Chapter 10 - They Had Been Looking for a Baby
Six months before Sophia's pregnancy, Ingrid had already been trying to rewrite the trust.
That meant Sophia was not an opportunity.
She was part of a search.
Nina subpoenaed communications connected to the emergency petition.
By Friday, we had enough to see the shape of it.
Ingrid had contacted three women from Lukas's past.
Two ignored her.
Sophia answered.
"She told me Lukas still loved me," Sophia said. "I thought she was being kind."
The emails said otherwise.
One message from Ingrid to Peter read:
S.W. is emotionally suggestible and already wants a family. She may be workable.
Sophia stared at the screen.
"Workable."
Her voice cracked.
I sat beside her.
"We use it."
There was more.
Peter had run background checks on Sophia, her job, her debt, even her prenatal insurance.
He knew she was financially vulnerable before Lukas contacted her.
"This was recruitment," Nina said.
Sophia pressed both hands over her stomach.
Then she whispered, "There is someone else you need to talk to."
"Who?"
"The baby's father."
I looked at her.
She had never named him.
"He doesn't know," she said. "I thought Lukas was the father until the test."
"Who is he?"
Sophia hesitated.
"Jonas Richter."
I knew the name.
Everyone in Chicago manufacturing did.
Jonas was a labor attorney who represented workers in disputes against Vance Components.
Nina leaned back.
"That is not a coincidence."
Sophia shook her head quickly. "It was one night. Before Lukas came back into my life."
My phone buzzed.
A German message from Elisa.
May you like
I read it twice.
DON'T TRUST MOM. SHE PICKED SOPHIA BECAUSE OF WHO THE REAL FATHER IS.
