Zaden glanced at me, and I offered a weak, supportive smile, praying silently that whatever he was about to reveal wouldn’t backfire. He unlocked his phone with a swift movement, scrolling through until he found what he was looking for.

“Last night,” Zaden began, “my dad and I talked. He said I should say I wanted to live with him. He was really mad when I said I didn’t want to.” He paused, looking directly at the judge. “He said…well, it’s better if you hear it.”

He pressed play, and the courtroom was filled with the crackling sound of a recorded conversation. Damian’s voice was unmistakable, stern and insistent. “Zaden, you have to tell them you want to live with me. Just say it,” the voice commanded. “Things will be better. You’ll have more fun, more games. You don’t want to disappoint your dad, do you?”

My heart sank and soared all at once, torn between anger at Damian’s manipulation and pride in Zaden’s courage. The courtroom seemed to lean in, every person straining to catch every word.

Damian’s lawyer shifted uncomfortably, whispering hurriedly into Damian’s ear. The smirk that had played on Damian’s lips had disappeared, replaced by a tight, nervous line.

The judge listened intently, his expression carefully neutral. When the recording ended, Zaden’s words hanging in the air like unfinished notes, he looked back at Zaden. “Thank you for sharing that, Zaden,” he said kindly. “I appreciate your honesty.”

There was a pause, a moment of recalibration. It was as if the very air in the room had shifted, aligning itself with the truth of what had just been revealed. Damian’s confident demeanor had cracked, and for the first time, he looked uncertain.

“Mr. Carter,” the judge addressed Damian, his voice now edged with sternness. “It’s clear there’s more at play here than simple preference. We will need to examine this situation further before making any changes to custody.”

I exhaled, the tension in my body releasing like a coiled spring. Zaden had done it. He had stood up to the pressure, to the manipulation, and revealed the truth with more bravery than most adults could muster.