Chapter 2 - The SignatureNathan read the page twice.
TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP REQUESTED: MARGARET BROOKS.
Reason:
Mother displays postpartum instability.
Father travels extensively for work.
Infant requires stable family supervision.
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“I didn’t authorize this.”
Margaret folded her arms.
“It was a draft.”
“It was filed.”
“You don’t know that.”
Claire reached into her robe again and handed him a court-stamped copy.
Filed Monday.
Three days earlier.
Nathan looked at his mother.
“How?”
Margaret’s face hardened.
“I was protecting Sophie.”
“From what?”
“From her.”
Claire flinched.
Nathan stood.
“Stop.”
Margaret laughed.
“You have no idea what she’s been doing while you’re gone.”
Nathan’s chest went cold.
“What has she been doing?”
Margaret stared at Claire.
“Ask about the test.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“What test?” Nathan asked.
No one answered.
Then Sophie began crying harder.
Claire reached for the crib.
Margaret moved too.
Nathan stepped in front of her.
“I said stay away.”
Margaret looked at him as if he had struck her.
“I raised you.”
“And she is my wife.”
Claire lifted Sophie carefully and held her to her chest.
The baby quieted almost immediately.
Nathan looked back at the forged guardianship petition.
Then he noticed a second page.
A lab report.
PATERNITY PROBABILITY: 0.00%.
He stopped breathing.
The listed father:
NATHAN BROOKS.
The listed child:
SOPHIE BROOKS.
Margaret’s voice softened.
“I didn’t want you to find out this way.”
Nathan looked at Claire.
She was already crying.
But she did not look guilty.
She looked furious.
“That report is fake,” she whispered.
Margaret shook her head.
“No, sweetheart.”
May you like
Then she smiled.
“The baby isn’t his.”
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