Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN THEY CALLED UNSTABLE Rebecca's next discovery came from Clara's medical records.
Eleanor had contacted Clara's doctor twice.
Not as a concerned mother-in-law.
As someone collecting evidence.
She had asked about postpartum exhaustion.
Sleep deprivation.
Anxiety.
Medication.
Crying.
Arguments.
Everything.
The nurse had documented the calls.
And the medical records told a very different story.
Clara had been exhausted.
She had cried.
She had struggled.
But there was no diagnosis of incapacity.
No evidence that she couldn't make decisions.
No evidence that she was mentally incompetent.
Rebecca closed the folder.
“They were building a narrative.”
Clara stared at the wall.
“What narrative?”
“That you were unstable.”
The words hurt more than Clara expected.
Because part of her had believed them.
She remembered the nights she had cried while holding Luca.
The mornings when she felt like she was failing.
The moments when Eleanor's voice had sounded almost reasonable.
You're overwhelmed.
You don't understand this family.
You need someone experienced to protect your child.
Clara closed her eyes.
“She made me question myself.”
Mateo reached for her hand.
She didn't pull away.
But she didn't squeeze it either.
Rebecca continued.
“She wanted you to sign something while you doubted your own judgment.”
Mateo's jaw tightened.
“What document?”
“The Family Continuity and Infant Protection Agreement.”
Clara looked at him.
“The one she said was routine.”
“It wasn't.”
Rebecca placed the final page on the table.
“If signed, Eleanor would gain temporary authority over Luca.”
Mateo stared at the signature line.
For a moment, he imagined Clara signing it.
Then he imagined himself walking into that room.
He realized how close they had come.
May you like
Not to losing money.
To losing their family.
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