Chapter 6 - The Custody War
Three days later, Audrey sat in a private suite at Saint Aurelia Hospital. The twins, Liam and Chloe, had made miraculous progress and were finally out of their incubators, resting comfortably in dual bassinet sleepers by her side.
Arthur sat in an armchair across from her, sipping tea while a team of top-tier family law attorneys laid out legal briefs on the glass coffee table.
"Dominic’s legal team filed an emergency motion for shared custody and spousal maintenance this morning," Lead Attorney Marcus Sterling explained, adjusting his glasses. "He is claiming that as the biological father, he has equal rights to the children and access to marital assets to maintain his lifestyle."
Audrey smiled faintly, touching Liam’s tiny hand. "He doesn't want the children, Marcus. He wants leverage to force my grandfather into restoring his firm's contracts."
"Precisely," Marcus agreed. "Which is why we are countering with a full termination of parental rights based on intentional emotional distress, child abandonment during a critical medical emergency, and corporate fraud."
Before Marcus could finish, the suite door opened. A nurse stepped in nervously, followed by Dominic, who looked haggard, wearing a wrinkled suit with dark circles under his eyes.
"Audrey," Dominic said, his voice desperate as he tried to look past the security guards standing at the door. "Please... let me see my son and daughter."
Arthur started to stand, but Audrey gently raised her hand, stopping her grandfather.
She walked slowly over to Dominic, stopping two feet away. "You didn't care if they survived four days ago, Dominic. You brought a contract to sign while they were hooked up to breathing tubes."
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"I was stupid! I was influenced by Natalie!" Dominic pleaded, tears filling his eyes. "She manipulated me! I threw her out of my apartment last night, Audrey! I realized it’s you I love! We can rebuild this family!"
Audrey looked at him with profound pity and absolute disgust. "You don't love me, Dominic. You love money. And now that you have none, you're bleeding."
