Chapter 4 - The Legal Siege
"They’re offering a settlement," Claire's attorney, a powerhouse named Sophia Vance, announced as she walked into the apartment.
Claire was sitting on the sofa, her hands resting on her round belly. "What kind of settlement?"
"Daniel wants to sign over the house to you, waive his rights to your personal savings, and offer a lump sum if you agree to drop the restraining order and sign a non-disclosure agreement," Sophia said, handing over the document. "He’s desperate. His company is on the verge of firing him, and the police are officially investigating the incident as felony reckless endangerment and domestic abuse."
Claire looked at the papers. In the past, she might have taken the easy way out just to make the nightmare stop. But she wasn't just fighting for herself anymore.
"What about custody?" Claire asked.
"He wants joint legal custody," Sophia admitted. "He says it’s non-negotiable. He wants to save face."
Claire picked up a pen, but instead of signing, she drew a thick, black line right through the custody clause.
"No," Claire said. "No custody. No visitation. No NDAs. I want him to face a judge."
That evening, Daniel, pushed to the brink of desperation, broke his temporary restraining order. He showed up at the lobby of Claire’s building. He was disheveled, his tie loose, smelling faintly of alcohol.
"Claire!" he screamed as the lobby doors opened. "You need to talk to me! You’re ruining my life over a stupid mistake!"
He tried to push past the front desk, but he didn't realize that Ethan’s top guards were stationed there. Within three seconds, Daniel was pinned to the marble floor, his arms locked behind his back.
"Let me go!" Daniel shrieked as the police, who had been pre-alerted by Sentinel Ridge's dispatch, arrived on the scene.
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"Daniel Harrison, you are under arrest for violation of a protective order," the officer said, snapping the handcuffs onto his wrists.
As they dragged him out, the flashing blue and red lights illuminated his panicked, defeated face. The illusion of his control was officially shattered.
