Chapter 5: The Woman Who Wanted My Daughter
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph.
The little girl in Lily's pink backpack.
I knew it was an old picture of my daughter, but the message underneath it made my skin crawl.
Your daughter has already been promised to someone else.
At 6:30 the following morning, my father found me sitting at his kitchen table.
A cup of untouched coffee sat in front of me.
"You're awake early," he said.
"I haven't slept.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Neither have I.""
Lily was still upstairs.
Dad had made her breakfast, packed her favorite strawberry yogurt, and arranged for a neighbor to take her to school if we needed to attend court.
But I wasn't sending her to school that morning.
Not after what had happened.
At 7:15, the doorbell rang.
A woman in her early sixties stood outside wearing a navy suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
"Mrs. Mitchell?""
"Yes.""
"I'm Elaine Porter. We spoke last night.""
I invited her inside.
She shook my father's hand before opening her briefcase.
"I've reviewed the documents you sent. There's enough here to raise serious concerns about fraudulent signatures, financial transactions, and the attempted alteration of your daughter's legal records.""
"Can we stop the hearing?""
"We can ask the court to postpone or reject the petition, particularly if we establish that you were never properly notified and that the documents are disputed.""
She placed three folders on the table.
"However, there's something else you need to understand.""
She opened the first folder.
It contained photographs of Daniel entering a private office building.
The second showed Vanessa meeting with an older woman.
The third contained copies of financial transfers.
I recognized the older woman immediately.
Margaret Mitchell.
Daniel's mother.
For nine years, Margaret had treated me like an inconvenient addition to her family.
She criticized my cooking, my clothes, and even the way I spoke to Lily.
At Christmas, she once told me that my mother had left me a house because she knew I would never be capable of buying one myself.
I'd dismissed it as an insult.
Now I wondered whether she'd always wanted the property.
"Why is your mother-in-law involved?"" I asked.
Elaine folded her hands.
"According to Rebecca's preliminary statement, Margaret helped coordinate the financial arrangement.""
My father frowned.
"To what end?""
"She wanted the property transferred into a company controlled by her family. Daniel would receive a percentage of the sale proceeds.""
I stared at the photographs.
"And Vanessa?""
"Vanessa was supposed to become Lily's guardian. The arrangement would allow Margaret to maintain access to the child while Daniel handled the property transaction.""
I shook my head.
"Why would they need to take Lily from me?""
Elaine hesitated.
"Because the property transfer would be much easier if you were no longer legally responsible for making decisions about your daughter's future. They also believed you would be less likely to challenge the transaction if you were facing a custody dispute.""
My father stood and walked toward the window.
"That's an organized scheme.""
"That's what the available evidence suggests," Elaine replied.
"But we'll need to prove each person's involvement.""
I looked at the third folder.
"Where is Rebecca now?""
"She agreed to meet me at the courthouse.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
"Does she actually regret what she did?""
Elaine didn't answer immediately.
"She appears frightened. Whether she's remorseful is something you'll have to determine for yourself.""
At 8:20, we arrived at the courthouse.
My father held Lily's hand while Elaine carried the documents.
I wore a simple black dress and kept my hair tied back. The bruising on my wrist was still visible.
As we entered the building, I saw Daniel.
He stood near the courtroom doors, wearing a charcoal suit.
Margaret was beside him.
Vanessa stood on his other side.
She was holding a folder.
Daniel smiled when he saw me.
Not a nervous smile.
A confident one.
"Sarah," he said.
"I thought you'd come to your senses.""
I didn't respond.
Margaret stepped forward.
"You're embarrassing yourself. This is a private family matter.""
My father moved between us.
"Then perhaps you should explain why your family has been filing documents under my daughter's name.""
Margaret's lips tightened.
"Robert, stay out of this.""
"That's difficult when you involve my granddaughter.""
Vanessa looked down at Lily.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Lily immediately hid behind my father.
Vanessa smiled awkwardly.
"Don't you remember me?""
Lily shook her head.
Then Daniel crouched slightly.
"Come here, princess.""
Lily clutched Grandpa's hand.
"No.""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Don't be difficult.""
I stepped forward.
"Don't speak to her.""
He stood.
"You've turned her against me.""
"No, Daniel. She watched you hurt her mother.""
Margaret sighed dramatically.
"Children exaggerate. This is precisely why Lily needs a stable environment.""
My father stared at her.
"She has one. It's with her mother.""
Before Margaret could respond, a woman approached us.
Rebecca.
She wore a gray sweater and black trousers. Her eyes were swollen, and she looked as though she'd spent the entire night crying.
When she saw me, she stopped.
"Sarah.""
I looked at her.
"Don't.""
She lowered her head.
"I know you hate me.""
"You signed the documents.""
"I know.""
"You took the money.""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes.""
"Then what exactly do you want me to say?""
Rebecca looked toward Daniel.
He was watching her carefully.
Then she stepped closer and whispered:
"Sarah, I didn't tell Elaine everything.""
My heart sank.
"What else?""
Rebecca looked at Lily.
Then she leaned toward me.
"Daniel didn't just pay me to help with the custody petition. He paid me to lie about something that happened seven years ago.""
I went cold.
"Seven years ago?""
Rebecca nodded.
"The night Lily was born.""
I stared at her.
"What are you talking about?""
Before she could answer, Daniel grabbed her arm.
"Rebecca, we're going inside.""
She pulled away.
"No. I'm telling her.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"If you say another word, you'll lose everything.""
Rebecca looked directly at me.
Then she whispered:
"Sarah, Daniel isn't listed as Lily's biological father because of a mistake.""
I couldn't move.
She continued.
"He knew the truth before he married you.""
May you like
And just then, the courtroom doors opened.
The clerk called our case.
