NINETY EIGHT

SLYVIA'S POV

I woke up that Monday feeling anxious, the weight of the impending court date pressing heavily on my mind. My first priority was preparing the kids for school. I made their breakfast, the familiar routine bringing a small sense of normalcy. As I scrambled some eggs and buttered their toast, I couldn't help but think about the long day ahead.

After breakfast, I hurried the kids to get dressed and grabbed their backpacks. We headed out the door and drove to school, where, as expected, a mountain of paparazzi awaited us. They were lined up behind the barricade, shouting my name and bombarding me with questions. I kept my head down and ignored them, focusing on getting the kids inside safely.

Once we were inside the school, I took a moment to breathe. I walked the kids to their classrooms and saw Beverly, the school secretary, standing by the door. We greeted each other warmly.

"Hey, Beverly," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "The court date is today."

Beverly's face s