Chapter 4: The Order Bearing My Name
Lucia stood so quickly that Sophie nearly slipped from her arms.
“You cannot take her.”
The official opened a folder.
“A judge signed this order thirty minutes ago.”
“On whose request?” I asked.
“Evelyn D’Angelo’s.”
Mother crossed the ballroom and held out her arms.
“Come to Grandma, Sophie.”
Sophie buried her face against Lucia’s shoulder.
“No little room.”
Several guests looked away.
Mother kept smiling as if a frightened child had not spoken.
The senior officer stepped toward me.
“Mr.
D’Angelo, the petition says you are emotionally unstable and have never met this child.”
“She is my daughter.”
“The attached laboratory report says otherwise.”
He gave me the document.
My name appeared above the words PATERNITY EXCLUDED.
Lucia stared at it.
“That is impossible.”
Mother touched my shoulder.
“Roman, listen to the professionals.”
I knocked her hand away.
“You prepared this before Sophie entered the ballroom.”
“I prepared for the day Lucia returned to extort you.”
“Then why did you order someone to burn the lodge?”
Her eyes moved to the guests.
“That message is being misunderstood.”
Ellis held up her phone.
“I photographed it and sent it to my secure server.”
Mother’s gaze hardened.
“You were a driver when my husband hired you.
Remember how easily this family gave you a life.”
Ellis stepped closer to Sophie.
“I remember who gave me work.
I also remember who just asked me to hand a terrified child back to the woman she fears.”
The officer lowered his voice.
“The order names Mrs.
Evelyn D’Angelo as temporary guardian.
We must follow it until a hearing.”
Lucia’s knees buckled.
I caught her elbow.
“No,” she whispered.
“Roman, she’ll take Sophie back.”
I faced the officer.
“Call the judge.”
“I cannot overturn an order in a ballroom.”
“Then accompany us to the study.
The key may open evidence relevant to the child’s safety.”
Mother moved in front of the corridor.
“That wing is private.”
“It was my father’s study.”
“And I control the trust that owns it.”
Sophie lifted her head.
“Mommy put the crying box there.”
The room went quiet again.
“What crying box?” I asked.
Lucia wiped her cheek.
“A recorder.
I left it running the night Evelyn came for us.”
Mother’s attorney, Victor Hale, pushed through the guests.
“My client will permit a search after the appropriate warrant is obtained.
Until then, touching that room may constitute evidence tampering.”
Mother leaned toward me while Victor spoke to the officers.
“Sign your voting shares over to me,” she whispered.
“I’ll withdraw the petition and let Lucia keep the girl.”
“Her name is Sophie.”
“Sign, Roman.”
“And the laboratory report?”
“A piece of paper can say anything when the right person pays for it.”
I looked at my mother’s face and saw no shame there.
“You just admitted it was false.”
“I admitted nothing.”
Victor returned with the court official.
“The child must be transferred now.”
Lucia’s grip tightened around Sophie.
The officer reached forward, but Sophie screamed and kicked until he stopped.
Then a thin voice rose from the back of the ballroom.
“I performed that test.”
May you like
A gray-haired man stepped out from behind the orchestra.
“And Evelyn D’Angelo paid me to change the result.”
