“Your Honor, my client has no knowledge of—” Carroway began.

“Sit down, Mr. Carroway,” the judge snapped.

The aggressive attorney sat down immediately, his mouth shut tight.

Judge Harlan looked down at me, his expression softening only slightly.

“Mrs. Bellamy, this court is prepared to issue its final ruling right now,” Judge Harlan said.

He reached for a thick document on his desk, his pen already in hand.

“Based on the evidence presented, including the financial discrepancies and the clear pattern of intimidation, I am making my decision,” the judge declared.

He signed his name with a heavy, scratching stroke that seemed to cut through the tension in the room.

“Claire Bellamy is hereby awarded sole physical and sole legal custody of Nolan Bellamy,” Judge Harlan announced.

My breath caught in my chest, a sob rising that I had to force down.

“Mr. Grant Bellamy’s visitation rights are severely restricted,” the judge continued, his eyes locked on my ex-husband. “He is granted supervised visits only.”

“Supervised?” Grant gasped, finally looking up.

“Yes,” Judge Harlan said. “Once per month, at a designated county facility, under the direct supervision of a social worker.”