Chapter 7 - NATHAN’S FIRST NIGHT WITH LILY
Family court approved Nathan’s first three-hour unsupervised visit after the evaluator found no immediate safety concerns in his apartment.
I packed Lily’s medication, snacks, pajamas in case she became tired, and written routines.
Nathan read every page in front of me.
His attention felt deliberate because Dr. Ward had criticized how often he signed documents without reading them.
“What if she asks to come home?”
“I call you.”
“What if she cries?”
“You comfort her first. Then call if she cannot settle.”
“What does she eat?”
“The list is there.”
“I read it.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I want to hear it from you too.”
That answer prevented an argument.
Lily entered his apartment carrying a stuffed rabbit.
The building’s security made her nervous, so Nathan asked the guards to remove their jackets and remain out of sight unless needed.
He did not dismiss them entirely.
Safety adapted instead of disappearing.
For three hours they painted, made pasta, and watched half an animated film.
Lily returned with sauce on her cardigan and a paper crown.
“Daddy burned the first noodles.”
Nathan held the ruined pot behind him.
“I misread the timing.”
“You read the instructions?” I asked.
“Twice.”
Ordinary failure softened something in me.
Then Lily said:
“The white lady came to the downstairs window.”
Nathan’s expression changed.
Victoria remained released on bond under electronic monitoring while awaiting trial.
She was prohibited from approaching Lily, me, or Nathan’s residence.
Building cameras showed a woman in a hat standing across the street.
Facial analysis suggested Victoria but was not conclusive.
Her ankle-monitor data placed her at home.
The monitoring device had remained there.
Someone may have worn her appearance.
Or she had removed the device.
Police searched her townhouse.
Victoria was present.
The monitor was attached correctly.
She denied involvement.
The woman outside Nathan’s apartment entered a car registered to Hayes Strategic Consulting.
Leonard Hayes said an employee was checking media activity.
The employee refused to identify herself.
The court expanded the no-contact order to Hayes agents.
Leonard publicly accused Nathan of allowing a maid to separate him from his fiancée and business partners.
Nathan withdrew his merger approval.
Edward called an emergency board meeting to remove him as chief executive.
The board placed Nathan on temporary leave by one vote.
Edward became acting CEO.
Nathan’s access to corporate records was suspended.
He still held shares.
He no longer controlled the institution carrying his surname.
He came to my apartment after requesting permission through Naomi.
“I need you to know something,” he said.
“This is not a good time.”
“The board believes Lily’s trust block can be invalidated if they prove you concealed her fraudulently.”
“I concealed her from you.”
“You did not conceal her existence from Charles. My father knew.”
“Do we have proof?”
“Samuel’s copy and the letters.”
“Not the original.”
Nathan looked toward Lily’s closed bedroom.
“They will attack your custody to attack the trust.”
I had expected financial pressure.
I had not expected my parenting case to become a corporate weapon.
The next morning Edward filed a petition in probate court.
He alleged that I had manufactured Lily’s paternity evidence with Nathan’s cooperation to stop the merger.
The accredited DNA test made the claim absurd.
The purpose was delay.
While courts argued, Edward planned to close the Hayes transaction.
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The wedding no longer existed.
The merger still did.
