Chapter 5 - THE HEARING LAUREN THOUGHT SHE COULD WIN
Lauren arrived at court in cream trousers and a navy blouse, every trace of Miami gone except the tan line around her wrist where Jason’s hotel bracelet had been.
She did not look abandoned.
She looked prepared.
That worried Daniel more.
Monica Vale was excellent.
She did not deny the hospital call.
She contextualized it.
“My client was under extraordinary marital stress and believed the child was medically stable based on prior messages.”
Daniel nearly stood.
His attorney stopped him.
Monica continued.
“She used regrettable language. That does not equal parental abandonment.”
True.
Then she attacked Jason.
“Mr. Blake cultivated a false romantic relationship at Daniel Carter’s direction.”
Also true.
“Mr. Carter used a third party to manipulate his wife into making incriminating statements.”
Maybe.
Daniel felt the room shift.
Jason’s role could poison the evidence if framed badly.
Then Monica introduced messages where Daniel told Jason:
KEEP HER TALKING.
DON’T LET HER KNOW I KNOW.
WE NEED HER TO SHOW INTENT.
Ugly.
Even if lawful.
Lauren stared at Daniel across the courtroom.
“You used him.”
Daniel did not answer.
Monica’s point was clear:
If Lauren manipulated assets, Daniel manipulated circumstances.
The judge asked:
“Did Mr. Blake initiate romance?”
Lauren said yes.
Jason’s affidavit said no.
That conflict mattered.
Then the hospital call played.
Lauren’s face changed while hearing her own voice.
Stop calling. I’m done with your sick kid.
Ethan’s faint breathing could be heard in the background.
The courtroom went silent.
Monica did not try to excuse it afterward.
Smart.
She moved on.
The judge granted Daniel temporary primary custody.
Lauren received supervised contact after Ethan’s medical discharge and therapist review.
No international travel with the child.
Financial restraint on major marital transfers.
Not full defeat.
Not full victory.
Then came the trust issue.
Richard Hale testified that $612,000 had moved from Ethan’s medical trust over eighteen months.
Lauren looked genuinely shocked by the total.
“That’s wrong.”
Richard said:
“Some payments are legitimate.”
“How much?”
“Approximately two hundred forty thousand.”
That covered medical travel, private specialists, therapy, and a home air-filtration renovation.
The remaining $372,000 was questionable.
Lauren’s attorney requested transaction detail.
Good.
No panic.
One shell company appeared repeatedly:
LMC Wellness Consulting.
Initials:
Lauren Marie Carter.
Daniel looked at her.
She went pale.
“I didn’t create that.”
Monica turned.
“Do not answer further.”
The company was registered in Delaware.
Manager:
not Lauren.
Jason Blake.
Everyone stared.
Daniel felt betrayed before he understood.
Lauren’s face turned almost triumphant.
“There.”
She pointed at Jason.
“He stole it.”
Jason looked stunned.
“That company is not mine.”
Records said otherwise.
His signature appeared on incorporation documents.
Richard checked.
Wet signature scan.
Could be genuine.
Could be forged.
Jason’s role had just moved from witness to possible suspect.
The judge paused the trust issue and referred it to financial investigators.
Lauren looked at Daniel.
For the first time since Miami, she smiled.
“You picked the wrong man.”
May you like
Daniel looked at Jason.
And for the first time, he wondered whether he had.
