I felt Lily lean into my side, and I put my arm around her, and I finished it looking at the woman who had once tried to make my daughter into a transaction.

“The court cleared my file — the ‘severe complications’ turned out to be considerably less severe than they were made to sound to a woman being pressured to sign.

I was granted full custody.

The clinic was investigated, and Tiffany was forced to resign from the medical board rather than face something louder.

And I adopted my daughter, legally and completely, and I raised her by myself, in a home I paid for with my own work, without a single cent from you, Mike, or from anyone.”

Mike had stopped looking at me.