Page 3 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

“Too good,” he bit out, his voice edged with bitterness.

“And we just weren’t compatible.”

Kenneth let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Because she was compatible with someone else’s private parts—turns out it’s someone I know, too.”

The judge slammed the gavel down, glaring at both of them. “This is a matter of money and custody,” he reminded them sharply. “Your divorce was settled over a year ago, and we are not reopening that discussion.”

“I’d like to reopen it,” Candi said simply.

Kenneth’s mouth fell open. His lawyer’s head snapped up. Even the judge blinked in disbelief before all three of them simultaneously asked, “What?”

Candi shrugged, a saccharine smile playing on her lips. “I don’t think it’s fair that he’s keeping my car.”

Kenneth exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. “You got the house because you wanted it.”

“My car broke down,” she pouted, lower lip jutting out like a petulant child.

“So fix it,” Kenneth shot back at the same time the judge pointed a finger at him, warning him to be quiet.

“We’re not discussing the car,” the judge repeated, his patience visibly fraying. His glare shifted to Candi. “You should have hired a better lawyer if he told you we were here to discuss that at a custody hearing.”

“It would support me if Kenneth gave me the Maserati,” Candi said sweetly, as if that somehow made sense.

Kenneth let out a breath of disbelief, rubbing a hand over his face. “Oh my gosh.”

His lawyer leaned in, whispering against the rising tension. “Let her hang herself,” he advised. “This will work in your favor.”

Kenneth’s gaze flicked to his son, cradled against his shoulder, his small hand fisting in his father’s shirt. The sight of him, innocent and unaware of the legal battle waged around him, settled something inside Kenneth.

He wasn’t fighting for a car.

He wasn’t fighting for revenge.

He was fightingfor Zachary.

“Give her the car in exchange for full custody,” he murmured to his lawyer.

His lawyer stilled. “Are you sure?”

Kenneth nodded, his jaw tight. “She’s not a fit mother, and we both know it’s nearly impossible to get full custody from her otherwise.”

His lawyer studied him for a beat, then nodded. “All right.”

Kenneth sat down, pressing a kiss to Zachary’s soft cheek. “Shhh, buddy,” he whispered. “Daddy loves you so much, and you are being such a good boy.”

His lawyer stood. “Your Honor, may I approach the bench to discuss a potential change in our case?”

The judge sighed. “Oh, what now?”

“My client is willing to give Miss Ethridge the Maserati in exchange for sole custody of his son and a reduced spousal support payment.”

Kenneth barely had time to process the words before Candi leaped from her chair, her eyes alight with excitement. “Done! I’ll take it!”

The judge’s head snapped toward her. “Young lady, sit down!” He turned his piercing gaze to Kenneth. “Is this normal? You’ve got the boy, and she’s acting like this?”

Kenneth nodded solemnly. “Yes, sir.”

The judge exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. “Miss Ethridge, let me get this straight—you want the Maserati over custody of your son?”

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