Chapter 26 - THE LAST OPEN CASE Eventually, even Denise's case ended.
She received a sentence for the records fraud and reproductive-consent falsification.
Professional restrictions followed.
The independent clinic audit found no additional confirmed unauthorized embryo transfers.
One inventory discrepancy remained under review but was ultimately resolved.
No second Sophie.
No other hidden family waiting for a knock on the door.
That was the news we had secretly feared most.
Our property was repaired.
The maintenance passage was permanently sealed.
The strange little cavity that had once held our daughter's fear disappeared behind fresh drywall.
The final CPS report closed.
The settlement was approved.
The parentage order became final.
One afternoon, our lawyer called.
“Ryan, there's nothing left for you to sign.”
I stared at the stack of documents on my desk.
For more than a year, every answer had required paperwork.
DNA.
Court orders.
Medical records.
Consent forms.
Settlement agreements.
Now there was nothing.
I went upstairs.
Sophie and Lily were building a fort.
Against the repaired wall.
I almost told them to move.
Then I stopped.
May you like
It was just a wall.
For the first time, it really was.
