Chapter 3 - Daniel Wanted More Than Custody
Daniel’s petition asked for more overnights.
More holidays.
Greater control over education.
Greater control over medical decisions.
He claimed Lily needed “stability.”
Claire’s attorney, Maya Franklin, read the filing and frowned.
“Why now?”
Claire had the same question.
Then she remembered something.
Two weeks earlier Daniel had asked casually about Lily’s trust.
Claire’s late mother had left Lily a protected investment account.
Not enormous.
But substantial.
Claire served as co-trustee until Lily became an adult.
Daniel had no authority over it.
Yet suddenly he wanted to know:
How much was in it?
What happened if Claire died?
Could the surviving parent make emergency decisions?
Claire had brushed the conversation off at the time.
Now Maya didn’t.
“Custody and money may not be separate here.”
Claire immediately requested records from the trust administrator.
What came back frightened her.
Daniel’s office had made two unauthorized information requests.
Vanessa had made another.
Neither had been given access.
But they had tried.
Claire stared at the paperwork.
Then remembered Lily saying Vanessa told her:
“Soon you won’t have to go back to Mommy’s house.”
It no longer sounded like cruelty alone.
May you like
It sounded like preparation.
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