Samuel spread them across the conference table: the original adoption record naming one woman, Elena’s letter naming me as Renata’s father, a photograph of Elena standing outside the DeLuca estate holding newborn Renata wrapped in the same pink blanket, and Frank’s sworn statement claiming Elena had abandoned the child.

The dates did not line up with the story my parents had told me for four years.

Frank’s statement was signed after Elena’s letter had already reached the attorney.

The photograph showed her fingers pinching the hand-sewn corner of the blanket—the same corner Renata still carried.

There was no correction order.

There was only the family copy with a different name, and a petition filed under that name by a claimant who had not yet verified her identity.

Samuel prepared the filing.