During the custody battle, my son played something on his phone – and everyone went silent

In court, my ex said, “My son wants to live with me.” The judge asked my son, “Is that true?” My son stood up, pulled out his phone, and asked, “May I play the recording from last night?” The judge froze.

During a family court case about a custody battle, eight-year-old Zaden Carter changed the course of his and his mother’s lives with a single audio recording.

Sarah Martinez-Carter, a respected professional in pediatric healthcare research, never thought her life would take a devastating turn when she married the wrong person. Her ex-husband, Damian Carter, a medical facility executive known for his philanthropic work, wasn’t the man he presented himself in front of the world. On the contrary, he was aggressive and abusive, and made Sarah and Zaden’s lives a living hell.

That day at the court, Damian declared that his son wanted to live with him, and Sarah knew that wasn’t true. She was the only one who was aware of the withdrawal, the nightmares, and the vague fears her son experienced when he was around his father, but it was something she couldn’t prove in court easily, not with the influence and the connections Damien had all around the city.

“Mr. Carter, you’re asking for a change in custody. You’ve told this court your son has expressed a desire to live with you. Is that correct?” Damian nodded confidently. “Yes, Your Honor. Zaden told me he’s not comfortable in his current living situation. He wants to live with me full-time.”

Sarah’s stomach turned to ice. She kept looking at Zaden, whose tiny hands were folded tightly in his lap.

“Zaden,” said gently, “is that true, son? Do you want to live with your father?”
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