Chapter 6
Diane finally explained why she joined the custody consultations.
“My son asked me.”
“That’s not an explanation.”
Valeria sat across from her in Rebecca’s conference room.
Diane looked tired now.
The flawless gala matriarch was gone.
“My older son died because men around him believed danger was normal.”
“Gregory is not your older son.”
“Noah is three.”
Valeria waited.
Diane continued.
“I watched him learn which men in your house carried guns before he could count properly.”
Valeria’s face hardened.
“Every weapon around Noah is secured.”
“That sentence is exactly the problem.”
Diane leaned forward.
“A normal grandmother does not need reassurance that the guns around her grandson are professionally managed.”
The words landed.
Valeria did not like them.
She did not dismiss them.
“What did you know about the panic room?”
“Gregory said he was recording Noah after difficult days to document what happened when you were away.”
“Did you know he locked him inside?”
Diane hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“He said ten or fifteen minutes.”
“You were there four times.”
“I was downstairs.”
“Did you hear him crying?”
“It’s soundproof.”
Valeria stared at her.
Diane heard how terrible the answer sounded.
She looked away.
“What about the clothes?”
“I saw them once.”
“And?”
“Gregory said Noah had spilled something.”
“Did you believe him?”
Diane did not answer.
That was answer enough.
Valeria’s voice went quieter.
“You knew something was wrong.”
“I knew he was desperate.”
“You chose him anyway.”
“I chose my grandson.”
“No.”
Valeria leaned forward.
“You chose the story you wanted to become true.”
Diane’s composure broke slightly.
The distinction mattered.
She may genuinely have believed Noah should be removed from Valeria’s environment.
But once she saw questionable methods, she protected Gregory’s plan rather than the child inside it.
After the meeting, Rebecca gave Valeria another document.
Gregory had contacted a rental agency about a furnished home in Wisconsin.
Six-month lease.
Three bedrooms.
Close to Diane’s sister.
Start date:
Five days after the winter reception.
Valeria stared at it.
“He was leaving.”
“Looks that way.”
“With Noah.”
“That appears to have been the plan.”
“Was he going to tell me?”
“We don’t know.”
Rebecca turned another page.
Gregory had requested information about emergency custody orders that could temporarily restrict a parent from removing a child from the state once litigation began.
May you like
He was not preparing for an argument.
He was preparing an exit.
