Chapter 3 - The Cold War for Custody
The family court building in downtown St. Louis was a grim, limestone monolith. At 8:30 a.m., Ethan stood in the hallway outside Judge Helen Vance’s chambers. Beside him stood Thomas Vance, his corporate attorney, looking deeply uncomfortable in the presence of social workers and crying infants.
"Ethan, this is highly irregular," Thomas whispered, checking his digital watch. "The board is already frantic. Julian Vance—your main competitor at Apex Logistics—somehow found out you skipped the morning call. His people are already buying up shares on the open market, hinting that you’re having a nervous breakdown."
"Let them buy," Ethan said, his eyes fixed on the heavy oak doors of the courtroom.
The door opened, and Mara Leland stepped out, followed by a man in a cheap polyester suit. Ethan recognized him immediately from the hospital files: it was Gary Vance, the manager of the Riverview Transit Lodge, and coincidentally, a distant cousin of Julian Vance.
"Mr. Cole," Gary said, a greasy smile stretching across his face. "Funny seeing a billionaire down here in the dirt. I'm just here to make sure the state knows about the damage those kids left in my room. Burned carpet from a hot plate, unpaid rent. Their mother owed me three thousand dollars before she kicked the bucket."
Ethan stepped close to the man, his height allowing him to look down into Gary’s face with an intensity that made the smirk vanish. "You have exactly five seconds to leave this building before my legal team introduces the state housing inspector to the black mold in Room 14 of your property. I bought your mortgage two hours ago, Gary. You work for me now. And your first assignment is to shut your mouth."
Gary swallowed hard, his face turning a mottled red, and retreated down the hallway without another word.
Inside the chambers, Judge Vance looked over her glasses at Ethan’s petition. "Mr. Cole, you have no biological relation to these children. Why should I grant you temporary custody instead of a certified state home?"
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"Because their mother left them a legacy, Your Honor," Ethan said, stepping toward the bench. "A legacy I stole from her seven years ago. I cannot fix the past, but I have the resources to ensure her daughters never have to walk through another storm barefoot. I am putting up ten million dollars in a blind trust for their education and care, effective immediately. If the state takes them, they become case numbers. If they come with me, they become my priority."
Judge Vance looked at Mara Leland, who gave a slow, deliberate nod. The judge slammed her gavel down. "Temporary guardianship granted for ninety days, pending a full home study. Don't make me regret this, Mr. Cole."
