Chapter 13 - The Custody Room
Priya told Nathan not to go.
Olivia told him not to go.
Grace told him not to go.
Emma said nothing because Nathan did not tell her.
Rebecca wanted exactly one thing: Nathan alone, angry, without witnesses.
For once, he listened.
Priya replied through Rebecca’s attorney instead.
All communications concerning documents shall occur through counsel. Preserve the material.
Rebecca did not respond.
The next morning, Nathan and Olivia sat opposite one another in family court.
The evaluator’s preliminary recommendation gave Olivia expanded temporary parenting time while the investigation continued.
Nathan remained Emma’s primary residential parent.
Rebecca was barred from contact with Emma.
It should have felt like relief.
Instead, Nathan watched Olivia cry silently in the corridor afterward.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“I missed seven months.”
“You’re here now.”
“That doesn’t return them.”
Nathan knew better than to offer forgiveness he had no authority to grant.
Then the court evaluator asked to speak privately with Nathan.
“She describes you as safe,” the evaluator said.
Nathan exhaled.
“But she also describes you as someone she was afraid to disappoint.”
He went still.
“Why?”
“Because Mrs. Cole repeatedly told her you would send her away if she caused problems.”
Nathan looked through the glass window at Emma sitting with Olivia.
“I never said that.”
“I believe you.”
The words gave no comfort.
The evaluator continued.
“Children live inside what adults repeatedly tell them is true.”
Nathan thought of Olivia.
So did adults.
Outside the courthouse, reporters waited.
A video began circulating online before Nathan reached the car.
It showed Olivia entering Hawthorne Estate secretly at night.
No context.
No date explanation.
A headline framed her as a “fugitive ex-wife secretly meeting insiders.”
Rebecca’s lawyers released a statement accusing Olivia and Grace of conspiring to manufacture evidence against Rebecca.
Grace called Nathan from Hawthorne.
“They’ve suspended my estate access.”
Nathan stopped walking.
“Who?”
“The security contractor says Rebecca’s lawyers claimed I tampered with footage.”
“You work for me.”
“Apparently the contractor takes instructions from an account administrator.”
Nathan knew who had created that account.
Rebecca.
He told Grace to remain in her cottage while Priya challenged it.
Then Caroline called.
“The board just voted to terminate Grace’s corporate vendor status.”
Nathan blinked.
“She isn’t a corporate vendor.”
“Her landscaping company services three Cole Heritage properties.”
“So they’re punishing her.”
“Miles called it conflict containment.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.”
Caroline’s voice softened.
“I voted against it.”
It was the first time she had openly opposed Miles.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Win tomorrow.”
That evening, Nathan found Olivia sitting in Eleanor’s greenhouse.
“You hate this place now?”
She looked around.
“No. That would let Rebecca own it.”
He sat opposite her.
“I need to ask you something.”
“If I was going to take Emma to Canada?”
“Yes.”
Olivia did not flinch.
“I bought the tickets.”
Nathan looked down.
“I almost did it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Emma asked if you would know where she was.”
Nathan swallowed.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“And?”
“She started crying.”
Olivia’s voice broke.
“She said she didn’t want either parent to disappear.”
Nathan rubbed both hands over his face.
“So you left alone.”
“Yes.”
They sat in silence.
“I hated you,” Olivia whispered.
“I hated you too.”
“I thought you chose Rebecca.”
“I thought you chose money.”
“And Emma paid for both stories.”
Nathan looked at her.
“No more stories.”
Olivia nodded.
“Only proof.”
His phone vibrated.
Priya.
“Rebecca just filed an affidavit.”
“About what?”
“She claims the missing folder you’re seeking contains evidence that Olivia planned to extort Miles.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“There’s more.”
Nathan waited.
“She attached an audio recording of you.”
His stomach tightened.
“From when?”
“Tonight.”
Nathan frowned.
“I haven’t spoken to her.”
Priya played it.
Nathan’s voice said:
“I will destroy you. I don’t care what it costs.”
He recognized the words.
But not from tonight.
They came from an argument with Rebecca months earlier about a contractor who had cheated Cole Heritage.
Rebecca had edited the conversation to sound like a threat against her.
Nathan whispered, “She’s manufacturing a record.”
Priya replied, “And tomorrow she intends to use it.”
May you like
Rebecca was no longer simply hiding evidence.
She was building a version of Nathan dangerous enough that no judge, board, or shareholder would trust him with the truth.
