Chapter 254
“I have a son and a daughter. They are both four years old,” Haley confided. “I’ve been raising them on my own for four years, and now their father has come back to seek custody. What are my chances?”
Garrett suppressed his shock. He had thought there was something between Ivan and Haley. It seemed he had the wrong idea.
Adjusting his glasses, he remembered his professional composure. “Haley, please tell me more about this situation. I would like to know more about the children, their father, and your current parenting circumstances.”
Haley nodded and took a seat across from Garrett.
“Five years ago, due to an unexpected encounter, I had a relationship with the children’s father. Eight months later, I gave birth prematurely and then moved abroad with the children. For these past four years, I’ve raised them alone. Their father hasn’t once appeared or provided any child support. The children don’t even know him.”
“Their father’s name is Jeremy Chase, an entrepreneur. The market value of Chase Group is around fifty billion.” Haley stated, telling everything she knew.
Garrett jotted down notes rapidly while Ivan stood nearby with a cup of coffee, watched intently with thought.
“So, what you’re saying is, the father is a successful businessman with considerable wealth, who, to the outside world, appears to have a happy family,” Garrett summarized. “And you, despite having a substantial inheritance, have always been single, and the children have lived in a single-parent household.”
He pushed up his glasses again and continued, “Considering the jury’s likely emphasis on the children’s psychological well-being, there’s a significant chance custody could be awarded to their father.”
Haley’s fingers tightened. “Even if he hasn’t contributed any effort or money over the years, the judgment would still favor him?”
Garrett nodded. “If he knowingly neglected his responsibilities, the court would certainly not be in his favor. However, from your account, it seems you had the children without informing their father, right?”
Haley pursed her lips. When she first found out she was pregnant, she considered terminating it. But lying on the operating table, she couldn’t go through with it. She escaped, choosing potential captivity over losing the life growing inside her.
She had anticipated this day might come, but not so soon. The twins, Todd and Angela, were only four. She couldn’t afford to lose them now.
Haley’s throat felt parched as she posed the question, her voice tinged with worry. “Is there no way to turn things around even if you are my lawyer?”
Garrett spoke slowly, his confidence evident. “While I do have a high success rate in court, and there is a chance I could swing the verdict, I get the feeling you’re looking for a surefire win.”
Haley nodded. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to great lengths to seek out Garrett if it was not to secure a definitive victory.
“There’s a way you could absolutely secure custody, Haley,” Garrett spoke in a calm tone.
A spark of hope flickered in Haley’s eyes. “I’m all ears.”
“Haley, as the mother who’s been the sole caregiver for the past four years, the court would no doubt favor you, especially if the children can vouch for that. In this case, establishing a paternal figure for the kids would all but guarantee the court upholds your custody rights.”
Haley’s expression shifted dramatically at his words. She would do anything for her kids—anything but getting married. The thought of marrying just any man wasn’t an option for her.
“A marriage of convenience is still a marriage. We can deal with the divorce after the trial,” Garrett said with nonchalant ease. “Of course, if this suggestion is utterly abhorrent to you, just forget it. I’ll still do my utmost to win this case for you.”
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