Chapter 9: The Relinquishment Agreement
Margaret Miller realized her empire was dead. Her financial laundering was exposed, her social standing was ruined, and her freedom was officially coming to an end. But her pathological need for destruction didn't allow her to go down quietly. She glared at Julia with eyes full of unfiltered hatred, and suddenly, she burst into a loud, screeching, unhinged laugh that echoed off the crystal chandeliers.
"You think you’ve won, don't you, Julia?! You think you can use this high-priced lawyer to put me away and then thản nhiên (calmly) walk out of here with my granddaughter?! You are so pathetic, so incredibly blind!"
She looked down at her sobbing son, kicking his shoe with her foot. "Tell her, David! Go ahead, you sniveling little boy! Tell your perfect, righteous wife what you did behind her back in the waiting room at Saint Mary’s Hospital the night that child was born!"
David Miller shook violently, burying his face in his hands, let out a guttural sound of pure, unadulterated terror. He looked at his mother with pleading, desperate eyes, his face a portrait of deep horror.
"Mom... please... I beg of you... don't say it... please..." David choked out, his voice cracked and broken.
Julia felt her stomach drop, a wave of cold adrenaline crashing through her veins. She stepped closer to her quivering husband, her voice dropping to a dangerous, steady whisper. "David. What is she talking about? What did you do to me the night our daughter was born?"
He couldn't look her in the eye. He simply stared at the floor, his absolute, cowardly silence serving as the ultimate confirmation of guilt. That silence cut deeper than the physical slap. It was the absolute anatomy of betrayal.
Daniel Carter let out a quiet sigh, his expression softening with genuine sympathy for Julia. He reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a thinner, separate file folder secured with a red legal seal.
"Julia, my team uncovered this specific document inside Margaret’s private safety deposit box at the central bank during our asset search. I think you need to read it yourself."
Julia took the paper, her fingers shaking so badly she could barely hold the heavy stock. She flipped open the cover, and the bold, black letters at the top of the page struck her mind like a physical blow:
VOLUNTARY CUSTODY RELINQUISHMENT AGREEMENT
Julia read the text, her vision blurring as she processed the horrific legality of the document. The date of execution: the exact date Mia was born, eight years ago. The location: the private surgical waiting room of Saint Mary’s Hospital.
The contract stipulated that in the event of any future marital separation, legal dispute, or divorce between David and Julia Miller, absolute, unconditional physical and legal custody of the child (Mia Miller) would automatically be granted to David Miller and his designated maternal representative, Margaret Miller. Julia would legally forfeit all maternal rights and be barred from contesting the arrangement in any court of law within the state.
And there, at the bottom of that monstrous, predatory contract, right next to the stamp of a paid notary... was the clean, unmistakable signature of David Miller.
"You signed this, David?" Julia’s voice dropped to a level of quiet horror that shocked the entire room. "While I was lying alone in the post-operative recovery room, fighting for my life after an emergency C-section because I was hemorrhaging... you went out into the hallway and signed our daughter away to your mother?"
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"Julia... please, listen to me... it's not what it looks like..." David wept, crawling forward on his knees to reach her. But Julia stepped back, looking at him with an expression of pure, unadulterated disgust.
"You planned to steal my baby from me before she could even open her eyes, David. You are a monster."
