My Ex Tried to Buy Our Daughter’s Love During the Custody Battle – He Smiled Until She Reached into Her Pocket

All I really heard was: she stays with me.

When it was over, we walked out into the hallway.

My ex brushed past us, whisper-yelling to his lawyer about appeals and bias and how “this is ridiculous.”

Claire followed behind him, eyes wide, lips pressed together, not looking at us.

Andrea watched them go, then turned to me.

“Mom?” she said.

She opened her hand.

The receipts were crumpled and warm from her grip.

“I didn’t want to be bought,” she said. “I just wanted you to believe me.”

I pulled her into a hug right there in the courthouse hallway.

“I believe you,” I said into her hair. “Always.”

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