to pluck my son out of school without my permission?”
Kimberley gave me a thumbs-up from the corner.
“Well,” Rain cleared her throat.
“If he didn’t violate the custody order or refuse to return Jeremy in the case of something unsafe happening to him—the police would usually treat a dispute like this as a civil matter. Not a criminal one.”
My fingers curled hard around my phone.
“The guy basically kidnapped him. And that doesn’t count as criminal?”
“He didn’t hide his location from you, did he?”
Silence.
Despite my lack of words, Rain put two and two together.
“I’m guessing he didn’t.” She paused for a beat.
“For now he only wishes to modify the current custody order.”
“And then what?” My irritation was reaching a peak.
“He’ll make me see my son only during holidays and birthdays?”
She didn’t say anything at first.
That made my heart constrict.
Fortunately, she didn’t leave me hanging long.
“Worst-case scenario?” She muttered.
“If Simon were awarded sole physical custody, Jeremy would primarily live with him. But Danielle… we’re nowhere near that. Do you hear me?”
I didn’t know when a relieved breath escaped me.
“I do.”
She went on to explain a few other things, like how the burden of proof still lies solely on Simon.
He had to bring out proof of sorts that changing the custody orders was in Jeremy’s best interests.
I felt heat running to the back of my ears.
Kim stifled a laugh.
But then looked away when I shot her a glare.
Rain chuckled freely instead.
“No. Not exactly.”
God, this was getting fucking exhausting already.
And we weren’t even anywhere near court yet.
“I’ll need you to answer a few things for me. Is that okay, Danielle?”
I exhaled through my nose.
“… Hit me, I guess.”
“Okay. Has Jeremy ever missed school because of you or your mother?”
“Nope.”
“Do you have any history with drugs? Especially during the course of your marriage with Simon?”
My brows crumpled but I went on still.
“No…”
“Alcohol abuse?”
Kimberley almost instantly rushed to my table, grabbing the vodka bottle like that was supposed to change anything.
I tore my eyes away from my glass.
“Not… exactly.”
“Okay. Domestic violence?”
“Oh, hell naw.”
Rain hummed thoughtfully on the other end, the faint tapping of computer keys filtering through the call now and then.
The more she asked, the more something strange began settling inside my chest.
Simon… Didn’t actually have much.
Sure, he’d cheated on me.
Lied through his teeth.
Manipulated people like it was a competitive sport.
But when it came to me?
My record was practically spotless.
I wasn’t some drug addict, nor was I neglecting Jeremy.
I’d never laid a hand on Simon.
Hell, the worst thing I’d done this past week was repeatedly sleep with a five-thousand-year-old spider god.
Okay.
Maybe that one was pretty bad depending on who you asked.
Rain spoke again.
“One last question.”
I straightened unconsciously.
“Has anyone new been living in your home recently?”
Everything inside me froze.
Kimberly noticed immediately.
Her brows knitted together as she leaned closer, lowering her voice into a whisper.
“Answer.”
My thoughts betrayed me before my mouth could.
Anzari.
The nights we’d spent tangled together.
His six arms.
The impossible magic or whatever voodoo shit he’s done around me.
The literal goddess who almost killed me last night.
“…No,” I heard myself say at last.
The lie slid out smoother than I’d expected.
“Good,” Rain replied without a hint of suspicion.
“Then listen carefully, Danielle.”
Her tone became noticeably firmer.
“Simon isn’t trying to prove you’re evil.”
I frowned.
“He’s trying to plant doubt.”
“He doesn’t need a judge to believe you’re a monster,” she continued calmly.
“He only needs to establish a pattern. A collection of seemingly minor concerns that, when viewed together, suggest your home environment may no longer be the most stable one for Jeremy.”
My stomach tightened again.
“Family court cases like these are often won by whichever parent appears more stable.”
Kimberly nearly spilt her drink.
“Stable?” She blurted loud enough for Rain to hear through my speaker.
“Simon cheated on his wife!”
Rain sighed.
“Unfortunately… adultery rarely determines custody.”
Kim threw both hands into the air.
“Well, that’s some premium bullshit.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Rain pressed on before either of us could derail the conversation again.
“From today onward, save every text message Simon sends you. Don’t delete anything. Keep your communication polite and in writing whenever possible. Do not insult him, especially over text or social media. And if Jeremy ever tells you anything unusual about his father—or anything that concerns you—write it down with the date and time.”
“I can do that,” I muttered.
“Good. I’ll begin preparing our response to the petition. Try not to panic, Danielle.”
The call ended shortly afterwards.
Then the office became unbearably quiet.
Kimberly said something but I didn’t catch a word.
Because all I could think about were two words.
Neighbour complaints.
Slowly, my gaze drifted toward the office window.
Who exactly was giving that son of a gun such intimate info about me?
And how have they been watching me without me realising?