Chapter 7 - THE WORD SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HEAR

Officer Ramirez played the next section with the volume low.

Mia's voice came first.

"I want my mom."

Then Vanessa.

"Keep acting like this and your mom won't get to decide anything anymore."

Vanessa: "It means your dad is tired of the drama. He could ask the judge to let you live with us. And when that happens, you'll learn some discipline."

Claire felt cold all over.

Daniel looked like someone had punched him.

"I never said that," he whispered.

Mia stared at him. "You didn't?"

"No." He stepped forward, then stopped when she backed away. "Mia, I swear to you, I never said that."

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "I was trying to get her to focus."

"With a fake custody threat?" Claire said.

"You fill her head with fear every time she comes to our house."

Claire took one step toward her.

Officer Ramirez blocked her path. "Claire. Don't."

Claire stopped.

That one word - don't - reminded her how close she was to giving Vanessa exactly what she wanted.

Vanessa pointed at her cheek. "See? She's violent."

Claire lowered her hands. "I hit you once after I saw what you did. I shouldn't have done it. But I'm not going to lie about it."

The hallway went quiet again.

Daniel looked at Vanessa. "You threatened my daughter with custody using my name."

Vanessa's mouth tightened. "Your daughter needs boundaries."

"She needs to feel safe."

"And Claire has made sure she only feels safe with Claire."

Then she pulled the ring off and threw it at him.

It bounced on the tile.

"You'll regret this," she said.

She looked at Claire next.

"And you're going to regret touching me."

Officer Ramirez escorted Vanessa toward a private interview room.

Claire thought the worst part of the night was over.

Then Daniel's phone buzzed.

He looked at the screen and went pale.

"What?" Claire asked.

He turned the phone toward her.

A draft petition from a family-law attorney filled the screen.

The subject line read:

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