Chapter 12 - The Smear
Lukas had filed for a protective order claiming Jonas was stalking Sophia.
Sophia nearly threw the papers across Nina's office.
"He has never stalked me."
Jonas sat across from us, furious but controlled.
"This is designed to poison my labor case. If I'm accused of threatening a pregnant woman tied to Vance, every witness becomes harder to protect."
Nina inserted Elisa's flash drive.
The strategy memo opened.
PROJECT CONTINUITY.
Objective one: secure recognized heir.
Objective two: neutralize Richter litigation.
Objective three: stabilize Evelyn Vance as domestic caregiver.
Sophia covered her mouth.
I read the third line again.
Stabilize Evelyn.
Under it were notes from Peter:
Infertility history creates emotional leverage. Subject likely to accept child placement after initial anger.
I had to stand up.
For years I thought Ingrid merely disliked me.
She had studied my grief like a tool.
Jonas pointed to another section.
"Look here."
A payment schedule listed bonuses for trust vesting, dismissal of his labor suit, and successful temporary placement after birth.
One bonus belonged to Dr. Feldman's clinic administrator.
Not Dr. Feldman.
His records administrator.
The woman who had told me my chart was archived.
Nina called the clinic.
She had been fired that morning.
Then my sister texted me from her apartment.
EVELYN, SOMEONE IS HERE ASKING FOR YOU.
I called immediately.
"Do not open the door."
"I didn't. But they left something."
"What?"
A photo arrived.
A white envelope lay on the hallway carpet.
My name was typed on the front.
Inside was one photograph.
Me leaving the fertility clinic.
May you like
Across the bottom, someone had written in German:
YOU HAVE HEARD ENOUGH.
