Chapter 10 - The Custody Petition Was Never Filed
This mattered.
There was no secret court order.
No judge had decided I was unfit.
Lauren had created a draft.
That was serious emotionally.
Potentially relevant legally.
But it was not the same as successfully manipulating a court.
My attorney insisted I keep that distinction clear.
“Do not say she tried to take your children through the court.”
“She drafted a petition.”
“She explored how to.”
“That’s different.”
I hated the precision.
Then learned to appreciate it.
Truth is stronger when you do not inflate it.
Formal custody proceedings arose through the divorce like they do in many families.
Ethan requested shared parenting time.
I did not seek to eliminate him from the children’s lives.
I did request safeguards around Lauren.
At least initially.
The affair.
The slap? No, Lauren never physically attacked me in the source scene. Important. She did not attack the kids either.
Her conduct was psychological and strategic.
So we dealt with what existed.
Temporary restrictions prevented her from acting as a caregiver during the early separation while the custody situation was assessed.
Ethan complied.
For once.
He also ended his relationship with Lauren.
May you like
She called that cowardice.
I called it the first sensible decision he made after months of terrible ones.
