Chapter 2
By the time we reached home, Vanessa’s car was blocking our driveway.
Mia stopped walking.
“I don’t want to go inside.”
I understood.
Vanessa had already ruined the school auditorium for her.
I would not let her ruin our home too.
I called Daniel.
“Come outside.”
He opened the front door seconds later.
His tie was loose, and anger burned in his eyes.
He ran down the steps and lifted Mia into his arms.
“You were incredible tonight,” he told her.
“You saw me?”
“I saw three videos.”
He kissed her forehead.
“You looked like a real princess.”
Mia stared at him.
“Do you still want me?”
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?”
“Aunt Vanessa said you’re getting a real daughter.”
Daniel looked at me.
I shook my head.
“She knows about the adoption.”
His jaw tightened.
“Mia, listen to me. You are my real daughter.”
“But I’m not your blood.”
“Love isn’t measured in blood.”
He held her closer.
“I chose you. I will keep choosing you every day.”
Mia wrapped her arms around his neck.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
“What a touching performance.”
Daniel turned.
“I told you to leave.”
Eleanor stood behind her.
My mother-in-law looked pale but composed, as if this were a business meeting instead of a family disaster.
“We need to discuss the documents,” Eleanor said.
“Not with Mia here,” I answered.
Our neighbor, Mrs. Alvarez, opened her door across the street.
She had often watched Mia after school.
Daniel carried Mia to her house and explained that we needed twenty minutes.
Mrs. Alvarez took one look at Mia’s torn costume.
“She can stay as long as necessary.”
When we returned, Vanessa had spread papers across our dining table.
Her torn gown was covered by Eleanor’s coat.
“This is private property,” I said. “You have no right to be here.”
“My brother invited Mom,” Vanessa replied.
“I didn’t invite you,” Daniel said.
Vanessa tapped the papers.
“You’ll thank me after you see what Claire is doing.”
The first page was a copy of our adoption petition.
The second was part of Daniel’s grandfather’s trust.
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“Where did you get the adoption paperwork?”
Vanessa ignored her.
“Grandfather’s trust divides controlling shares among his legal descendants. If Daniel adopts Mia, Claire’s daughter receives rights equal to Olivia’s.”
I stared at her.
“You humiliated a child over money?”
“It isn’t about money.”
“It is exactly about money,” Daniel said.
Vanessa pointed at me.
“She planned this. She married you, then convinced you to give another man’s child part of our company.”
Mia’s biological father, Mark, had died in a construction accident when she was two.
I had never asked Daniel to adopt her.
He had asked me.
Twice.
The first time, I told him to wait because grief had made Mia afraid of change.
The second time, she overheard him.
She ran into his arms and asked if that meant she could call him Dad at school.
“This was my decision,” Daniel said.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Nothing has been your decision since Claire arrived.”
I stepped closer.
“You cut a six-year-old’s dress because she might inherit shares someday.”
“I weakened a seam. I didn’t tear it.”
“So Mia told the truth.”
Vanessa realized her mistake.
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“You did use scissors.”
“She took Olivia’s role!”
“She earned the role,” I said.
“My daughter was humiliated.”
“So you decided to humiliate mine?”
“She is not yours, Daniel!” Vanessa shouted.
The room went silent.
Daniel moved between us.
“Yes, she is.”
“Not yet.”
Vanessa lifted another document.
“And maybe never.”
It was a printed email.
The sender appeared to be someone from the county adoption office.
It claimed there had been an anonymous allegation that our home was unstable and violent.
The petition would be reviewed.
My stomach dropped.
“You reported us,” I said.
“I protected my family.”
“You lied about us.”
“I told them you had violent tendencies. Tonight, you proved me right.”
She touched her torn gown.
Eleanor finally spoke.
“That is enough, Vanessa.”
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“You attacked a child in public.”
“I was defending Olivia.”
“You were defending your pride.”
For the first time since I had known them, Eleanor looked ashamed of her daughter.
But Vanessa was not finished.
“She slapped me.”
“I slapped your hand away from Mia.”
“The video can be interpreted differently.”
Daniel picked up his phone.
“What are you doing?” Vanessa asked.
“Calling the police.”
Her confidence slipped.
“For what?”
“Trespassing. Harassment. Stealing confidential court documents.”
Eleanor looked at the adoption petition again.
Only four people should have known about it.
Daniel.
Me.
Our attorney.
And the court clerk.
“How did you get this?” Eleanor demanded.
Vanessa gathered the pages.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
Daniel blocked the hallway.
“You aren’t taking those.”
Vanessa shoved the papers into her bag.
Then a small pair of silver scissors fell onto the floor.
Everyone stared at them.
A strip of silver fabric was caught near the hinge.
It matched Mia’s costume.
Vanessa grabbed for the scissors.
I reached them first.
Daniel photographed them where they lay.
Then he called the officer who had taken my statement.
Vanessa’s face went white.
“You’re choosing her over your own sister?”
Daniel looked toward Mrs. Alvarez’s house.
“No.”
He opened the front door.
“I’m choosing my daughter.”
Vanessa walked outside without another word.
Eleanor followed slowly.
Before leaving, she turned to me.
“Do not submit those scissors yet.”
I could barely believe what I had heard.
“Why?”
“Because if Vanessa stole those court records, this is bigger than tonight.”
“You expect me to protect her?”
May you like
“No,” Eleanor whispered.
“I’m asking you to give me twelve hours to find out who else helped her.”
