Chapter 14 - The ChildrenVanessa gave birth to a boy.
His name was Julian.
DNA testing confirmed Adrian was his father.
Adrian had spent years trying to steal a future for himself.
Now his greatest legacy was a child who had done nothing wrong.
Vanessa asked me to take custody.
I refused.
Not because Julian deserved less.
Because he deserved better than decisions made from guilt.
A carefully screened foster family offered him a home.
I established a trust for his education.
Olivia supported the decision.
Sophie asked:
“Is Julian bad?”
“No.”
“Then why does he have to leave?”
“Because sometimes babies need adults who can keep them safe.”
She thought about that.
“Can we visit him?”
“When the court says it's safe.”
She nodded.
Then she added:
“Tell him he isn't bad.”
I promised.
Children understand something adults often forget.
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Guilt belongs to the person who caused the harm.
Not to the child born afterward.
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