Across the aisle, Steven is standing and gathering his things with jerky, angry movements. His lawyer is talking to him in low tones, probably trying to calm him down, but Steven isn’t listening.
Been there. Done that.
He turns and shoots daggers in my direction, as if he can suddenly hear my thoughts. For a moment, his intimidation tactics almost work. That old fear almost creeps back in, along with the instinct to look away, to make myself smaller and avoid confrontation.
But then I feel Grant’s steady presence next to me, and I remember April’s sweet face this morning when she was so confident that I would win. I think about the elephant figurine in my purse, and about everything I’ve been through to get here.
And something changes inside me. Something clicks into place. I stand up and meet Steven’s death stare head-on.
He starts to move toward me, but I hold up a hand.
“Stop.” There isn’t even a hint of hesitation in my voice. “Don’t come any closer.”
He pauses, and a genuine look of surprise flashes across his face. He’s not used to me standing up to him.
“I have nothing to say to you, Steven. And you have nothing to say that I need to hear.”
“Heather, you can’t just do this.”
“I’m not done.” I take a breath. “You spent years making me feel small. Making me believe I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t capable of taking care of myself or my daughter. You tried to control me and break me down, all so I’d be fooled into thinking I needed you.”
His jaw clenches, but I don’t stop.
“But you failed. I left. I built a life for myself and for April. A good life. And you aren’t a part of it because you don’t deserve to be.”
“You can’t just erase me from her life like this.”
“Yes, I can.” Our legal team is looking at me with wide eyes, but none of them are making moves to stop me. “You abandoned us. You chose not to be a father. You don’t get to show up nine years later and pretend you care. You don’t get to use the legal system to terrorize me. And you don’t get to put your hands on me ever again.”
Steven’s face is turning red. “You think you’re so much better now? You think that hockey player gives a shit about you?”
“What Grant does or doesn’t feel isn’t your business. Nothing about my life is your business anymore.” I step closer, and he actually takes a step back. “Stay away from me. Stay away from April. Stay away from everyone I care about. You’re nothing to me now. You’re nobody.”
For a long moment, we just stare at each other. And then something in his expression crumbles. All that false confidence, all that smug superiority—it drains away, leaving behind just a sad, angry man who lost.
He turns without another word and stalks toward the courtroom doors.
His lawyer follows, and then they’re gone.
Chapter 46
Grant
I feel a deep sense of satisfaction as I watch Steven walk out of the courtroom with his tail between his legs.
The piece of shit finally got what he deserved.
But more than that, I’m proud as hell of Heather. The way she stood up to him, looked him in the eye, and told him exactly what he needed to hear. No sign of fear and no backing down. Just pure strength.
That’s my Hurricane.
Richard closes his briefcase and turns to us with a satisfied smile.
“That went exactly as we hoped,” he says. “Judge Morrison didn’t waste any time shutting him down.”
“What happens now?” Heather asks. Her voice is steady, but she sounds tired now that the adrenaline is probably wearing off. Like someone who has been through hell and back too many times to count.
“The restraining order is in effect immediately,” Jennifer says. “You’ll receive the official documentation within forty-eight hours, but it’s legally binding as of today.”
