Chapter 8 - Ingrid's Petition
The petition named Sophia as an "expectant mother at risk of abandonment and psychological crisis."
It named Lukas as the presumed father.
And it named me as the proposed household caregiver.
My forged signature appeared on page seven.
"She filed this today?" I asked.
"Electronically," Nina said. "Emergency docket."
Ingrid lifted her chin. "It protects the child."
"The child isn't Lukas's."
Her face did not change.
That was the moment I knew she already knew.
"You knew," I said.
Lukas turned toward her.
"Mom?"
Peter whispered something in German.
Ingrid ignored him.
"Biology is not the only thing that makes a father."
Lukas stared at her.
"You knew the test?"
She looked at her son with an expression almost like pity.
"I knew your condition."
His face collapsed.
For ten years, he had let me believe infertility belonged to me.
Now I watched him learn that his mother had used his secret too.
Nina called the court clerk and reported identity fraud in a pending petition.
The clerk immediately flagged the filing.
Peter tried to leave.
I blocked the hallway.
"Where are you going?"
"Move."
"Not with my medical records."
Nina stepped beside me.
Peter dropped the folder onto the table.
Then he walked out.
Thirty seconds later, Sophia called.
I answered.
She was breathing hard.
"Someone is outside my apartment."
"Who?"
"Two people. A woman and a man. They say they're from a family support service."
Nina took the phone.
"Do not open the door. Call 911."
Sophia whispered, "They already know I'm here."
A loud knock sounded through the speaker.
Then a man's voice.
"Ms. Weber, we have documents regarding temporary placement of your child."
Sophia started crying.
May you like
I grabbed my coat.
Then the line went dead.
