Chapter 6 - The Trap Sprung Headline: "He Tried to Sue His Ex-Wife for Custody—Then Her Real Power Was Revealed!"
The sight of me standing at the top of the grand staircase, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Seattle's most powerful man, drove Grant over the edge of sanity.
Driven by desperation and blind fury, Grant shoved his way through the crowd of billionaires, ignoring the shocked gasps of the guests as he approached the foot of the stairs.
"Emma!" Grant yelled, his face twisted in a mixture of rage and terror. "What kind of sick game are you playing?! You’re using my hard work, my name, my reputation to parade around like a queen!"
Two security guards immediately moved to tackle him, but Noah held up a single hand, stopping them instantly. Noah and I walked down the final steps together, stopping just three feet from where Grant stood trembling.
"Your name?" I said, my voice echoing clearly through the quiet ballroom. "My father built the foundation of logistics technology in this city while your family leeched off his genius. You didn't give me a life, Grant. You stole seven years of mine. And now, I'm taking the interest."
Vanessa Cole rushed to Grant’s side, tugging on his arm. "Grant, let's go, everyone is staring—"
"No!" Grant shouted, shaking her off violently. He glared at me, his eyes wild. "You think you've won? You think because you're sleeping with a mob boss you can strip me of everything? I have rights! I am the father of that child you're hiding at his estate!"
The room gasped loud and collective.
Grant took a step closer, pointing a finger at me. "I filed an emergency motion in family court this morning, Emma! I am suing you for sole custody of Maya, and I am demanding fifty percent of the royalty rights to Aegis as marital property! You are an unfit mother living in a criminal's lair! Let's see how the judge likes that!"
I didn't flinch. In fact, a small, cold smile appeared on my face.
"Are you finished, Grant?" I asked softly.
From the shadow of the crowd, a middle-aged woman in a sleek gray suit stepped forward. It was Judge Margaret Vance—no relation to Grant, but the most feared, iron-fisted senior probate judge in the state of Washington, who happened to be a guest of Noah’s.
"Mr. Vance," Judge Margaret said in a booming, dry voice that made Grant instantly freeze. "I suggest you check your electronic court portal before you continue making a public fool of yourself."
Grant pulled out his phone with trembling hands, opening his attorney portal app. A red notification lit up the screen: Emergency Custody Application DENIED with Prejudice. Injunction Granted.
"I reviewed your application two hours ago, Mr. Vance," Judge Margaret stated coldly, stepping up beside Noah. "Along with the hospital records showing you abandoned a woman in premature labor on a wet sidewalk to board a ferry with your mistress. Along with the police dashcam footage provided by Mr. Whitaker’s security detail. If you set foot near that child or Miss Sterling again, I will personally sign a bench warrant for your arrest for felony child endangerment."
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Grant stared at his phone screen, his hands shaking so violently he nearly dropped it. "No... no, this isn't real..."
"Oh, it's very real, Grant," Noah whispered, leaning in close to Grant’s ear as the crowd looked on in satisfaction. "And the court order is just the beginning of your problems."
