Victoria filed for full custody, claiming Jonathan exposed Ethan to instability, inappropriate relationships, and unqualified caretakers.
The courtroom was packed.
Victoria appeared flawless in white, projecting maternal devotion. Her attorneys were sharp, relentless.
Jonathan’s own legal team urged him to distance himself from Alana. “She’s a liability,” they warned.
He refused.
When Alana was called to the stand, murmurs rippled through the room. She wore a simple navy dress. Her hands trembled slightly—but her eyes were steady.
Victoria’s lawyer smirked. “Miss Brooks, what qualifications does a waitress have to manage a child with complex developmental needs? Or are you simply paid for babysitting services?”
Jonathan felt anger surge.
Alana inhaled slowly.
“I am not a babysitter,” she said clearly. “I hold a Master’s degree in Special Education from New York University, specializing in neurodevelopment.”
Silence fell.
“For eight years, I directed the Horizon Learning Center,” she continued. “We served over two hundred children with severe autism—children the system had dismissed.”
She turned to Victoria. Then to Jonathan.