“It has a view of the gardens, and we have already enrolled her in the best private academy in the city.”

He paused, looking down as if fighting back deep emotion.

“She deserves stability, Your Honor,” Grant said.

“Stability she hasn’t had since my ex-wife decided to move her from place to place.”

I wanted to stand up and scream.

I wanted to tell the judge about the moldy apartment we had to leave because Grant had frozen our bank accounts.

I wanted to tell him about the nights Rosie and I had shared a single mattress on the floor of a studio apartment.

Nathan’s grip on my hand tightened under the table, warning me to stay still.

I breathed in, smelling the faint scent of Nathan’s cedarwood cologne.

It anchored me to the chair.

“And what about your fiancée, Ms. Hale?” Vance asked.

“How does she fit into this new life?”

Grant smiled, a warm, practiced gesture.

“Vanessa is fully committed to being a mother to Rosie,” Grant said.

“She has already helped design the bedroom and plan her schedule.”