The judge cleared his throat, the authority returning to his voice. “Mr. Carter, it seems there’s more to consider in this matter than what’s been presented. The best interests of the child are paramount, and I’ll take all evidence into account before making a decision.”

Damian stood silent, his earlier bravado gone, replaced by an uncertain vulnerability. Zaden sat back down, the tension easing from his small shoulders. The courtroom was still again, but this time the quiet felt like relief, a shared understanding that the truth had found its way to the surface.