Chapter 6 - DESPERATE LIES
The panic in my former family must have been absolute, because they made a catastrophic mistake: they decided to fight back.
On Tuesday, a sleazy local gossip blog published an "exclusive" interview with an anonymous source—clearly my parents. The article painted a harrowing picture of Daniel, the "former mafia boss," who had suffered a psychological break after his wife's death. It claimed I had kidnapped my daughter, that I was dangerous, and that the incident at the party was a fabrication designed to isolate Lily from her loving grandparents.
They filed a petition for emergency custody, claiming I was an unfit parent with a violent criminal history. They tried to weaponize my past against me.
When my lawyers brought me the court summons, I actually smiled. It was a cold, terrifying expression that made my seasoned legal team shift uncomfortably in their leather chairs.
"They want to take this to court," I murmured, staring at the custody petition. "They want everything on the public record. Excellent."
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"Sir, they are playing a dangerous game," my lead attorney, Vance, warned. "If they bring up your Chicago history..."
"Let them," I replied. "My Chicago history is sealed, settled, and buried under a billion dollars of legitimate tech and real estate investments. Their history is about to be broadcast in high definition."
