Chapter 9 - THE COURTROOMThe courtroom was cold.
Diane arrived in handcuffs.
Yet she still looked at me like I was the criminal.
Her attorney attacked immediately.
She called me unstable.
Manipulative.
Unfit.
She presented witnesses who claimed I had emotional problems.
For several terrifying minutes, I wondered if Diane might actually win.
Then they called Ryan.
He entered the courtroom thinner than I remembered.
Older.
Broken.
He took the stand.
His mother's attorney smiled.
"Mr. Carter, would you describe your wife as emotionally unstable?"
Ryan looked at me.
Then he looked at the judge.
"No."
The attorney blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"No."
His voice became stronger.
"Emily is the best mother I've ever known."
The courtroom went silent.
"My mother lied about her."
He swallowed.
"She manipulated me into marrying Emily. She threatened me. She threatened to take Lily away if I told the truth."
Diane shouted.
"Ryan!"
He didn't look at her.
"My wife was never the problem."
Then he faced me.
"I'm sorry."
I cried.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because for the first time, the truth had been spoken aloud.
The judge ruled in my favor.
Full custody.
Diane barred from contact.
The case moved forward.
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And Diane lost the one weapon she'd been using against me.
Lily.
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