Mars sat at the polished oak table, hands clenched so tight in her lap that her knuckles had gone pale. Across from her sat Maria and Gerard Santos, their faces hard and emotionless, flanked by their lawyer. Mars's own legal team—her attorney, Sonia, and her manager—sat beside her. The air in the room felt heavy, a stifling mix of tension and silent resentment.

On the other side of the room, separated by a glass partition, Zaine sat on a small couch watching SpongeBob with his oversized headphones snug over his ears. He swung his legs back and forth, seemingly unaware of the battle unfolding just a few feet away.

Sonia spoke calmly but firmly, her tone sharp and practiced. "Mars Tosin-Williams is fully capable of caring for Zaine's needs and wants, and she meets all requirements to be awarded full custody."

Maria sat stiffly, her lips pressed into a thin line. Gerard, however, looked almost bored, his elbow propped on the armrest as if this whole process was an inconvenience.

Sonia continued. "While we acknowledge that Mars has a demanding career that includes frequent travel and media exposure, we've provided detailed plans to ensure Zaine's safety and stability. A private tutor and nanny are already lined up for periods when Mars is away for work."

Mars nodded, though her jaw remained tight. She hated the thought of anyone questioning whether she could care for Zaine. She'd made up her mind the moment she found out about him—she wasn't walking away. No matter what.

Gerard leaned forward, folding his arms. "Great. The sooner we can get this over with, the better. He can be out of our lives."

Mars's heart stopped for a second, her head snapping toward him. "What?"

Gerard shrugged, his expression cold and unbothered. "I'm tired of pretending to care about that kid. He's been nothing but a burden—a bastard we never asked for."

Mars's stomach churned with a wave of rage and disbelief. "He loves you. You're the only family he's ever known, and this is how you feel about him?"

Maria's eyes dropped to the table, but she stayed silent, her silence complicit.

"Unbelievable," Mars muttered, barely able to keep her voice steady.

Gerard scoffed, tapping a finger against the table like it was a drumbeat for his annoyance. "He was a stupid mistake my daughter made when she got knocked up by a freak."

Mars went still, her entire body stiff with fury. Her mind buzzed, barely able to process what she'd just heard.

"A freak?" she repeated quietly, her voice deceptively calm.

Gerard sneered. "Yeah. She was supposed to become a nurse, settle down, have a good life. I told her not to get involved with—someone like that." He said it with a sneer, his disgust clear.

Mars's chest burned with rage. She had to grip the edge of the table to stop herself from launching across it. Zaine's mother—Gerard's own daughter—was dead, and this man had the audacity to reduce her to a "mistake"? And Zaine? A "bastard"?

Sonia leaned forward, her voice razor-sharp. "Mr. Santos, I advise you to tread carefully. Your words are being recorded, and this behavior will not reflect well in court."

Gerard waved a dismissive hand. "I don't care. Let the kid be her problem now."

Mars shot out of her seat, slamming her hands down on the table so hard that the sound echoed in the room. "That kid is not a problem. He's your grandson. And the fact that you're too heartless to see that makes you the real problem."

Gerard leaned back, his expression smug. "If you think I care about your opinion, you're wasting your breath."

Maria shifted uncomfortably beside him but still said nothing. Mars stared at her, disgusted. "You really agree with this? With all of this?"

Maria's gaze flickered to the glass wall separating them from Zaine. "He was... never part of the plan," she muttered quietly, almost like an apology.

Mars's heart sank. Zaine had lost his mother, and now the two people who were supposed to care for him—the ones who'd had a chance to step up—were treating him like he was disposable.

She clenched her fists, breathing deeply through her nose to keep herself in check. "You know what? Good," Mars said, her voice cold. "Good that you're giving him up. Because he deserves a hell of a lot more than two people who see him as an inconvenience."

Maria winced, guilt flashing briefly in her eyes. But it wasn't enough to make up for what they'd done.

Sonia, always composed, gave Mars a small, reassuring glance before turning her attention back to the Santos lawyer. "Given Mr. Santos's statement, I trust there are no objections to Mars being awarded full custody?"

The opposing lawyer cleared his throat awkwardly. "No objections."

"Perfect," Sonia said smoothly. "We'll proceed with filing the paperwork immediately."

Mars nodded, still standing, her fists trembling with the effort of holding herself together. All she wanted was to get Zaine and walk out of this nightmare.

Sonia closed her binder, signaling the end of the meeting. "This concludes our discussion. Thank you for your cooperation." The polite words carried an undertone of ice.

Without waiting for a response, Mars strode toward the glass door. She pushed it open and knelt in front of Zaine, her heart aching as she looked into his bright green eyes.

"Hey, buddy," Mars whispered, her voice softening despite the storm of emotions raging inside her. "You ready to go?"

Zaine blinked up at her, his tiny face calm, unaware of the ugliness that had just unfolded on the other side of the room. "Where are we going?" he asked, curious as ever.

Mars smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "Somewhere better," she said gently, brushing a curl off his forehead. "Just me and you, okay?"

Zaine nodded, his little hand reaching out to grab hers. "Can Shark come too?"

Mars let out a small, relieved laugh, her heart feeling lighter for the first time that day. "Yeah, buddy. Shark can come too."

Zaine smiled, and Mars stood, lifting him easily into her arms. He curled into her chest, resting his head on her shoulder as she turned back toward the conference room.

She locked eyes with Gerard one last time. "You'll never see him again," she promised, her voice cold and final.

Gerard sneered, but it was hollow. Mars could see through it—see the pathetic bitterness of a man who had lost everything and had no one to blame but himself.

Mars turned away without another word, carrying Zaine out of the room, leaving the Santos family behind for good.

As they stepped into the hallway, Sonia walked beside her, her voice calm and reassuring. "We'll get everything filed today. Zaine's yours, Mars. Legally and officially."

Mars nodded, grateful beyond words. But more than that, she was determined—determined to give Zaine the love and stability he deserved.

No more meetings, no more lawyers. Just them, building something real.

Zaine snuggled closer in her arms, and Mars kissed the top of his head. "You okay, little man?"

"Yeah," Zaine murmured sleepily, already drifting off in the safety of Mars's embrace.

Mars smiled, a quiet warmth blooming in her chest.