Chapter 6 - The Custody Threat
Humiliated and backed into a corner, Carol did what any cornered predator would do: she attacked blindly.
Despite being escorted out of the corporate building by security, she immediately drove to her lawyer’s office.
"I want full custody of Jackson, and I want grandparents' rights to take Zoey away from that wretched woman!" she screamed at the attorney.
The lawyer, a slick man named Harrison, rubbed his temples as he looked at the trending hashtag on his computer monitor.
"Carol, you are currently facing potential criminal charges for assaulting a minor," Harrison sighed heavily.
"No judge in this state is going to grant you custody or visitation rights while this video is circulating."
"I am a millionaire!" Carol roared, slamming her fists onto his expensive glass desk.
"You find a way to make Jade look unfit, or I will ruin your career just like I will ruin hers!"
Meanwhile, Jade was sitting in her living room, watching the news coverage of the viral video with a calm, calculating gaze.
She was not afraid of Carol’s threats, because Jade had been holding onto a secret that even Thomas did not fully understand.
Her phone rang, displaying a private international number she had not seen in nearly four years.
"Hello, Father," Jade answered, her tone shifting to one of absolute authority.
"I saw the video, Jade," an older, powerful voice replied, vibrating with barely contained rage.
"I told you that playing the role of a normal, middle-class housewife would eventually leave you vulnerable to these new-money vultures."
"I know, Dad," Jade sighed, looking at Zoey, who was happily coloring in a book on the rug.
"I am ready to stop hiding now."
"Good," her father said sharply.
"Because I have already instructed our legal team to purchase the debt of Carol’s personal estate."
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Jade smiled, a genuine expression of relief washing over her face.
Carol thought she was fighting a defenseless orphan, but she was about to face the wrath of the Sterling family empire.
