Chapter 17 - VICTORIA TRIES TO TAKE LEO AWAY AGAINVictoria changed strategy.
She could no longer claim Sarah abandoned.
So she claimed Sarah had intentionally infiltrated party.
Her attorney filed:
Sarah obtained employment through cleaning agency after learning event location.
She staged reunion.
She destabilized Leo.
She sought financial advantage.
Sarah laughed when Monica read.
“I didn’t know house.”
They checked cleaning company.
Assignment system.
Another worker Janice Webb scheduled.
Called sick 6:10 a.m.
Supervisor assigned Sarah from rotating list at 6:24.
Sarah accepted 6:31.
Address provided 6:45.
No prior knowledge.
GPS/travel.
No suspicious searches.
Random.
Victoria’s conspiracy theory collapsed easily.
But public gossip loved.
Headline in local tabloid:
JANITOR MOM CRASHES MILLIONAIRE EX’S PARTY
Sarah saw.
She hated.
Arthur’s team wanted statement.
Sarah:
“No.”
Monica:
“Good.”
Then Victoria claimed Sarah’s sudden reentry emotionally harmful to Leo.
This had some legitimate child-welfare concern.
Therapist recommended gradual integration.
Sarah already complying.
That helped.
Victoria requested temporary no contact.
Denied absent evidence, especially given fraudulent past.
Instead court maintained structured contact.
Victoria furious.
She wrote Arthur:
“She is doing again.”
“What?”
“Making everyone feel sorry.”
Arthur didn’t reply.
Then Victoria contacted Leo through approved supervised call.
She said:
“I’m scared Sarah will take you away.”
Supervisor stopped.
Not appropriate.
Call ended.
This became evidence of emotional pressure.
Victoria’s contact tightened.
She complained unfair.
But behavior.
Then she sent Leo gift with note:
Remember who has been your mother for four years.
Therapist intercepted.
Arthur read.
He felt sad.
Victoria still framing motherhood competition.
Sarah said:
“She’s terrified.”
Arthur:
“She should be.”
“No.”
“Not of jail.”
“Of losing him.”
Arthur looked.
Sarah understood.
Doesn't excuse.
But useful.
Victoria had built identity around being Leo’s mother.
Sarah’s return threatened.
So she tried take again—not physically, narratively/legal.
She argued continuity:
Leo stable with her.
Yet Leo lived primarily Arthur too.
Victoria was stepmother.
Her legal parental rights limited absent adoption. Had she adopted? If Sarah supposedly relinquished, maybe Victoria could have adopted Leo. But if so, huge legal fraud. We hadn't mentioned. Better Victoria never legally adopted; she used social mother role. Good.
Thus she could not seek custody except as step-parent under special circumstances, and fraud killed.
She still filed for visitation based psychological parent maybe.
Court considered but paused.
Leo said:
“I don’t want alone.”
His voice.
Then Victoria attacked Sarah job.
“Unstable employment.”
Sarah had moved.
“Limited housing.”
Sarah’s apartment smaller.
Family court should not equate wealth to fitness.
Home study:
clean.
safe.
bedroom.
school commute reasonable.
Approved.
Sarah smiled.
Money not motherhood.
Then Victoria’s investigators tried find dirt.
Sarah had one parking ticket.
One overdue bill.
Brief relationship.
Nothing.
The desperate search itself surfaced Greyson surveillance.
Backfired.
Sarah’s lawyer sought protective order against further monitoring.
Granted.
For first time in years, Sarah walked without wondering.
Then Victoria approached Sarah outside courthouse unexpectedly.
No violence.
“Are you happy?”
Sarah stopped.
“No.”
“You got what you wanted.”
“My son?”
Victoria flinched.
“He was mine too.”
Sarah:
“He cared about you.”
“You ruined that.”
“No.”
“Your choices did.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“You think you can walk back after four years?”
“I didn’t walk away.”
“You weren’t there.”
“Because you made sure.”
Victoria:
“I was there when he had fever.”
“When he couldn’t sleep.”
“When Arthur traveled.”
“You weren’t.”
Sarah took.
“That’s true.”
Victoria shocked.
Sarah:
“You did mothering.”
“And you stole his mother.”
“Both are true.”
Victoria cried.
Sarah continued:
“I’m not competing over who loved him more.”
“I’m making sure you never decide for him again.”
She walked.
That conversation crystallized.
Victoria’s strongest defense was actual caregiving.
She had been there.
But being there after blocking someone else does not grant ownership.
Court later denied her attempt for expanded control but allowed therapeutic contact only if Leo desired and professionals found safe.
She could not take him away again.
The system she manipulated now required transparency.
Victoria hated.
Leo felt relief.
Sarah felt caution.
Arthur felt grief.
May you like
No one won.
But boundary held.
Related Stories
