Lucas’s hands trembled, but his voice stayed firm.
“I’ve prepared information showing why I should stay with my mom,” he said. “And why my father’s reason for wanting custody isn’t what he says.”
Daniel’s attorney leaned forward sharply. “This is highly inappropriate. The child has no legal standing—”
“Then why didn’t anyone give me a lawyer?” Lucas replied instantly. “In eight months of court, no one ever asked what I wanted. So I decided to speak for myself.”
A ripple of murmurs swept the room.
Judge Collins leaned back, studying him. “Alright, Lucas. Go on.”
Lucas opened his notebook. Inside were neatly taped newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, and highlighted pages. He spoke about missed birthdays, broken promises, and staged visits meant only for photos.
Then he lifted his head.
“My father recently lost a major lawsuit,” he said. “His wife filed for divorce. And my grandmother—Margaret Cross—left behind a trust fund worth $1.5 million. It’s for me.”
Gasps filled the courtroom.
“The money only becomes available if my father gains custody,” Lucas continued. “That’s why he’s here.”
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