Chapter 4 - THE CONTRACT WITH TWO VERSIONS.
Ethan’s attorney compared the documents.
His copy contained no contact provision.
Sofia’s early draft did.
That alone proved nothing improper.
Contracts change before signing.
Then Sofia produced her final signed copy.
The page containing post-birth contact was different.
Her signature appeared beneath it.
Ethan’s version carried the same signature.
But the paragraph above it had changed.
His attorney became very quiet.
“We need the agency’s executed originals.”
The surrogacy agency, Bright Future Families, initially refused to discuss records without formal authorization.
Ethan provided it.
Hours later, the agency sent a certified contract.
It matched Ethan’s version.
Sofia looked devastated.
“They changed it.”
Ethan’s attorney corrected gently.
“We don’t know that yet.”
Then she examined the signature pages more closely.
The document identifiers at the bottom did not match.
Page twelve came from version 4B.
Page thirteen came from version 6A.
Someone had assembled pages from different drafts.
Ethan felt cold.
“Who prepared the final packet?”
The agency named its former legal coordinator.
Melissa Grant.
She had resigned shortly after Noah’s birth.
Sofia recognized the name immediately.
“She was the woman who told me never to contact you.”
Ethan asked where Melissa worked now.
The agency representative hesitated.
“She doesn’t.”
“Why?”
May you like
Another pause.
“She disappeared after an internal audit.”
