CHAPTER 457: FULL CUSTODY

The courtroom buzzed with quiet anticipation as Maddy took her place at the plaintiff's table. The air was thick with the scent of polished wood and old leather. She smoothed her skirt, her hands trembling slightly. This was the day she had been preparing for, the day she would fight for full custody of her daughter, Susan. Ryan, seated beside her, reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You've got this, Maddy," he whispered. She nodded, drawing strength from his presence. "I hope so." Maddy's lawyer and longtime friend, Eleanor, arranged her papers calmly and efficiently. She glanced at Maddy, offering a warm smile. "Just tell the truth, and everything will work out." The judge entered, and the room fell silent. He was an imposing figure, his stern gaze sweeping over the courtroom as he sat. The proceedings began, and Eleanor launched into her opening statement, vividly painting Maddy's devotion to Susan and her ability to provide a stable, loving home. Maddy listene