Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO DIDN’T WANT THE MONEY.
Caroline’s letter was opened in front of Ethan, Sofia, and independent counsel.
She wrote about Noah.
About fear.
About dying before she could meet the child she wanted.
Then she wrote about Sofia.
She called her brave.
Funny.
Terrible at answering texts.
She asked Ethan never to treat her like “a body we rented.”
Sofia covered her mouth.
Caroline also requested that Sofia receive financial help for nursing school if she wanted it.
Ethan looked at her.
“I’ll honor this.”
Sofia shook her head immediately.
“I don’t want your money.”
“It was Caroline’s wish.”
“I know.”
She wiped her face.
“But I came here because I missed him. If I take money now, everyone will say that’s why.”
That answer changed Ethan’s understanding of her.
Sofia had lied to enter his home.
That still mattered.
But she had not stolen.
She had not demanded custody.
She had not manipulated Noah.
She had cleaned floors simply to exist near him.
Then the agency’s former receptionist contacted Ethan’s attorney.
She had saved archived voicemail logs from the weeks after Noah’s birth.
Sofia had called eleven times asking whether the baby was healthy.
Each message had been forwarded to Melissa.
None reached Ethan.
The twelfth voicemail was different.
It came from Caroline.
May you like
Recorded two days before she died.
And it was addressed directly to Sofia.
