His mother-in-law, Ciara, yearned to help Abbey, but her husband, Ethan, who despised Ashley, forbade her from visiting. It broke Ciara’s heart. With a mother’s empathy, she could only imagine the profound suffering the little girl was enduring—a pain no child should ever have to bear. Other family members, on both sides, tried to contact Quinn, but all attempts at reconciliation failed. Quinn’s own mother’s pleas for her to acknowledge her maternal responsibilities were met with cold indifference. Her father, however, sided with her, encouraging her to hire a divorce lawyer and sever all ties as quickly as possible, offering to cover the legal costs.

Quinn heeded his advice. Within a week, she had a meeting with Michael Grand, a lawyer known for his expertise in divorce cases. Grand was surprised when she stated she would neither contest custody of Abbey nor seek spousal support. Her intentions were brutally clear: a complete and final separation from both Ashley and Abbey -total rejection.

Back home, Ashley was unsurprised when the court sheriff served the divorce papers at his workplace. He knew Abbey held onto the hope of her mother’s return, and this legal finality would be another cruel blow. That night, with his mother, Jesse, there as an emotional shield for Abbey, he gently broke the news. At his words, “Mommy’s leaving for good,” Abbey’s young heart shattered all over again. A choked cry tore from her throat as she ran to her room. She threw herself onto the bed, curling into a tight, trembling ball, and sobbed. Jesse followed, scooping her granddaughter into her arms. She couldn’t hide her own tears as they held each other, their silent sorrow a shared language of despair. It was another long, painful night of restlessness for all of them.

Ashley mulled over the divorce order. He chose not to reveal the full details, but three points were searingly clear: Quinn would not contest custody, she sought no financial settlement, and she wanted no visitation rights. Her intention was a total rejection with no possibility of future reconciliation or contact. He was compelled to contest the false accusations in order not to fight for custody, but to defend his reputation and protect Abbey from further emotional harm.

Ashley’s friends and family encouraged him to go out, to embrace life again. At first, he was hesitant, but he gradually adjusted. Remarkably, Abbey seemed to accept his outings, but he remained mindful of his promise to always be present for her. Her young soul, forced to mature beyond her years, was beginning to accept the inevitable, even if it was still incredibly painful.