Chapter 9: The Deposition
The court-ordered mediation took place in a neutral conference room in the county seat. It was the first time Maya had seen Dustin and Eleanor in months.
Eleanor sat erect, dressed in her signature tailored suit, looking composed and indifferent. Dustin sat beside her, looking weary, dark circles beneath his eyes.
When Eleanor’s lawyer opened with claims about Maya's ""unstable living conditions,"" Sarah Miller calmly placed a series of high-resolution photographs on the table.
They were the close-up shots of seven-year-old Lily’s freshly shaved scalp, showing the angry red scratches and tears streaming down her face.
""Is this what you consider 'proper discipline,' Mrs. Vance?"" Sarah asked, her voice dropping to a icy, steady tone.
May you like
Eleanor didn't flinch. ""The child lacked respect.""
Dustin stared at the photos. For the first time, without the buffer of his mother's spin, he saw the raw evidence of his child's pain. His hands began to shake.
