Chapter 176

Lily's POV

I'd known all along that Ryan would stand on that side, that he'd join his grandmother against me to fight for William's custody. But seeing it happen in that courtroom—watching him sit across from me with Eleanor behind him—my heart still broke in ways I hadn't prepared for.

He sat with three lawyers in expensive suits. Jasper Carver led them—silver hair, sharp eyes, the kind of man who'd never lost a case he cared about winning. Eleanor sat in the first row behind Ryan, her posture perfect, her face unreadable.

When Ryan's eyes met mine across the courtroom, I saw everything there. Guilt. Sadness. Love, even.

But he was still sitting on that side. Not mine.

The judge came in. Judge Margaret Horne. Gray hair, reading glasses, the tired expression of someone who'd heard every family tragedy there was.

"This is a hearing regarding custody arrangements for William Ryan Carter, age ten weeks," she said. Her voice was flat. Professional. "Mr. Carver, you may proceed."

Jasper Carver stood up. His movements were smooth. Calculated. He'd done this a thousand times before.

"Your Honor, the Carter family is not seeking to deprive Ms. Parker of her parental rights. We simply want to ensure that William Carter—the sole heir to Carter Industrial—receives the level of care and security appropriate to his position."

His position. Like my ten-week-old baby was a corporate asset.

Carver pulled out a thick folder. "This is a comprehensive family environment assessment. It shows that Ms. Parker currently has no permanent residence, no source of income, and no established childcare arrangements."

Each word landed like a stone.

Andrea stood up. "Your Honor, Ms. Parker has a position waiting for her at NexGen Tech. Her employer has guaranteed her job and is providing housing assistance—a studio apartment with subsidized rent."

"A studio apartment," Carver repeated, his tone thoughtful. "Your Honor, we're discussing a ten-week-old infant. A studio apartment is hardly adequate space for a baby and the necessary childcare provider Ms. Parker would need to hire while working full-time."

Andrea pressed on. "Ms. Parker has professional qualifications. She was a senior developer at NexGen Tech before her pregnancy—"

"And she's been out of the workforce for nearly five months," Carver interrupted smoothly. "While her employer may be holding her position, the reality is that Ms. Parker would be returning to full-time employment with a newborn. She has provided no concrete childcare plan. No evidence of how she would manage nine to ten-hour workdays while caring for an exclusively breastfed infant."

My nails dug into my palms. I can figure it out. I just need the chance.

But none of that mattered here.

Carver kept talking. He showed charts comparing what the Carter family could provide versus what I could provide. Medical staff. Security. Resources. Stability.

Everything I didn't have.

"Five months ago, Ms. Parker was involved in a vehicular incident that resulted in hospitalization," he continued. "While she and the baby were fortunately unharmed, it raised serious questions about safety and security. Subsequently, she chose to remain at Silver Peak Manor, suggesting she herself recognized the inadequacy of alternative living arrangements."

He'd twisted it. Made my fear for William's safety into evidence that I couldn't protect him on my own.

Judge Horne was writing notes. Her face gave nothing away.

"What specifically are you proposing, Mr. Carver?"

"Joint legal custody, with primary physical custody remaining with Mr. Carter at Silver Peak Manor. Ms. Parker would have generous visitation rights—three days per week, with the option to visit at the estate at any time."

Three days a week. Like a part-time job.

Andrea stood up. "Your Honor, William is exclusively breastfed. Separating him from his mother for four days at a time—"

"The estate has facilities for pumping and milk storage," Carver said smoothly. "We would accommodate Ms. Parker's feeding schedule."

"Ms. Clarke, does your client have a detailed childcare plan?" Judge Horne asked.

The question hung in the air.

"Your Honor, Ms. Parker's mother has offered to relocate to Colorado to provide childcare support—"

"Mrs. Parker is fifty-three years old and currently employed full-time," Carver said. His voice was still gentle. Still reasonable. "The court must consider whether she can realistically provide the level of care a newborn requires while Ms. Parker works full-time hours."

Every argument we made, he had an answer for. Every plan we proposed, he found the weakness in.

We were losing. I could feel it.

"I'd like to hear from Mr. Carter directly," Judge Horne said. She looked at Ryan. "This is your son as well. What is your position on these arrangements?"

Ryan stood up slowly. He looked like he was going to be sick.

For one brief, stupid moment, I thought he might say something different. Might stand up for me. For us.

"Your Honor, I—" His voice was rough. Broken. "I love my wife. I love my son."

I held my breath.

"But months ago, someone tried to hurt them. Someone deliberately targeted Lily's car, tried to cause an accident that could have killed her and our unborn child." His hands were shaking. "I can't take that risk again. Silver Peak has security. Medical staff. If something happened to William, if someone tried to—"

His voice cracked. He couldn't finish.

"I believe William needs to be at Silver Peak," he said finally. "Where I know he's safe."

There it was. He'd chosen.

After everything—after all his promises that he'd choose us, choose our family—he'd chosen the cage. Chosen to lock our son away and call it protection.

I felt something inside me go cold and still.

"Ms. Parker?" Judge Horne looked at me. "Do you have anything you'd like to say?"

I stood up. My legs felt weak but I forced them to hold me.

"Your Honor, I'm William's mother." My voice came out steadier than I expected. "I've been with him every day since he was born. Every night. Every feeding. I know what his different cries mean. I know how he likes to be rocked to sleep. I know he gets a little wrinkle between his eyebrows when he's working on a burp."

Judge Horne's expression softened slightly.

"They're going to tell you about all the things they can give him," I continued. My throat was getting tight. "The best doctors. The best security. The best everything. But I can give him something they can't. I can give him me. I can give him a mother who's there when he wakes up at three in the morning. Who learns his favorite songs. Who—"

My voice broke. I pressed my hand against my mouth, trying to hold back the sob.

"Who loves him more than anything in the world," I whispered. "More than money. More than security. More than being safe."

I looked directly at Ryan. Tears were streaming down his face.

"They want to give him a fortress," I said. "I just want to give him a home."