Chapter 6 - THE TRAP IS SET
By noon, Sarah had filed the emergency petition at the county courthouse. The judge, seeing the graphic photos of my facial trauma and reading Daniel's sworn affidavit regarding the highway ambush, signed an immediate temporary restraining order and granted me sole temporary legal custody of Lily.
However, as we stepped out of the courthouse onto the snow-dusted steps, three men in dark suits stepped out of a sleek black sedan parked at the curb.
In the center was Derek Callahan.
He looked immaculate. His tailor-made wool coat was immaculate, his hair perfectly combed, his expression smooth and untroubled—as if he hadn't spent the night before terrorizing his family.
Two court deputies stood near the doors, keeping their hands near their holsters as Derek approached, staying just outside the legal boundary.
"Anna," Derek said, his voice rich and full of false warmth. "You look tired. You should come home so we can get you proper medical care."
I stood my ground, clutching Lily's diaper bag tightly against my chest while Daniel stood beside me.
"I have a restraining order, Derek," I said, holding up the signed court document. "You are violating it right now by being within fifty feet of me."
Derek smiled softly, a terrifyingly calm expression that made my stomach churn. "That temporary order is based on unproven allegations, my love. My legal team has already filed an appeal. Your father has signed a sworn affidavit stating that you arrived at his house last night in a hysterical state, and that your injuries were sustained in a minor car collision on the way over."
My heart stopped. My father had lied to the court. He had sworn under oath that my husband hadn't beaten me, just to protect his monthly payments.
"He swore to that?" Daniel demanded, taking a step forward. "I was there! Dad is lying!"
"His word carries a lot of weight in this county, Daniel," Derek replied smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. "A respected business owner vs. an unemployed daughter with a history of emotional instability. Who do you think the family court judge will believe when we attend the custody hearing next week?"
Derek turned his gaze directly to me, his eyes darkening with cold ownership. "You have no money, Anna. Your parents have turned against you. You have nowhere to go. Bring Lily home by tonight, drop these ridiculous charges, and I will increase your parents' monthly allowance to five thousand. Everyone wins."
"I am not for sale, Derek," I said, leaning in so only he could hear me. "And neither is my daughter."
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"Then you will lose everything," Derek whispered softly. "I will take Lily, I will bankrupt your brother, and I will destroy your parents until they are sleeping on the street. You know I have the power to do it."
He turned on his heel, stepped back into his sedan, and drove away into the afternoon traffic.
