Chapter 18: The Statement She Signed

Brett told the company leaders I was too unstable to raise Theo.

He used his father's signed statement to make the lie sound official.

I entered the conference room with June and Theo while Brett stood beside the screen.

The leaders had heard his accusation before I could answer it.

Every person at the table looked toward us.

'Tessa has refused supervised visits,' Brett said. 'I'm concerned she'll take Theo somewhere we can't find them.'

He looked at the leaders, not at me.

June shifted Theo higher against her shoulder.

I reached for my son.

My incision pulled hard enough to stop me halfway.

My hands started shaking.

I gripped the table until they steadied.

Brett wanted them to see a frightened woman and call it proof.

I would make them hear his own voice instead.

'She's still recovering,' June said. 'That doesn't make her a danger to her son.'

Brett kept his voice level. 'I'm asking for safeguards, not punishment.'

'You just told them I might disappear with my own child,' I said.

'You refused the visits we arranged.'

'You arranged visits where you could watch me and write down how I acted.'

Brett's mouth tightened. 'That is not what happened.'

His father moved the signed statement away from Brett's folder.

'My support for the custody plan is already withdrawn,' he said. 'But this statement is still here, and I signed it.'

The page had his name at the bottom.

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