Chapter 856

There were some things Linda wanted to say to Lauren, but she held back. The truth could be harsh. "Here's what we'll do," Linda said gently. "I'll come by after work tonight. Tomorrow morning, I'll contact a lawyer and set up a meeting. You can explain everything to them directly. You have every reason to win this custody battle, so don't worry." Legally, Clementine was recognized as Nicholas' biological child. However, the law didn't just consider biology—it also accounted for the parent's involvement in the child's life. In Clementine's case, Nicholas had been absent for her entire upbringing, while Lauren had been her sole caregiver. A judge would never side with someone who had shown zero interest in raising their child. If Lauren were incapable of providing for Clementine, there might've been a slim chance of custody going to Nicholas. But Lauren worked for Linda's company, earned a steady income, and had built a stable life—far surpassing Nicholas' ability to care for a chil