Chapter 8 - The Custody Battle
The divorce hearing was scheduled two months after Leo was born.
Ryan walked into the courtroom looking like a completely broken man.
He had lost weight, his suit hung loosely on his frame, and he couldn't even bring himself to make eye contact with me.
His lawyer, a cheap attorney he hired after Eleanor froze his main accounts, looked incredibly nervous.
"Your Honor, my client recognizes he made a severe error in judgment, but he wishes to petition for joint custody of his son," the lawyer stated weakly.
Eleanor stood up, adjusting her glasses with the confidence of a predator about to strike.
"Your Honor, we vehemently oppose joint custody," Eleanor declared, her voice ringing clearly across the quiet courtroom.
"The petitioner initiated this divorce by publicly humiliating my client at a baby shower, based entirely on a fabricated lie."
"Furthermore, the petitioner's family has a documented history of severe psychological manipulation and criminal fraud."
Eleanor submitted the police reports regarding Diane's arrest, the hospital security footage of Ryan's violent outburst, and the hacked emails.
The judge, an older woman with zero tolerance for nonsense, flipped through the evidence with a deep, furious scowl.
"Mr. Sterling," the judge said, glaring down at Ryan from the high bench.
"You allowed your mother to weaponize your brother's medical tragedy to destroy your pregnant wife."
"You did not defend her, you did not communicate with her, and you acted violently when confronted."
"I am granting full legal and physical custody to the mother, Claire."
Ryan buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he began to cry loudly in the silent room.
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"You will be granted supervised visitation every other weekend, and you will pay maximum child support," the judge finalized, slamming her heavy wooden gavel.
We had won everything.
