Chapter 689

Nick's POV

"Based on the technical evaluation and the minor's well-being, I grant the request for a provisional measure, establishing temporary residence with the mother, with visitation rights for the father on designated days and times, until further review by this court." I heard every word.

But it felt like listening to a language I only understood well enough to recognize danger, not well enough to defend myself against it Mother.

Father.

Visitation.

Review.

The sound went distant and unbearably heavy at the same time.

I watched the judge's mouth move and thought, stupidly, that I should've brought a glass of water.

That I should've slept more.

That I should've answered differently somewhere along the way.

On some random day.

In some conversation that had now turned into this.

A clean, almost polite sentence about my daughter's life.

I caught a glimpse of Renee.

Perfect hair.

Straight posture.

That calculated calm she only wore when she was winning.

Her lawyer already had his pen poised like he'd known the ending from the start.

Cross sat beside me, still, hands folded over his folder.

one second, I was certain the whole world had rehearsed

Except me.

like

24 hours, peacefully, with the presence of counsel if

and the thought

Stupid.

Impossible.

Bella from

My throat closed.

heart started beating in the wrong

looked at Cross like he

low to sound like a man who deserved to

we lose?"

at

just turned his head, steady, and gave me the only thing holding the world together in that

I wanted to ask how.When.What "this round"

to tell me this couldn't happen so fast, so cold.But the judge was already

Deadlines.

Formalities.

Dates.

could think about was Bella waking up tomorrow,

what

Until life proves otherwise.

did something worse.She smiled at her lawyer, squeezed his hand with quiet triumph, then looked at

didn't hear what she said, but I saw her

Something short.

I told you My

anything, that would give me back

and twenty-four hours to "transfer" my daughter.I stood on stiff legs, like I'd aged ten years

Cross touched my arm.

"Not now," he murmured.

In the hallway, the air felt colder than it should have.I took a few

courthouse doors weren't

They were a wall.

through that wall, and on the other side, I had to

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