Chapter 26: Shared Custody

Ava’s POV

The morning sun filtered through the hotel room curtains, casting a warm glow across the bed. I stirred awake, stretching my limbs as the soft rays nudged me from the depths of sleep. My first instinct was to reach for Andrew, who lay beside me, his face relaxed in slumber. I smiled, feeling grateful for the peaceful morning. Days like this were a rarity, and I wanted to savor every moment.

“Andrew,” I whispered, gently shaking him. “It’s time to wake up.”

He groaned, turning away from me, his tousled hair creating a messy halo around his head. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled.

“Come on! We have to video call Tristan,” I urged, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of seeing our son’s face. The separation was always tough, but video calls made it a little easier.

He finally opened one eye, squinting at the light. “You’re right. Let’s do it.”

After a few minutes of getting ready, we settled in front of my laptop. I hit the video call button, my heart fluttering with anticipation. The screen lit up, and a moment later, Tristan’s face appeared, his eyes bright and full of energy.

“Mom! Dad!” he exclaimed, bouncing in his seat. “You look so funny!”

“Funny?” I laughed, glancing at Andrew, who was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What do you mean funny?”

“Your hair is all messy, Mom!” he giggled, pointing at my disheveled locks.

I couldn’t help but laugh along. “Okay, okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t have time to fix it this morning.”

“Me too!” Tristan said, tousling his own hair, which was sticking up in all directions.

“Looks like we’re in good company,” Andrew chimed in, finally looking more awake. “How was your sleep, buddy?”

“Good! I had the best dream ever! I was flying with superheroes!” Tristan said, his excitement contagious.

“Flying with superheroes, huh? That sounds amazing!” I said, my heart swelling at the sight of him. “Did you save the day?”

“Of course! We fought the bad guys, and I saved the city!” he proclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest.

“That’s my boy!” Andrew beamed. “Just make sure to save us next time.”

Tristan giggled, his face lighting up with joy. “I will! When are you coming home?”

I felt a pang of longing as I glanced at Andrew. “Soon, sweetheart. We’re just busy with work right now.”

“Okay. But don’t forget to come home and play!” he insisted, his voice turning serious.

“I promise, Tristan. We’ll have a big family game night as soon as we get back,” I assured him, trying to suppress the guilt that came with being away from him.

“Okay! I can’t wait!” he said, his smile returning. “I love you, Mom and Dad!”

“We love you too, buddy!” Andrew and I said in unison, our hearts full as we watched Tristan wave before the call ended.

“He called you dad” I smiled lightly at Andrew

“Yeah, made my heart flutter” he agreed

As the screen went dark, I felt a mix of warmth and sadness wash over me. “I miss him so much,” I murmured, fighting back the urge to tear up.

“Me too,” Andrew replied, his voice low. “But we’re doing this for him. He’ll understand.”

I nodded, appreciating his unwavering support. “Yeah, we’ll be back before he knows it.”

After a quick breakfast and getting dressed, we headed out to the office. The hustle and bustle of London filled the air, and I took a deep breath, ready to tackle the day ahead. Work had been increasingly demanding, but I felt confident with Andrew by my side.

Once we arrived at the office, we quickly settled into our routine. Meetings, emails, and phone calls filled our time, and soon it was nearing noon when the real challenge loomed on the horizon: our joint presentation with a larger firm. I felt a mix of excitement and nerves, but Andrew’s presence steadied me.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze before we entered the conference room.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, feeling a surge of adrenaline. “Let’s show them what we’ve got.”

As we walked into the room, I felt the eyes of the executives on us. The atmosphere was tense, but I quickly fell into my rhythm, presenting our ideas with clarity and passion.

I stood at the front of the room, feeling the weight of every eye on me, but I didn’t let it faze me. My fingers hovered over the clicker as I took a steadying breath, and with a quiet nod to myself, I began. The first slide illuminated the room, and I launched into the presentation I had been preparing for weeks.

"Our approach isn’t just about solving problems," I said, my voice confident and clear. "It’s about creating innovative solutions that have a lasting impact." I could feel the room leaning in, engaged. My eyes flickered to Andrew, and he gave me a slight nod, reassuring me from the side.

As I moved into the financials, I could see the subtle shift in the room, people paying even closer attention. This was where we showed the numbers, the proof that we were more than capable of delivering on our promises. I laid out the projections, each figure backed by months of strategy and analysis. Andrew stepped in at just the right moment, elaborating on the technical aspects, complementing my points seamlessly.

"Our vision," I concluded, glancing around, "is to build something sustainable, something that benefits all of us." Applause followed, and I exhaled, knowing we had won them over.

Andrew answered questions with confidence and expertise. Together, we made a formidable team, our chemistry evident to everyone in the room.

When the presentation concluded, the executives applauded, and I could hardly believe the sense of accomplishment that washed over me. “You two make a great team,” one of the partners remarked. “It’s inspiring to see a power couple like you in action.”

The words hung in the air, making me beam with pride. “Thank you,” I replied, glancing at Andrew, who was smiling back at me. “We work well together.”

After a successful meeting, we decided to wrap things up early. “Let’s grab a bite to celebrate,” Andrew suggested, his eyes shining with excitement.

“Sounds perfect,” I agreed, eager to relish the victory together. As we left the building, I felt lighter, the stress of the day melting away.

But as we stepped outside, my heart dropped. There, leaning against the wall, was a familiar figure, Derek. He stood there with an unreadable expression, a stark contrast to the joyful energy surrounding us.

“What’s he doing here?” I whispered to Andrew, anxiety creeping in.

“Stay close to me,” he replied, his tone serious. He pulled out his phone and dialed security, not taking his eyes off Derek.

As we approached, Derek straightened, a stack of documents in his hands. I could see the tension in Andrew’s posture, ready to defend me if necessary. But Derek simply stepped forward and handed the documents to me, his eyes not meeting mine.

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” he said, his voice steady but lacking warmth. “Just take these.”

I hesitated, looking down at the papers. The title caught my eye: “Shared Custody with Tristan.” My heart raced, panic clawing at my throat.

“What the hell, Derek?” I exclaimed, my voice shaking. “You can’t be serious!”

Andrew stepped closer to me, his anger palpable. “What kind of game are you playing?”

Derek raised his hands, taking a step back. “I’m not trying to start anything. Just wanted you to have these.”

“Don’t come near us again, Derek,” Andrew warned, his voice low and threatening.

Derek nodded, seeming to sense the tension. “I’m leaving,” he said, stepping away from us. “But you need to think about this.”

“Think about what?” I yelled after him, but he was already walking away, leaving us with the documents in my hands.

As he disappeared into the crowd, I felt a whirlwind of emotions—anger, confusion, and fear. I looked at Andrew, who was watching Derek with a mix of fury and concern.

“What just happened?” I breathed, the gravity of the situation settling in.

Andrew’s jaw clenched as he took a deep breath. “Let’s get inside. We need to talk.”