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“Oh?” Mac kept his tone casual as he pulled plates from the cabinet.

Noah glanced at his mother, then back to Mac. “My Aunt Jennifer was there. She tried to make me go with her.” His voice dropped. “She grabbed my arm really hard, Mac. It was scary.”

Mac set the plates down carefully, fighting to keep his expression neutral despite the rage boiling inside him. He crouched to Noah’s level. “Mom told me about it.”

Noah nodded solemnly. “She said she and Uncle Jason have a room all ready for me at their house.”

Mac’s jaw tightened. He glanced up at Kelsey, who had turned from the stove, wooden spoon still in hand.

“Noah,” Mac said carefully, “your mom is never too busy for you. Ever.”

“I know,” Noah said. “That’s why it was weird.” He frowned.

“You were very brave,” Mac said, placing a hand on Noah’s shoulder.

Noah seemed to consider this, then abruptly changed course. “Remember you said you would show me how to build that model boat tonight. Can we start after dinner?”

“Absolutely.” Mac stood. “I brought home all the supplies last week. It’s a clipper ship—fastest vessel of its time.”

“Cool!” Noah’s enthusiasm returned full force. “I told Tyler I was building a boat with you, and he didn’t believe me because his dad doesn’t know how to build stuff.”

“Well, we’ll have to take pictures to prove it,” Mac said, helping Kelsey set the table. “Maybe we can even sail it when it’s done.”

Dinner passed with Noah chattering about octopuses and jellyfish, the incident with his aunt temporarily forgotten.

Two hours later, Noah was tucked into bed, and the partially assembled boat model was drying on his desk. Mac found Kelsey in the living room, standing by the small fire in the hearth that warmed the still chill evening, her arms wrapped around herself.

“He’s asleep,” Mac said quietly, then closed the distance between them. “Wanted me to tell him more about clipper ships tomorrow.”

Kelsey nodded while staring into the flames. “He adores you, you know.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

“They tried to take him from us, Mac.” Her voice was steady but laced with a fury he’d never heard from her before. “Jennifer was going to put him in her car and drive away with my son.”

“I know.” Mac’s hands clenched at his sides. “If I ever see her…”

“It’s not just her,” Kelsey interrupted. “It’s all of them. The Prescotts think they can take whatever they want.” She turned to face him, her eyes bright with unshed tears of anger. “This morning, I was worried about taking the high road. About what destroying Jason would teach Noah about how we handle conflict.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m thinking about what would happen to Noah if we don’t stop them.” Kelsey’s voice hardened. “I don’t care what it takes. I don’t care what bridges we burn. They tried to take my child.”

Mac reached for her hands and held them between his own. “I called my attorney on the way home. He’s drawing up the paperwork tonight. We’re filing for an emergency restraining order against Jennifer Prescott and all members of the Prescott family,” Mac explained. “Simultaneously, we are moving on the takeover. In the morning, Jason Prescott will be broke.”

“And that will stop them?”

“It will destroy Jason’s reputation and finances. He’s already in debt up to his ears, debt he won’t be able to pay,” Mac said grimly. “He’ll have burned through his trust. And the bank of Mama was closed long ago. His mother cut him off, refusing to give him another cent while she lives. What’s left is Noah’s. And the custody of Noah and his trust is becoming out of reach for him,” Mac’s expression was unyielding.

Kelsey nodded slowly. “Do it. All of it.”

“You’re sure?” Mac searched her face. “This morning you were concerned about morality.”

“This morning they hadn’t tried to abduct my son,” Kelsey cut in. “Everything changed the moment Jennifer put her hands on Noah.”

Mac nodded, pulling out his phone. “I’ll check in with Harrison now.” He dialed and put the phone on speaker after his attorney answered on the second ring.

“Mac, I was just finalizing the documents,” Harrison’s clipped voice came through. “You want me to proceed with everything we discussed?”