Chapter 10 - THE HEARING Our attorney told us not to panic.
I tried.
I failed.
James didn't.
"She wants emotion," he told me.
"We give facts."
At the hearing, Lauren arrived in a cream-colored coat.
Mom came with her.
For one terrible second, I thought Mom had chosen Lauren again.
Then Mom walked past her.
She sat behind us.
Lauren turned.
"Mom?"
Mom looked straight ahead.
"I'm here to tell the truth."
The courtroom became silent.
Our attorney presented the evidence.
Megan's recording.
The complete Christmas video.
The doorbell footage.
Dad's statement.
The messages.
Lauren's edited video was played first.
Then the full version.
The difference was devastating.
The judge watched Lauren approach.
He watched her provoke Mom.
He watched her step toward Dad.
Then James's voice:
"Back up."
Nothing else.
No threat.
No violence.
The judge denied the protective order.
Outside, Lauren cornered me.
"You think you won?"
I looked at her.
"You hit my baby."
Her eyes flickered.
For once, she had no answer.
Mom stepped forward.
Lauren turned on her.
"This is your fault."
Mom nodded.
"Yes."
Lauren froze.
"I helped create this."
Mom's voice broke.
"But I will not lie anymore."
Lauren walked away.
That afternoon, our attorney called.
There had been another attempted withdrawal from Emma's account.
Ten thousand dollars.
The bank stopped it.
May you like
The person who submitted the request was not Lauren.
It was my mother.
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