It was evidence of his heart — of a man who, handed a mystery about his own child, chose the version of the story in which his wife was a liar and his newborn a fraud, because that story cost him less than looking honestly at himself.

Chapter 21 — Not a Mistake

“No, Nicolas,” I said, and picked up the second document from the folder.

“You won’t.”

I handed him the paper — a petition for divorce, and with it an emergency motion for full legal and physical custody of all five children.

He stared at it in horror.