Seaside, Martin Mansion.
Monday, 8:40 in the morning.
Kristin sat behind the grand mahogany desk, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee curling into the air as she cradled the steaming cup in her hands. Her black curls cascaded freely over her shoulders, framing a poised and elegant face. She exuded confidence, the very picture of a self-made woman who had carved out her own empire. The soft hum of her computer filled the air as she sifted through her morning emails—until one notification stopped her cold.
A familiar email address flashed on the screen.
Her lips curled into a small, involuntary smile as she clicked it open, expecting the usual weekly update about Claire, her baby girl. But as her eyes skimmed over the lone sentence staring back at her, that smile froze.
I want to regain custody of our daughter. My lawyer will contact you.
Kristin’s pulse spiked. The warmth of her coffee was suddenly an afterthought, replaced by the ice creeping through her veins.
Walter.
Her ex-husband.
The emails between them had always been civil, sparse, and strictly about Claire. This was different. This was a threat.
A slow, dull ache settled between her brows as she exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her thick curls. With three sharp clicks of her mouse, she deleted the email. But the unease remained, clawing at her like an unwelcome ghost.
Almost as if to shake off the storm brewing inside, she clicked on last week's email from Walter—one that contained a video.
Claire.
Her little girl, laughing, smearing mashed bananas across her chubby cheeks, her tiny fingers clutching a stuffed bunny. Kristin watched the video on loop, her heart softening. Her daughter was her world. And no one—no one—was going to take her away.
A knock at the door broke her trance. Zac, her ever-efficient assistant, stepped in with a bright, professional smile.
"Madam Martin, there's a call for you at the front desk. I’ll transfer it over."
Before Kristin could respond, the office phone rang. She reached for it, pressing it to her ear.
"Hello, this is Kristin Martin."
A measured voice answered, calm but firm. "Miss Martin, I am John Griffin, legal counsel for Mr. Walter Black. I’d like to discuss child custody matters with you."
Kristin stilled. A slow, bitter chuckle built in her throat, but she held it back.
"The legal representative of Walter Black?" she mused, a sharp edge lacing her tone. "That was fast."
John cleared his throat. "Mr. Black intends to formally petition the court for custody. We’d prefer to resolve this amicably. An out-of-court settlement would be in everyone’s best interest—most of all, Claire’s."
The audacity.
Kristin's grip on the phone tightened. "Tell Walter something for me, Mr. Griffin. A real man keeps his word. And as I recall, he signed a prenuptial agreement. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you do—unless you want your legal career tainted by a case you’re bound to lose."
A beat of silence. Then, "Miss Martin—"
Kristin ended the call with a decisive click.
The office fell eerily silent, except for the faint babbling sounds still playing from the video. She glanced at Zac, whose face remained unreadable. She gave him a dismissive wave, and he took the cue to leave, closing the door softly behind him.
She had assumed Walter would never go this far. That despite their history, despite everything, he wouldn’t dare challenge her motherhood.
She had assumed wrong.
Less than a week later, the reality of Walter’s threat arrived in the form of a subpoena.
Kristin stared at the document in her hands, disbelief quickly turning to anger as she read the charges.
Plaintiff: Walter Black
Defendant: Kristin Martin
Grounds: The mother is unfit to raise the child. The father seeks sole custody.
Her fingers clenched around the paper.
Her? Unfit?
Walter, the man who had walked away, the man who had prioritized his precious corporate empire over his family—he had the audacity to paint her as an unfit mother?
Her heart pounded against her ribs.
Walter, are you really going through with this?
Is this your move? Your strategy?
What gives you the right to take Claire from me? Your last name? Your father’s billion-dollar legacy?
You may have power, Walter. But you’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.
If it’s a war you want—
Then it’s a war you’ll get.
The days ahead promised turbulence and uncertainty, a relentless series of challenges that would test her resolve to its very core. Yet, as Kristin looked out over the rising sun, she allowed herself a small, determined smile. The game had changed, the stakes were higher than ever, and she was ready. No one—especially not Walter —would take Claire from her. And if this legal battle escalated into a war, then Kristin would wage it with every fiber of her being, driven by a mother's love that nothing could ever extinguish.