Chapter 8 – Fighting for Toby
Three days after the lawsuit became public, another headline dominated every major news outlet.
Collins Technologies Founder Files Emergency Petition for Joint Custody
The article spread through the financial world within minutes.
Some readers applauded Jasper for wanting to remain in his son's life.
Others saw it as a desperate attempt to repair a reputation that was collapsing faster each day.
Hailey stared at the headline in silence.
She wasn't surprised.
She had expected it.
Jasper had lost investors.
He had lost public trust.
Now he was afraid of losing the only person who still carried his name.
Their son.
Robertson Estate was unusually quiet that morning.
Toby slept peacefully in the nursery while sunlight filtered through the lace curtains.
Hailey sat beside his crib, gently tracing one tiny hand with her fingertip.
Finnley entered carrying a legal folder.
"It's official," he said softly.
"He filed for joint legal custody and shared parenting time."
Hailey nodded.
"I thought he would."
Finnley sat beside her.
"He also requested immediate visitation."
She closed her eyes.
"I will never keep Toby away from his father."
Finnley looked at her carefully.
"But?"
"But I won't let my son grow up believing the way Jasper treated me was normal."
Across the city, Jasper met with his attorney, Richard Hayes.
Stacks of documents covered the conference table.
Richard adjusted his glasses.
"The court doesn't care about your business problems."
"They care about the child's best interests."
Jasper leaned forward.
"I love my son."
"I know."
"But love isn't what the judge measures."
"What do they measure?"
"Stability."
"Judgment."
"Parental responsibility."
Richard paused before adding,
"And unfortunately..."
"The hospital incident will become central to this case."
Jasper lowered his head.
"I know."
One week later...
The Family Court building overflowed with reporters.
Television cameras lined the courthouse steps.
Although the judge had ordered the custody hearing closed to the public, media attention remained intense.
Every major network wanted updates.
Inside Courtroom Four, the atmosphere was entirely different.
No cameras.
No applause.
Only polished wooden benches and quiet tension.
Judge Eleanor Matthews entered.
Everyone stood.
She looked over the courtroom.
"This matter concerns the welfare of a minor child."
"It is not a media event."
"I expect professionalism from everyone."
Her eyes briefly settled on Jasper.
Then Hailey.
"Be seated."
Hailey sat calmly beside her attorney.
She wore a simple navy-blue suit.
There was no makeup beyond the basics.
No attempt to impress anyone.
Only quiet dignity.
Across the aisle, Jasper looked exhausted.
Dark circles framed his eyes.
His once-perfect confidence had disappeared.
For the first time in years...
He looked like an ordinary man facing extraordinary consequences.
Richard Hayes stood first.
"Your Honor, my client deeply regrets mistakes made during a stressful period following the birth of his son."
"He seeks the opportunity to remain an active father."
"He is financially capable of providing an excellent home."
"He loves his child."
The judge nodded politely.
"Noted."
Hailey's attorney, Victoria Monroe, rose next.
"This case is not about wealth."
"It is not about status."
"It concerns judgment."
She opened a thin folder.
"Five days after Mrs. Collins underwent major abdominal surgery, Mr. Collins drove away with the family vehicle, leaving his wife and newborn child to travel home alone by public transportation."
Silence settled across the courtroom.
Victoria continued.
"The evidence will show this was not an unavoidable emergency."
"It was a deliberate decision."
"The petitioner calls Nurse Rebecca Sullivan."
A woman in pale blue scrubs walked to the witness stand.
She raised her right hand and took the oath.
Victoria smiled gently.
"Please state your occupation."
"I'm the maternity discharge coordinator at St. Andrew's Hospital."
"Were you on duty the morning Mrs. Collins was discharged?"
"Yes."
"Do you recognize the parties?"
"I do."
She pointed toward Hailey.
"Mrs. Collins."
Then toward Jasper.
"Mr. Collins."
Victoria nodded.
"Tell the court what happened."
Rebecca's voice remained steady.
"Mrs. Collins had undergone an emergency Cesarean section."
"Her recovery was progressing normally."
"However, she was still experiencing significant pain when walking."
"Were discharge instructions provided?"
"Yes."
"What did they include?"
"No heavy lifting."
"Avoid unnecessary physical strain."
"Have assistance available whenever possible."
The courtroom grew even quieter.
Victoria asked,
"Did Mr. Collins receive those instructions?"
"Yes."
