Chapter 8
Vanessa’s bail hearing was packed.
Reporters loved a fallen socialite.
They loved my name even more.
Vanessa wore pale blue and a bruised expression.
Her lawyer argued she was devoted to Sophie.
Nadine played the dog bowl photo.
Then the pantry video.
Then the edited clips Vanessa planned to use against my child.
The judge’s face grew colder with each exhibit.
Vanessa cried.
“She was difficult. I was overwhelmed.”
The judge said, “You had house staff, security, and access to her father. You chose a pantry.”
Bail was granted with strict conditions.
No contact.
No approach.
No public comments about Sophie.
Vanessa glared at me as she passed.
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
I looked at her.
“You humiliated a child.”
My mother’s hearing came next.
Eleanor was not charged criminally yet, but the protective order was.
She brought three attorneys.
I brought footage.
Her lawyer called her a concerned grandmother.
Nadine played her voice.
Only an hour. We don’t need marks.
The courtroom went silent.
Eleanor’s face hardened.
The judge granted the order.
No contact with Sophie.
No visits.
No gifts.
No messages through relatives.
As we left, Eleanor said, “Claire poisoned you against me.”
I stopped.
“No. Claire warned me. I was too arrogant to listen.”
May you like
Eleanor flinched.
That was the first honest impact I had ever seen in her.
