Chapter 18 - No One Owns a Child
Richard was detained after investigators confronted him with evidence from the lodge and the storage recording. His lawyers contested everything. There would be hearings, forensic reviews, and witnesses who might change their stories. It wasn't an ending anyone could pronounce in a single afternoon.
But the papers he carried weren't orders from a court. They were false consent forms bearing my name. Mara helped me make a statement identifying the forgery and gave the hospital a court-filed notice about the attempted interference with my care. My daughter would not be handed over because a man with an expensive suit wanted it.
"You can leave the Moretti job," Mara reminded me. "You don't owe them your life."
Vincent offered to pay the medical bills caused by the staircase incident and back wages Vanessa had withheld. I accepted the compensation through my attorney. I refused his offer to stay permanently in the mansion.
"I need a home where nobody can order me down the stairs," I told him.
He didn't argue. "I should have made this one safe."
"Yes," I said. "You should have."
Rosa visited later, her wrists bruised from being restrained during the abduction. She cried when she saw me. I held her hand and told her I was grateful she'd helped Daniel. Then I told her I wished she'd trusted me enough to tell the truth sooner.
"I know," she said. "I was scared."
"We all were. That's what Richard counted on."
Across the city, Grace was staying in protected temporary care while her legal status was sorted out. Elena was allowed to visit. Vincent was introduced gradually, with a social worker present. He sent no diamonds, no extravagant toys. Just the same stuffed rabbit, washed and repaired.
May you like
Then Elena called me. She was crying, but this time she was smiling.
"Grace wants to meet you," she said. "She asked about the woman who knew Daniel."
