PART 4: The Arrogant Ultimatum
“Elias, we’re filing the emergency custody petition at eight o’clock tomorrow morning,” Arthur announced without even offering a greeting, his voice echoing loudly through the receiver. “We’ve hired the top family law firm in the state, and given your income, you don’t stand a chance. Save yourself the public humiliation and sign the voluntary guardianship papers by midnight.”
I sat in the dark office, staring at the screen where his illegal wire transfers were currently highlighted in bold red font. He genuinely believed I was still the terrified, broke stepfather who would crumble under the weight of his high-priced attorneys and social influence. He had no idea that the silent box under Lily’s bed had just handed me total control over his empire, his freedom, and his reputation.
“You’ve pushed me around for five years, Arthur,” I said, my voice unnaturally calm as I leaned back in my desk chair. “If you want to talk about custody and money, I suggest you bring your wife over to my house right now.”
How did Arthur react to my unexpected defiance? Go to the next part to discover the horrifying truth…
