[Her voice remains calm, level, but there's the faintest of authoritative edges to it]

I believe you, and I would be more than happy to bear witness to your character before a court should it be necessary, as I have done so many times when speaking to Dirk.

[Oh yes, the boy had told her about the custody battle]

But children are capable of picking up on a great deal from their environment. It is entirely possible that he is taking these feelings from somewhere else, and placing them upon himself.