“It is an emergency petition for temporary custody,” Naomi said, her voice dropping a register.

The words felt like a physical blow to my chest.

“On what grounds?” I demanded.

“He claims you are unfit,” Naomi said, her voice dripping with disgust.

She turned the page, her finger tracking down the text.

“He is using your military record against you, Tessa.”

“He claims your classified deployments make you an absent parent.”

“He also mentions your confidential financial assets.”

“He is arguing that you hid twenty million dollars from him during the marriage because of unstable psychological behavior.”

I let out a harsh laugh, though there was no humor in it.

“I hid it because he was stealing from me,” I said.

“He doesn’t care about the truth,” Naomi said.

“He is trying to paint you as a paranoid, secretive soldier who lives a double life.”

She handed me the document.

My eyes scanned the lines of typed legal text.

*Petitioner asserts that the Respondent’s high-level security clearance and covert operations pose an active danger to the child’s stability.*