129

129
AURORA'S POV

I stared at the envelope like it might burn a hole straight through my fingers. The paper was heavy. Expensive. The kind that made threats look like invitations.

Cassian stepped beside me. “What is it?” he asked.

I handed it to him without speaking. My hands were shaking too much. His eyes scanned the paper, jaw tightening with every line. I watched the muscle in his cheek twitch.

“She filed for grandparent visitation rights,” he said slowly. “She is serious.”

I laughed, but it came out wrong. “Of course she is. She does not bluff, Cassian. She does not threaten unless she already has a plan.”

He nodded grimly. “She moved fast. This is not just a warning. It is a declaration.”

I walked toward the kitchen, mostly to keep from collapsing. “She wants a custody battle. She is coming for him.”

He followed me, his voice low. “No court will give her custody. Not over you. You are his mother.”

“She is a Viero,” I said, pouring water I would not drink. “She owns half the judges in this city.”

He paused. “Not anymore. Things are different now.”

I turned. “You really believe that? You think Leo is safe just because you say so?”

Cassian stepped closer, expression unreadable. “He is safe because I will not let her near him. You have my word.”

My throat tightened. “Your word is not what it used to be, Cassian.”

He looked like I had slapped him. Good. Maybe he needed to feel something for once. I was tired of being the only one terrified.

There was a knock on the door again. My body went rigid. Cassian held out an arm, blocking me gently. “Let me.”

But it was not her. It was Julian.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I heard something about a legal letter. Figured you might need backup.”

I stepped aside, still reeling. Julian walked in, eyes sweeping the apartment. “So. She really went that far.”

Cassian’s jaw clenched. “How do you know?”

Julian ignored him. “You have options, Aurora. But you need to act fast. She is framing this like you are keeping Leo from his heritage.”

I laughed again, bitter this time. “She is right. I am. Because that heritage nearly destroyed me.”

Julian’s expression softened. “Then we use that. We show the court what you endured.”

Cassian cut in, voice sharp. “We are not dragging Aurora through that again.”

“Then you tell me your brilliant plan,” Julian shot back. “Because that woman does not fight clean.”

I stepped between them. “Enough. This is not about either of you. This is about my son.”

Julian nodded. “Then protect him. With everything you have.”

Cassian was quiet for a moment. “We need a lawyer. A real one. Someone who is not afraid of my mother.”

I nodded. “Fine. But I choose them.”

He agreed, too quickly. That scared me more. It meant he was serious. This was not a game.

Julian glanced toward the hallway. “Does Leo know?”

I shook my head. “He is asleep. He is just a child. He does not need this.”

“Then we keep it that way,” Cassian said. “For as long as we can.”

I crossed my arms. “And what happens when she shows up with a court order?”

Cassian’s voice turned cold. “Then I will be waiting.”

CASSIAN'S POV

I stayed after Julian left. I was not sure why. Maybe I thought I could fix something. Maybe I just could not walk away yet.

Aurora was sitting on the couch, her shoulders curled forward. She looked smaller somehow. Like the weight of it all was finally pressing her down.

“You should go,” she said without looking at me.

“I am not leaving you like this,” I said.

She laughed quietly. “Since when did that stop you?”

I deserved that. But this was not about me anymore. It was about Leo. And the mother who had already done enough damage.

“She is doing this to punish both of us,” I said. “But she is using him to do it.”

Aurora looked up then. “I know. That is what terrifies me.”

I sat across from her, elbows on my knees. “We will fight her. Together. If you let me.”

Her eyes searched mine. “Why now, Cassian? Why not back then?”

“Because I was a coward,” I said. “Because I let fear win.”

She did not look away. “And what are you now?”

I wanted to say stronger. Wiser. Different. But none of those things mattered if she did not believe it. So I said the only thing that was true.

“I am a father.”

Aurora looked down at her hands. “Then start acting like it. Protect him. Not just from her. From everything.”

I nodded. “I will.”

The room went quiet. For the first time in days, there was no shouting. Just silence. Heavy. Fragile.

“Do you think she will win?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Not if we stay ahead of her. Not if we do not break.”

She closed her eyes. “I am already breaking.”

I stood and walked to the window. The city lights below blinked like warnings. “Then lean on me. Until you are not.”

She did not answer. She did not need to. Her silence was not rejection this time. It was grief. Tired, aching grief.

And I would carry it if she let me.

I turned back to say something, anything, but her phone buzzed.

She picked it up, frowning. “It is the daycare.”

Her face paled. I moved closer. “What is it?”

She swallowed. “They said someone came asking for Leo. Said she was family.”

My blood turned to ice. “Did they give him to her?”

Aurora shook her head, voice shaking. “No. But she left a card. And a message.”

“What message?” I asked.

Aurora held it out to me. A plain white business card. On the back, in neat script, were five words.

Next time, I will not ask.