Chapter 6 - MARA'S SETTLEMENT After Caroline's death, Mara continued pursuing the clinic claim.
Asteron Fertility Network had acquired Harbor Ridge's operations.
Its insurer began negotiating.
The potential claim involved unauthorized embryo transfer, reproductive consent failures, medical-record problems, and the emotional consequences for Sophie.
Mara wanted millions.
Her attorney warned her that money belonging to Sophie would require court oversight.
Mara fired him.
Then she found another lawyer.
The negotiations stalled.
And six months later, Mara rented the house next door.
She wasn't simply moving.
She was watching us.
Police later found photographs of our driveway.
Our backyard.
Emily gardening.
Me leaving for work.
Lily playing outside.
There were handwritten notes.
Lily preschool Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Ryan leaves at 7:20.
Would they pay privately?
One unfinished message was even more disturbing.
You have another daughter.
Mara had never sent it.
But the intention was clear.
She had begun treating Sophie like leverage.
Then a child-welfare investigator came to Mara's house after concerns about a child who wasn't attending school.
Mara panicked.
She knew she might lose control of Sophie.
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So she moved the girl into the maintenance passage.
And suddenly our little daughter Lily became the only person who knew.
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