Buzzzzzz! Buzzzzzz!
Emily slapped her phone again. Daniel had been calling her non stop for the past three days. Nolan looked at her.
"What's your next move?"
She sighed. "Get as far away from the Hamptons as possible and divorce him."
"Good luck with that. Didn't you sign a pre nup?"
"Yes but that has nothing to do with this. Unless he wants to spend the next 20 years behind bars he'll grant me a divorce and relinquish his parental rights."
"So you're filing?"
She nodded. "This afternoon."
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Ryan Huntley smiled when he saw Emily in his office.
"Emily. I was surprised to see you on my schedule." He hugged her and motioned for her to sit. "What can I do for you?"
She spoke almost nervous. "I want to file for divorce from Daniel and I want him to relinquish his parental rights."
He raised his brows. "That will be difficult if Daniel resist."
She looked towards his door. "I trust you so I will tell you the truth. Daniel shot me after our wedding...I didn't remember for a while but as soon as I did I left him. Now if he doesn't want to go to prison he'll sign."
Ryan was stunned. "Alright. I'll write up the papers."
She nodded. "Then can I leave the Hamptons?"
"Not until everything is sorted unfortunately. You have to stay within the state of New York."
She groaned. "I do not want him anywhere near these babies."
"I may be able to get a judge to grant you an order of protection and stress that you fear for your children's safety if you are forced to stay here. If I can manage it then you will only have to return for hearings."
She nodded. "Please try."
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The Grayson's were setting up for a dinner party to impress Conrad's colleges. A maid led in a man in a sharp grey suit. He spoke to the room.
"Daniel E. Grayson?"
Daniel looked over. "Yes?"
He handed him an envelope. "You've been served."
He turned and walked out. Daniel opened the envelope and his heart dropped. He collapsed into an arm chair. Victoria and Conrad walked over. Conrad looked at him carefully.
"What is it?"
Daniel spoke quietly. "Emily filed for divorce, termination of my parental rights, and she got an order of protection."
Victoria looked at the papers herself. "She can't terminate your rights can she?"
Conrad had been filled in on Daniel's involvement with the shooting. He sat down and spoke grimly.
"Daniel you may have to bite the bullet and sign."
Daniel and Victoria both looked at him stunned. Daniel spoke.
"Why?"
"Because you attempted to kill her. If she goes to the police with that, with your record...they'll throw you in jail Daniel. You saw what happened last time."
"So my only choice is to sign away my right to my children?"
"Yes."
Victoria looked at Conrad. "There has to be a way for us to fight this."
"There isn't. She is holding all the cards."
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Emily was packed and ready to leave. Nolan looked at her carefully.
"Call if you need anything."
"I will. You better believe that I am calling your butt when these babies are born."
He chuckled and hugged her gently. "Take care."
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Emily settled in London. She rented a flat with a beautiful view. It was the perfect place for her to collect her life. She gave birth to fraternal twin girls less then five months after moving. Nolan flew out and went by to see her in the hospital. He set a bouquet of red roses on her nightstand and looked at the babies.
"They are gorgeous Em."
She smiled and passed him one. He held her carefully and then smiled at her.
"So do they have names?"
She motioned to the baby in his arms. "That would be Josie Amanda and then this is Tierney Charlotte."
"Tierney?"
"I thought it was ironic."
He chuckled. "They're perfect."
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THREE MONTHS LATER:
Emily had to return to the Hamptons for her divorce and custody hearing. So far Daniel wasn't contesting the divorce. It just felt like it had taken forever to go through the courts. When Emily walked into the courthouse with Ryan he led her into a small waiting room. Emily's nanny Alexandra waited in it with the babies and Nolan. Emily felt her palms sweating as she followed Ryan into the court room. The navy and white pattern dress and black blazer she was wearing were starting to feel extremely tight. As soon as the doors opened she saw Daniel and his lawyer, the judge, and Daniel's family. She and Ryan took their spots and Emily focused all of her attention on the judge. She looked over her papers.
"Are both parties present and accounted for?"
Both lawyers nodded and she slid her glasses on.
"Daniel Edward Grayson you have agreed to the terms of divorce as well as relinquishing your parental rights to a set of twins born on June 15th?"
Daniel looked upset. But he nodded. "Yes your honor."
"And you are doing this without being persuaded or coursed to do so?"
"Yes."
She nodded and looked at Emily. "Emily Thorne Grayson, formerly Emily Rebecca Thorne; you have agreed to the terms of divorce and understand that with Mr. Grayson relinquishing his parental rights you will be solely responsible for these children both physically and financially?"
Emily nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
She nodded. "You also wish to change your name back to Emily Rebecca Thorne?"
"Yes."
"So granted."
She motioned for their lawyers to step to the front. Huntley returned with the final papers. Emily signed them as did Daniel. As soon as she got them back the judge nodded.
"Court is adjourned."
Emily smiled and hugged Ryan. They walked out and into the waiting room. Nolan looked at her.
"Well how did it go?"
Emily held up her copy of the divorce papers. "Signed."
He smiled. "Congratulations."
They were walking out and ran into The Grayson's. Emily almost had a panic attack. Ryan started to step between them. He spoke to Daniel whose eyes were glued on the covered carseats.
"Keep walking."
Daniel looked hurt. But he at least listened.
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Daniel set his glass down and refilled it with scotch. Charlotte looked at him.
"Is that helping you?"
"It's not hurting."
Victoria sighed and took the bottle. "Daniel get ahold of yourself. You are officially free of that girl. You can start over."
Daniel chuckled but there was no sense of humor in his voice. "And my kids? They'll just grow up thinking i'm either or dead beat or dead or whatever Emily decides to tell them. They'll think I just abandoned them."
"But you can have kids with someone else. Someone who really loves you."
He let that sink in.
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