The sun shone softly through the sheer curtains, casting a warm, golden glow on the room. Ella sat on her bed, sifting through a stack of papers, her mind barely on the task at hand. The events of the previous day replayed in her head, and before she could stop herself, a soft chuckle escaped her lips.
“I never thought I’d see fear on your face, Tania,” she whispered to herself, the memory still fresh. “Who would have thought?”
The encounter had been deeply satisfying. Seeing Tania panic, trembling, was a victory in itself. But Ella knew it wasn’t over yet. This was just the beginning. Tania still had a lot to answer for. Ella pushed aside the files on her lap and got up, stretching her arms and heading toward the kitchen. Breakfast, she thought. I need to think clearly for what’s coming next.
As she moved about the kitchen, cracking eggs and heating the stove, her mind wandered to her next move. Tania was paranoid now Ella had seen to that. But paranoia wasn’t enough. Tania needed to be completely cornered, with no way out.
She paused for a moment, spatula in hand, staring out the window. There was still so much to do. Ethan was still in the dark about most of it, but she couldn’t risk letting him off the hook either. He had to pay his share of the price, too.
After breakfast, Ella sat down with her laptop, planning her next move. Tania’s meltdown had been inevitable, but now, Ella had to push further. She needed to expose Tania for the monster she truly was strip away any semblance of her innocence.
Meanwhile, at Ethan’s Office
Victor walked into Ethan’s office, a folder in his hand. His face was calm, but his eyes carried the weight of the conversation they were about to have.
“Morning, Ethan,” Victor greeted, setting the folder on Ethan’s desk. “I’ve brought the draft of the divorce papers for you to review. Everything is in order.”
Ethan, who was sitting behind his desk, looked up and gave a weary smile. “Thanks, Victor. I appreciate you getting this done so quickly.”
Victor sat down across from Ethan, taking in his friend’s exhausted appearance. “How’s Grace doing? I hope she’s feeling better?”
Ethan’s face softened at the mention of Grace. “She’s doing okay. We’ve had a lot of fun times in the hospital, actually. She’s stronger than I give her credit for. Hopefully, she’ll be discharged soon.”
Victor nodded. “That’s good to hear. But… how are you? I know it can’t be easy.”
Ethan hesitated, then sighed. “Honestly, I dread going back to the house with her. Every time I close my eyes, I see her little body rolling down the stairs, and Tania just… standing there. I don’t understand how a mother could hate her own child. Victor, she didn’t even try to help.”
Victor’s jaw tightened. “I know. It’s unfathomable. But what matters now is Grace. You’ve been incredible with her. That little girl is so lucky to have you.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face. “You know what the crazy part is? I’m the one who should be angry, the one who should struggle to connect with Grace. She’s not even my biological daughter, but… I love her more than anything. She is my daughter, Victor. No matter what.”
Victor nodded, understanding. “But what about Tania? What if she decides to fight for custody?”
Ethan’s face darkened at the thought. “We already had her sign over her parental rights without her knowing. I have full custody of Grace. But you know Tania, she won’t let that stand. She’ll fight dirty, twist everything to get what she wants. I can’t let her win.”
Victor sighed, leaning forward. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. If Tania pushes for custody, there’s a chance the judge could grant her visitation rights, or worse, she could spin the story and take full custody. It’s something we have to prepare for.”
Ethan shook his head. “She can’t have Grace. I won’t allow it.”
Victor placed a reassuring hand on Ethan’s desk. “I hear you. But legally, we need proof that she’s unfit to be a mother. Without that, the court might still give her a chance.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as an idea formed. “What if I told you I have proof?”
Victor’s eyebrows shot up. “Proof? Of what?”
Ethan stood up, pacing behind his desk. “The staircase. Where Grace fell. I had CCTV cameras installed a while back, just in case things got worse with Tania. I have footage of the entire incident the day Grace fell. It’s all on tape.”
Victor’s eyes widened. “Ethan, that could be exactly what we need. If Tania’s neglect or her cruelty is caught on tape, we can use that to make sure she never gets near Grace again.”
Ethan nodded, his expression grim. “Then let’s make sure she doesn’t.”
Ethan sat with Victor, reviewing the CCTV footage from the day Grace fell. The clarity of the footage showed Tania standing at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, watching as Grace stumbled and tumbled down.
Victor’s eyes hardened. “This… this is perfect. It’s exactly what we need.”
Ethan’s heart sank as he watched it again, but he knew Victor was right. It was painful to see, but it would protect Grace from Tania’s manipulation once and for all.
“We’ll use this in court,” Victor continued, his tone determined. “Once the judge sees this, there’s no way Tania can win.”
Ethan nodded, though his heart was heavy. This fight wasn’t just about custody anymore. It was about protecting Grace from a woman who never loved her. He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it meant facing his darkest fears.
Ethan retired for the day after work and decided to go to a place where he could clear his mind, he drove aimlessly and found him self at the pier he sat on the hot of his car staring in the night sky, thinking what life would have been like Tania had not tried to kill Ella, if none of these issues where on ground.
Ethan stared at the night sky just wondering, when his phone buzzed he checked and it was Tania calling again, he had been avoiding her calls as he did not have the strength to talk to her, he sighed and turned off his phone wanting to enjoy the peaceful evening before he drives back to see Grace.