"He was standing beside his wife."
"What happened outside the hospital?"
Rebecca inhaled slowly.
"I watched Mr. Collins hand Mrs. Collins several bills."
"I assumed he was paying for parking."
She paused.
"Then I realized he expected her to take the city bus."
Murmurs echoed softly through the courtroom gallery.
Judge Matthews immediately raised her hand.
"Order."
Rebecca continued.
"I offered to call a taxi."
"Mrs. Collins quietly declined."
"She seemed embarrassed."
"Were you concerned?"
"Very."
"So concerned that I documented the incident in her discharge notes."
Victoria handed the witness a document.
"Is this your report?"
"Yes."
She read aloud.
'Patient discharged without adequate transportation despite recent surgery. Husband declined assistance and departed with other family members.'
Jasper stared at the floor.
Every word felt like another weight pressing onto his shoulders.
The second witness was Nurse Angela Morris.
She had cared for Toby during his first days.
"How did Mr. Collins interact with the newborn?"
Angela hesitated.
"He visited."
"Briefly."
"Mostly he was on business calls."
"Who spent the most time with the baby?"
"Mrs. Collins."
"And after delivery?"
"She insisted on caring for her son herself despite severe pain."
Angela smiled sadly toward Hailey.
"She never complained."
Richard Hayes attempted to challenge the testimony.
"Isn't it true that many mothers travel home after childbirth?"
"Yes."
Angela answered.
"But not under those circumstances."
"There is a difference between recovering..."
"...and being abandoned."
Victoria called her final witness.
"The court calls Mr. Samuel Ortiz."
A gray-haired man wearing a neatly pressed bus driver's uniform entered the courtroom.
Jasper frowned.
He recognized him immediately.
The Route 16 driver.
Samuel adjusted his cap before taking the oath.
Victoria smiled.
"How long have you driven city buses?"
"Twenty-eight years."
"Were you driving Route Sixteen on May fifth?"
"I was."
"Do you remember Mrs. Collins?"
Samuel looked toward Hailey and nodded.
"I'll never forget her."
"Why?"
"I've transported thousands of passengers."
"But I had never seen a woman who had obviously just left the maternity ward..."
"...trying so hard not to cry."
The courtroom fell silent again.
"What did you observe?"
Samuel answered carefully.
"She was moving very slowly."
"One hand supported her baby."
"The other held onto the handrail."
"I lowered the bus so she wouldn't have to climb as high."
"She thanked me."
"Very politely."
His voice softened.
"Then she apologized for taking so long."
Several jurors lowered their eyes.
Richard stood for cross-examination.
"Mr. Ortiz..."
"Did my client ever speak to you?"
"No."
"So you cannot testify about what happened before Mrs. Collins boarded the bus."
Samuel nodded.
"That's true."
Richard smiled slightly.
"No further questions."
Victoria remained seated.
She had expected exactly that answer.
Judge Matthews reviewed her notes.
"The testimony has established the transportation issue."
She looked toward Victoria.
"Do you have additional evidence?"
Victoria exchanged a brief glance with Hailey.
Then she stood.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"We have reason to believe the hospital's exterior security cameras recorded the entire discharge."
Jasper's attorney immediately rose.
"Objection."
"We have not received such footage."
Victoria remained calm.
"Because the hospital only confirmed its existence yesterday."
Every eye in the courtroom turned toward her.
Judge Matthews leaned forward.
"Are you telling this court that surveillance video may exist?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"The hospital has informed us that archived security recordings covering the maternity entrance were preserved under standard retention procedures."
Even Jasper looked stunned.
He had assumed no cameras captured that morning.
Victoria reached into her briefcase and slowly lifted a sealed evidence envelope.
"We have already petitioned the hospital to release the original recording."
She placed the envelope on the evidence table.
"The chain of custody has been secured."
Judge Matthews examined the paperwork carefully before looking back at both attorneys.
"If this footage exists..."
Her voice became noticeably firmer.
"...it may become one of the most important pieces of evidence in these proceedings."
The courtroom fell completely silent.
Jasper felt his heart pounding against his ribs.
Because unlike witness testimony...
Unlike newspaper headlines...
Unlike public opinion...
A surveillance camera could not be embarrassed.
It could not exaggerate.
It could not forget.
It would simply show the truth.
May you like
And for the first time since leaving Hailey outside that hospital...
Jasper realized that the truth might be far more devastating than even he remembered.
