When I first met Lucas, I couldn’t imagine the whirlwind of emotions that would follow.
He was charming, caring, and had such energy that everyone felt comfortable around him.
We hit it off right away.
There was something about him that made me believe he was a good person, despite the difficult situation he found himself in.
Lucas was the father of two young children — Olivia, a bright, energetic seven-year-old girl, and Makas, a shy five-year-old boy with big, expressive eyes.
He had been divorced from his ex-wife for about a year, and the custody battle had been a long and painful process for him.
He often shared with me what he was going through, the legal battles and the emotional toll it was taking on him and his children.
At first, I thought I was just supporting him by offering a shoulder to lean on.
But as time went on and we grew closer, I realised how deeply Lucas was suffering.
I wanted to help him get his children back into his life full-time and let him know that I was there for him no matter what.
I knew how much he loved his children, and seeing how hard the custody battle was for him, I decided to do everything in my power to make it easier for him.
He told me about his ex-wife’s manipulative tactics, how she used the children as leverage to achieve her goals.
I saw the pain in his eyes when he talked about the constant custody battle.
One day, Lucas approached me with a request.
‘I need to gather some evidence for a court case,’ he said, his voice full of urgency.
“If you talk to Olivia and Max, maybe you can find out their opinion on the situation.
They’re old enough to understand, and I think it will show the judge that I’m the better parent.”
I didn’t hesitate.
I wanted to help him, and if talking to the children could influence the case, I was willing to do anything.
I spent several weekends with Olivia and Max, trying to get to know them better, listening to their stories and trying to understand their feelings.
It wasn’t easy — Olivia often withdrew, and Max spoke about his mother with longing in his eyes.
But through it all, I tried to remain neutral, offering them comfort without taking sides.
I carefully documented my conversations with them, writing down everything that seemed important.
It didn’t take long before I realised how important this was for Lucas.
If he could provide evidence that he was a more stable and loving parent, he really had a chance of getting custody of the children.
The day of the court hearing arrived, and Lucas was a nervous wreck.
I could tell that he was putting everything he had into this moment.
I went with him to court to support him while we waited for our turn.
It was like a battle — a battle that had been brewing for months — and I knew it would be a turning point for his family.
When the judge called Lucas and his ex-wife Rachel to the stand, the tension in the courtroom was palpable.
I watched Lucas as he spoke, his voice trembling but firm as he explained why he believed he was the best candidate for full custody.
The evidence I had gathered strengthened his case, and even the judge seemed impressed by Lucas’s devotion to his family.
But when it was Rachel’s turn, everything changed.
She painted a very different picture, accusing Lucas of negligence, manipulation, and even danger.
She claimed that he was incapable of caring for the children and that he was fighting for custody only to hurt her.
All the while, I could see Lucas’s face harden, his irritation growing as he listened to her lies.
But what really struck me was when she uttered a shocking phrase:
‘Lucas’s girlfriend,’ she said, staring at me across the room, “is influencing my children. She is planting ideas in their heads about the custody situation, trying to turn them against me.
I have proof that she is encouraging them to lie about me.”
My heart sank.
I had never, in any way, tried to turn Olivia and Max against Rachel.
I just wanted to help Lucas.
But hearing Rachel accuse me of manipulation in front of everyone felt like a slap in the face.
The judge looked at me, and for a moment it seemed to me that the whole courtroom held its breath.
Lucas was silent, his jaw clenched.
I saw the conflict in his eyes—he never expected Rachel to drag me into this drama.
He was torn between protecting me and trying to save his business.
The rest of the hearing passed in a blur.
Rachel’s accusations hung over me like a dark cloud, and despite my attempts to explain that I had never coerced the children, I could see that the judge was beginning to doubt my intentions.
When the hearing ended, the judge decided to take a few days to consider the case, promising to return with a decision.
But the damage had already been done.
On the way home, Lucas was silent, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
When we got to his flat, I braced myself for the conversation I knew was coming.
‘I didn’t know she would do that,’ Lucas said, his voice low.
‘She’s always like that — desperate, manipulative. But now… she’s dragged you into it. I never wanted that for you.’
A wave of anger rose inside me.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, Lucas. I was just trying to help you.
You asked me to talk to your children, to gather evidence.
I didn’t expect Rachel to drag me into her problems like this.”
Lucas’s eyes darkened, and for a moment I saw something cold in them.
“You don’t understand, do you? You don’t understand how dangerous she is. She’ll do anything to win.
And now she’s dragged you into it. She’ll do anything to keep you from seeing those children again.”
My chest tightened.
“Are you seriously saying this to me now? After everything I’ve done for you?
After everything I sacrificed to help you get custody of them?
‘Exactly,’ said Lucas, his tone changing.
“You did all that for me. You helped me fight for them.
But now you’re standing in my way. I can’t let you and her both come after me.
You’re part of the problem now.”
His words hit me like a punch in the stomach.
He had used the children, used everything I had done for him, and now he was turning it against me.
The man I had supported, trusted and cared for was now blaming me for the situation he himself had created.
Tears stung my eyes, but I held them back.
I couldn’t believe what was happening.
The man I thought I knew had become someone I didn’t recognise.
‘Maybe you should have thought about that before dragging me into this,’ I said, my voice trembling with pain.
‘I’m leaving, Lucas. I can’t help you destroy me like this anymore.’
And so, I walked out of his life, leaving behind the man who had promised me everything — and used everything to manipulate me in return.
