Present Day
The phone call comes at 7:23 AM on a Tuesday morning.
Aria is making Sophie's breakfast, humming along to the Disney playlist that's become their morning routine, when James Morrison's name flashes on her screen.
"He dropped the case."
The words don't register immediately.
"What?"
"Leon withdrew his custody petition. All of it. He's requesting no visitation rights, no contact, nothing."
The spatula slips from Aria's hand, clattering onto the kitchen floor.
"That's not possible."
"I have the paperwork right here. Filed at 6 AM this morning."
Sophie looks up from her coloring book, sensing the shift in her mother's energy.
"Mama? You look funny."
Aria forces a smile.
"Just talking to Mr. Morrison, baby. Keep coloring your butterfly."
She steps into the hallway, lowe
