Chapter 6 - THE FORGED PETITION
The document Noah pulled from Vanessa’s purse was never filed.
That saved Vanessa from one set of consequences.
It did not make the document harmless.
Daniel’s attorney, Rebecca Sloan, examined it that night.
The petition named Daniel as Maya’s biological father and requested emergency temporary custody based on:
housing instability,
maternal financial distress,
and alleged threats by Hannah to “remove the child without notice.”
Attached was a declaration supposedly signed by Daniel.
Daniel read it.
I have recently learned that Maya Hart is likely my biological daughter. I fear her mother may interfere with my opportunity to establish a safe relationship and believe emergency placement may be necessary.
His signature sat at the bottom.
Good forgery.
Not perfect.
“Where did she get this?”
Rebecca answered:
“You sign things constantly.”
School forms.
Business documents.
Medical authorizations.
Vanessa had hundreds of samples.
The draft included more.
Photographs of Hannah’s apartment exterior.
Employment information.
Maya’s school address.
Bankruptcy search results.
A note from a private investigator.
Daniel’s stomach turned.
“She investigated a seven-year-old.”
“She investigated Hannah.”
“My daughter is seven.”
Rebecca did not correct the word.
Neither did Daniel.
Not yet legally confirmed.
Emotionally already dangerous.
Then they found the purpose.
Vanessa had prepared the filing as leverage.
If Hannah contacted Daniel publicly, Vanessa could threaten an emergency custody fight using Daniel’s resources and reputation.
She did not need to win.
She needed Hannah to believe she could make life expensive enough to lose.
It was intimidation dressed as family law.
Then Rebecca found one page Vanessa apparently forgot was included.
Payment authorization.
The $25,000 and $10,000 transfers had not come from Vanessa personally.
They came from a discretionary account attached to Daniel’s family trust.
Labeled:
Private dependent support / confidential family matter
Daniel stared.
“She used my money to pay the mother of my child not to tell me I had a child.”
Rebecca nodded.
“And created records that could later make it appear you knew.”
That was the part that scared him.
Vanessa had not only hidden Maya.
She had been building evidence that Daniel participated.
If exposed, she could claim she was merely carrying out his instructions.
May you like
The forged declaration was not just a weapon against Hannah.
It was insurance against Daniel.
