Chapter 6
Three days later, the DNA test results came back.
99.9% positive.
Ethan was Lila’s biological father.
We cried, we hugged, we ordered Lila’s favorite ice cream to celebrate. For a few hours, it felt like the worst was over.
We were wrong.
That afternoon, there was another knock on the door.
A woman stood on the porch, in her late fifties, sharp, elegant, her face cold as ice. She held a leather handbag that cost more than my car, her gray hair pulled back in a tight bun.
“Ethan Carter?” she said, her voice clipped, no greeting. “I’m Eleanor Voss. Mia’s mother. Lila’s grandmother.”
My blood ran cold.
We let her in, and she sat on the couch, her back straight, looking around the house like it was beneath her.
Lila hid behind me, peeking out at the stranger, her hand fisted in my shirt.
Eleanor didn’t even look at her.
“I’m filing for full custody of Lila,” she said, getting straight to the point, like she was discussing a business deal. “I’ve already hired the best family lawyer in the state. You won’t win.”
Ethan stared at her, shocked. “What? She’s my daughter. I’m her father.”
Eleanor laughed, a cold, sharp sound. “You’re a father who didn’t even know she existed for seven years. You let my daughter raise that child alone, in a tiny apartment, working two jobs just to put food on the table. You let her die without ever saying goodbye. You’re not a father. You’re a stranger.”
Her words cut deep, and I saw Ethan flinch.
“Mia left me,” he said, his voice tight. “I didn’t know she was pregnant. I looked for her. I tried to find her.”
“Not hard enough,” Eleanor spat. “And now this? You’re a public disgrace. Those posts from Victoria—everyone in town has seen them. You’re on leave from your job, you’re being investigated by CPS. You can’t give Lila the life she deserves. I can. I have money, a big house, a stable life. I’ll send her to the best schools, give her everything she ever wanted.”
She finally looked at Lila, her face softening just a little.
“Come here, Lila,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m your grandma. I loved your mama very much. I’ll take care of you.”
Lila shook her head, pressing closer to me.
“I don’t know you,” she whispered, her voice small. “I want my daddy.”
Eleanor’s face hardened again.
“Victoria was right about you,” she said to Ethan, standing up. “You’re selfish. You only care about yourself. You took Mia from me once. I won’t let you take Lila too. See you in court.”
She walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Ethan sank onto the couch, his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.
“She’s right,” he whispered. “I wasn’t there. I let Mia down. What if I’m not good enough for Lila?”
I sat down next to him, grabbing his shoulders, making him look at me.
“Listen to me,” I said, fierce. “You didn’t know. That’s not your fault. Mia made a choice, and Eleanor made a choice to hate you instead of asking for the truth. Victoria is manipulating her, just like she manipulated everyone else. You are good enough for Lila. You love her. You show up for her, every single day. That’s all that matters.”
Lila climbed onto his lap, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.
“You’re the best daddy ever,” she said, serious as a heart attack. “I don’t want to go with the mean lady. I want to stay with you.”
Ethan held her tight, his tears soaking her hair.
“I’m not letting anyone take you from me,” he promised, his voice thick. “No matter what.”
May you like
But I knew, with Eleanor’s money and Victoria’s lies, the court battle was going to be brutal.
And I wasn’t sure we were going to win.
