Thomas looked at his lawyer, but his lawyer was staring at the emails on the page, his face blank.

Judge Miller spent five minutes reading the documents in silence.

The only sound in the room was the hum of the air conditioner and the steady dripping of rain against the window.

When the judge finally looked up, his expression was grim.

“Mr. Harper,” Judge Miller said, his eyes locking onto Thomas. “I have been on this bench for twelve years.”

Thomas stood up again, his shoulders tense. “Your Honor, I—”

“I said sit down,” the judge repeated, louder this time.

Thomas sat back down, his hands trembling slightly on the table.

“I have rarely seen a more cynical attempt to use this court for financial gain under the guise of parental affection,” Judge Miller said.

He closed the binder with a sharp thud that echoed through the quiet room.

“The evidence presented here shows a consistent pattern of abandonment, coercion, and financial greed,” the judge said. “Your own words on this recording make it clear that you have no interest in your daughter’s welfare.”