Arthur


    The email arrives while I''m getting ready for work.


    It''s from aw firm. Subject line: "Urgent Legal Matter: Your Presence Required."


    My first thought is Selina. Perhaps she''s trying to sue me for breach of contract or public humiliation after I ended our engagement at the exhibition, not that she has any grounds to do so. I scan the email quickly, noting the time and date for tomorrow. No details about the nature of the meeting, just a request for my "prompt attendance to discuss a pressing legal matter."


    I sigh, pocketing my phone. Whatever Selina is nning, I''ll handle it. Right now, I need to focus on repairing things with Iris.


    Since our fight three nights ago, the atmosphere in the apartment has been frigid. Iris barely speaks to me, only interacting when Miles is present. She''s been out most of today, saying something about meeting Alice for lunch.


    Meanwhile, I''ve been trying to figure out how to make her understand that I never meant to hurt her-that keeping Miles'' Alpha status from her wasn''t about control, but about fear.


    Fear of exactly what''s happening now: losing them both.


    Thew firm''s offices are in a modest building downtown. I arrive fifteen minutes earlyter that morning, dressed in my usual suit and tie. I don''t intend for this to be a long meeting. The receptionist leads me to a conference room with an oval table and...


    Iris.


    "Iris?" I stop in the doorway, looking between her and thewyer she''s sitting next to. "What are you doing here?"


    She doesn''t answer, just stares at me. The man beside her stands.


    "Alpha President," he says, extending his hand. "I''ll be representing Miss Iris in our legal proceedings. Thank you foring on such short notice."


    I shake his hand automatically, my eyes still on Iris. "What''s going on here?" I demand.


    Thewyer takes a seat next to Iris. "Please, sit down," he says, gesturing to my chair.


    I remain standing. "I asked what''s going on."


    Thewyer clears his throat. "Miss Iris has retained my services to represent her in a custody matter regarding your son, Miles."


    The words feel like a bullet to the chest. I sink slowly into my chair, unable to process what I''m hearing.


    "Custody?" I repeat, my gaze fixed on Iris. She still won''t look at me. "Iris, what is this?"


    "My client is seeking full legal and physical custody of Miles," thewyer continues as if I hadn''t spoken. "We''re prepared to file the necessary paperwork with the family court today."


    My mind races, trying to make sense of this sudden betrayal. Just days ago, Iris had promised we wouldn''t leave the apartment-that she was staying for Miles. And now this?


    "Iris," I try again. "Look at me. Please."


    Finally, she raises her eyes to meet mine. What I see there freezes my blood. There''s no warmth, no softness


    just a cold, steely resolve I''ve never witnessed before. She''s locked herself away from mepletely.


    "You promised," I whisper. "You said you weren''t leaving


    "I said I wasn''t going to a hotel that night," she corrects in a t voice. "I never promised to stay."


    Clearing his throat, thewyer shuffles some papers in front of him. "Now, given the... unusual circumstances of this case, we''re prepared to negotiate visitation rights that would allow you to maintain a rtionship with the child, while acknowledging my client as the primary custodial parent."


    "This is ridiculous," I snap. "Miles is my son."


    "A son you didn''t even know about for five years," thewyer counters smoothly. "A son whose mother you manipted and coerced into remaining in the country through dubious legal means."


    "That''s not what happened!"


    "Isn''t it?" Thewyer raises an eyebrow. "You arranged for my client to be arrested on false charges. You twisted the terms of her contract to trap her in Ordan. You concealed critical medical information about her child from her."


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