Chapter 5 - The Legal Shield
Julian didn't wait for his family's next move. He called Marcus, his college roommate and one of the most ruthless family and corporate lawyers in South Carolina.
Over coffee in Julian’s home office, while Mia was busy painting in the next room, Julian laid it all out.
"They threatened the trust," Julian said, pacing. "I don't care about the money, but I know how my parents operate. They’ll try to spin this. They might even try to anonymously challenge the adoption or call child services just to make my life hell and force me to come crawling back."
Marcus took notes, his expression grim. "Your parents are heavyweights in this town, Julian. But they are arrogant. We need to secure your assets, separate your business holdings completely from your sister's husband, and fortify Mia’s custody papers."
"Do it. Pull my funding from Sarah’s husband's company. Today."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "That will bankrupt him by Friday."
"He stood there and watched his wife make my daughter scrub floors while his kids opened iPads," Julian said coldly. "Burn his company to the ground."
Later that evening, Julian was helping Mia clean up her paints when he noticed her iPad on the counter.
"Mia, did you take this to Grandma's yesterday?"
"Yes," Mia said softly. "I was playing a game on it in the parlor before Aunt Sarah told me to go to the kitchen. I left it on the side table."
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Julian’s heart skipped a beat. Mia’s iPad was set to automatically record audio when she used a specific voice-memo app she liked to use to tell stories. He opened the app. There, time-stamped right around the time Julian had arrived at the house, was a 45-minute recording.
He put on headphones and listened. What he heard made his blood run ice cold.
