The Prep Begins.

The courtroom wasn’t grand. It wasn’t what movies promised with oak panels and sweeping arches. It was small, sterile. The kind of place where lives changed in hushed tones under fluorescent lighting.

The judge entered at exactly 9:02 a.m. Everyone stood.

“Please be seated,” the bailiff said. His voice echoed too loud in the space.

Zane sat beside Alessia at the defendant’s table. His jaw locked, his cufflinks gleamed. Beside him, Alessia’s hands were curled into fists on her lap.

Roman’s lawyer rose.

“Your Honor, we are here today on the matter of Mr. Roman Velez petition for sole custody of the unborn child currently carried by Mrs. Alessia Wolfe.”

A murmur stirred from the gallery. The judge held up a hand.

“Quiet,” she said sharply. “Proceed.”

Roman’s lawyer, a tall man with silver hair and thin lips adjusted his tie and continued.

“We are petitioning for sole custody based on three legal grounds: one, desertion of the marital home prior to separation; two, concealment of pregnancy and lack of medical cooperation with the biological father; and three, intentional refusal to grant access or communication, which we argue creates a foundation for parental alienation.”

Zane leaned forward slowly, elbows on the table, eyes locked on the lawyer like a beast watching prey circle too close.

Alessia’s voice was tight.

“He never asked for access. Not once.”

Roman, sitting behind his counsel in an expensive suit and fake concern smeared across his face, leaned to whisper something. His eyes never left her.

“Let’s not,” Zane said under his breath, his hand moving discreetly under the table to touch her knee. Steadying her. Grounding her.

Their own attorney rose.

“Your Honor, this is a baseless petition. Mrs. Wolfe left the Velez residence under threat and emotional duress. Since that time, she has received no communication from Mr. Velez and no effort was made to medically or legally acknowledge the child.

The judge nodded slowly, flipping pages on her docket.

“We’ll hear sworn testimony from Mrs. Wolfe. Then Mr. Velez, if necessary. No grandstanding from either side.”

The gavel hit softly. The clerk called the witness.

“Mrs. Alessia Wolfe, please rise.”

Zane’s hand brushed hers once before she stood.

Her heels clicked softly as she walked to the stand. The oath was read. She lifted her right hand, voice even.

“I do.”

Then she sat. The lawyer approached slowly.

“Mrs. Wolfe. You claim Mr. Velez has not attempted to contact you during your pregnancy?”

Alessia’s eyes did not shift.

“I don’t claim it. It’s the truth.”

“Mrs. Wolfe,” the opposing lawyer said, pacing before the bench like he was toying with her patience, “did you ever inform Mr. Velez that you were pregnant?”

Alessia sat straight in the witness box. Her palms pressed flat against her thighs.

“I tried,” she lied,

“He had divorced me and then I left.”

The lawyer turned sharply.

“No phone calls? No follow-up? Nothing further?”

“No,” she answered.

A faint gasp from the gallery. The judge didn’t move.

Roman, from his seat, clenched his fists.

The lawyer held up a document.

“We have call records here. No attempt was made.”

Zane shifted in his chair. His hand gripped the edge of the table. His lawyer gently touched his arm, a silent warning not to speak.

Alessia swallowed hard.

“I didn’t think a man who cheated on me and treated me like property had a right to my pregnancy.”

Roman suddenly stood.

“That’s a lie.”

“Mr. Velez,” the judge snapped, her voice slicing through the courtroom.

“Sit down or I will have you removed. One more word without permission and I will hold you in contempt.”

He sat, seething.

Zane didn’t look at Roman. His eyes were only on Alessia. Her voice. The way her chest rose and fell slowly. She wasn’t afraid. She was finally burning.

The lawyer stepped closer to the witness box again.

“You are currently married, are you not?”

“Yes.”

“To Mr. Zane Wolfe?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ve registered this child under his surname?”

“I haven’t registered anything. The baby isn’t born yet.”

“But it will bear his name, won’t it?”

Alessia turned to the judge.

“Is that relevant? Does it matter who gives my baby a name when the father has divorced me?”

The judge tapped her pen twice on the desk.

“We’re here to determine custodial rights, not moral victories,” she said

The courtroom rippled again. The judge gave one sharp nod.

“Let’s take a recess. Fifteen minutes. Mr. Velez, remain seated. Mrs. Wolfe, Mr. Wolfe do not engage outside this room.”

The gavel came down.

Alessia stood. Zane was already by her side, his hand at the small of her back. He leaned in close, brushing his lips just above her ear.

“I’m proud of you.”

Court resumed with a heavy silence.

Zane’s fingers brushed Alessia’s as they stood. Her hand didn’t flinch. She didn’t need words now. Her silence was stronger.

The judge returned, face blank. Roman remained standing near the witness box, his knuckles white.

“I’ve reviewed the evidence, the testimonies, and the nature of this petition,” the judge began.

“There is a clear emotional history between all parties, but my concern is the child.”

Roman’s jaw tensed. He didn’t blink.

“I’m granting temporary full custody to the petitioner, Alessia Wolfe, with visitation rights to the biological father pending supervised evaluation.”

Zane smiled.

Roman stepped forward. “That’s…”

“You will not interrupt me again, Mr. Velez.”

Roman’s breath shuddered in his chest. His voice lowered, almost calm.

“She got married, with my baby in her belly.”

“I am protecting the child. If you cannot contain yourself, I will consider sanctions.”

Roman said nothing. But his eyes burned.

The judge glanced toward Zane. “Mr. Wolfe, you are to provide all necessary legal documents by week’s end.”

“Understood.”

Roman’s lawyer reached for his arm, but Roman pulled away. He turned toward Alessia. Just once. Eyes locked. But she didn’t look away.

And that… shattered him more than the ruling, he had the rights now, to his baby but not to Alessia.

Back at the rear of the room, Lisa slipped into her seat beside Zane just as the ruling was delivered. Her blouse was fastened, hair brushed quickly but her flushed cheeks betrayed her.

Chase entered seconds later. He didn’t sit next to her. He stood by the exit.

Zane gave Lisa a look. One brow raised.

“Rough recess?”

Lisa didn’t answer, her smile was faint, almost wicked.

Alessia noticed the tension and leaned in.

“What did I miss?”

Lisa straightened her skirt. “A small… distraction.”

Alessia blinked. Then smirked.

In the car, Zane shut the door behind Alessia and turned to face her.

“You did good,” he said. “You didn’t let him rattle you.”

“He tried.”

Zane touched her face. “Let him try. He lost.”

She leaned into his hand. “He’ll come back.”

“I know.”

“But this time... we’ll be ready.”

He kissed her forehead, then her mouth.

And neither of them noticed Lisa watching from the window. Her lips still red. Her heart beating harder than it should.

Because for all the power plays in that courtroom, the real storm hadn’t started yet.

And Lisa... was holding a secret of her own.