Chapter 6 - Z
Two days later, the storm had passed, leaving behind a cold, crisp autumn morning. The news of Julian Vance’s arrest had blown through Oakridge like a tornado. The corporate executive was held without bail, facing charges of attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault, poisoning, and a reopened murder investigation into Adrian’s fatal crash after investigators found cut brake lines in the forensic report of Adrian's salvaged vehicle.
Emily was held at the county jail, her high-priced lawyers scrambling to negotiate a plea deal in exchange for her full testimony against Julian.
I sat in the waiting room of the hospital, holding a cup of terrible cafeteria tea. The door to Room 314 opened, and Nate walked out. He was dressed in clean clothes I had brought from home. He looked pale, dark circles bruised beneath his eyes, but his stance was steady. In his arms, fast asleep, was Luke.
"How are you feeling, son?" I asked, standing up.
"The doctor said the sedatives are completely out of my system," Nate said quietly. He adjusted the blanket around Luke's shoulders. "The toxicology report confirmed it was a heavy dose of Zolpidem. If I had drunk the whole glass..." He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
"What happens now, Nate?" I asked gently.
Nate looked down at the child in his arms. The crescent-shaped birthmark was hidden beneath his blue onesie. "I spoke to my lawyer this morning. Because Emily is facing felony charges, the state is granting me temporary legal guardianship. But Julian’s lawyers are already filing motions from jail to demand a mandatory paternity test to establish his paternal rights."
My heart sank. "If the court confirms Julian is the biological father..."
"It doesn't matter," Nate said, his voice ringing with a cold, unwavering clarity I had never heard in him before. "I don't care about blood anymore, Mom. Blood gave this boy a murderer for a father and a coward for an uncle. Blood doesn't mean a damn thing."
"Nate..."
"I signed his birth certificate," Nate continued, looking me straight in the eyes. "I rocked him when he had colic. I taught him how to smile. I am the only father he will ever know, and I am going to fight Julian Vance and Emily's mother in that courtroom until I don't have a single penny left in my bank account."
Before I could answer, the elevator doors at the end of the hallway opened with a soft chime.
Victoria walked out. She wasn't wearing her polished trench coat or her diamond rings today. She looked stripped of her arrogance, her face lined with stress and public embarrassment. Behind her stood two men in dark suits carrying thick briefcases—her legal team.
"Nate," Victoria said, stopping ten feet away. "We need to talk."
Nate didn't move an inch. "You have five seconds to turn around and get back on that elevator, Victoria."
"Listen to me!" Victoria insisted, taking a step forward. "Emily is facing twenty years in prison! My family is being ruined on the front page of every newspaper in the state! Julian Vance's attorneys are planning to argue that Luke should be placed in state foster care until paternity and custody are settled!"
Nate's eyes flashed with dangerous heat. "Over my dead body."
"That is precisely what I am trying to prevent!" Victoria snapped, her voice breaking with desperation. "I hate what happened, Nate! I hate Julian Vance! But I will not allow my grandson to end up in a state facility! My lawyers have drafted an emergency joint-custody petition. If you and I sign it together as co-guardians, the judge will reject the state's foster care motion immediately and keep Luke in our family!"
I stepped forward, suspicious. "What's the catch, Victoria? You don't do anything without a catch."
Victoria looked at me, her eyes filled with bitter surrender. "The catch is that Emily waives all parental rights permanently. She signs him over to Nate. In exchange, Nate agrees not to testify at Emily's sentencing hearing, so her lawyers can push for a lighter plea deal."
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Nate stood frozen, looking down at the baby in his arms, then back at Victoria.
He was being asked to make a deal with the devil—to spare the woman who had lied to him, betrayed him with his brother, and helped drug him, all to secure the legal safety of the child he loved.
