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Chapter 8
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Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 8
Colin signed the marital settlement agreement.The condo went to me. Our liquid savings were divided equally, and he waived any claim to the remaining marital property identified in the agreement.His hand trembled as he signed.The filing period ran its course. The sun was bright the morning we walked out of Darrow County Family Court with certified copies of the final decree.He said, "Nora, I'm sorry."I didn't turn around.I placed the decree inside my bag and called a rideshare home.During the drive, I messaged Rebecca. "It's final. Thank you."She replied with a hugging emoji.Then I sent another message. "Now I want to begin again."Rebecca asked, "Begin what again?"I watched Westhaven slide past the window."Everything."For the first year after the divorce, I worked, stayed late, went home, and slept.Work, overtime, home, bed. I wasted no words on anyone.Rebecca asked me out to dinner now and then and wanted to know if I'd met anyone.I told her no.She to
Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 7
On the day of the hearing, Sophie was brought to Darrow County Family Court.She wore a new dress I'd bought her the day before.It was pale pink, with lace around the cuffs.She loved it, and she'd spun in front of the mirror half a dozen times.As I held her hand and entered the courthouse, she looked up at me. "Mom, where are we going?""Somewhere a few people want to ask you a couple of questions.""Can we go home after?""Yes."Something dimmed in her eyes. I couldn't tell if it was disappointment or something else.The judge was a woman in her forties named Eleanor Price.She went through all the evidence first: still images from the security footage, Dr. Foster's assessment, statements from two preschool employees, and the sealed genetic evidence concerning Sophie's biological parentage.Then she had Karen Voss, the court's child-interview specialist, take Sophie into a private room.I waited outside.Forty minutes.The door opened.Sophie came out with no express
Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 6
After Gloria left, I remained on the couch for a long time.One thing kept turning over in my head.Something was wrong.Gloria had been against the adoption from the very beginning.Five years earlier, when I started the process, she said directly to me, "An adopted child never really becomes yours. Blood is blood. There's always going to be a gap when the child isn't your own."If biological connection mattered that much to her, why was she now desperate to keep Sophie?She'd been against it in my previous life too.And the moment I moved to end it, she turned into Sophie's fiercest defender.It didn't add up.Unless...Unless Sophie was connected to her.No, not to Gloria personally.To the Barrett family.It went through me like a live wire.Sophie was legally adopted.The family-court decree and the agency records were authentic. I handled the process myself, so I knew the paperwork was real.But what about before the placement?I found the screenshot I had saved
Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 5
"Yes.""Nora, she's only five.""At five, she can tell county investigators that I kidnapped her. Imagine what she'll do at fourteen."He gripped the petition hard enough that the paper shook."When did you write this?""Last week, after Dr. Foster completed the preliminary assessment.""You didn't discuss any of this with me?""I told you she had a serious problem, and you refused to believe me. I told you she lied, and you refused to believe me. What exactly was I supposed to discuss with you, Colin?"He threw the petition onto the coffee table, stood, and paced twice across the room."I will never agree.""If you refuse, I'll file on my own. Dr. Foster explained that Crestmont law lets the court consider a supervised dissolution when serious behavioral harm makes a placement unsafe, subject to a full agency review.""You're insane.""I'm not insane. I'm saving myself."He stared at me for a long time, his chest heaving."Nora, we're not discussing this tonight. Calm do
Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 4
I reached beneath the coffee table and removed a document envelope.A plain brown envelope, labeled ADOPTION RECORDS.Three things inside.The first was the certified adoption decree from Darrow County Family Court, with a clear case number: "Adoptive parent: Nora Whitaker. Adopted child: Sophie Barrett. The parent-child relationship is established as of the date entered below."The second was a certified copy of the placement and adoption-agency file. It proved Sophie hadn't been stolen, and that the adoption had gone through every proper legal channel.The third was Dr. Camille Foster's preliminary child-behavioral assessment. Its opening line read: "The child displays persistent deceptive behavior, including false allegations against a caregiver. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is recommended."I placed the three documents side by side."Mr. Reed, this is Sophie's adoption decree and the certified agency record. The adoption was legally finalized through the county court.
Her Lies, My Second Life Chapter 3
The county family-services assessment was that day.Case Supervisor Thomas Reed and Caseworker Nina Cole arrived exactly on time.Reed was in his early forties, with an honest face and an unhurried way of speaking.Cole was younger and responsible for the written record. Her eyes missed nothing.Both wore dark jackets with county identification badges. The moment they entered, their gazes swept across the living room.I had taken half a day off and cleaned the room in advance.I mopped the floor twice, fluffed the couch cushions, and even straightened every curtain.Fruit and tea waited on the coffee table, along with Sophie's favorite yogurt.She wore a white floral dress, and her hair was tied into two small pigtails.She sat perfectly upright on the couch, feet together and hands resting on her knees.Anyone looking at her would have seen the sweetest, best-behaved little girl in the world."Ms. Whitaker, may we speak with your daughter first?" Reed asked gently."Of cou
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