Page 102 of No Greater Love
"But perhaps most interesting," Ms. Hayes said, producing a stack of photographs, "are these images used in your marketing materials. Mr. Crawford, do you recognize these photos?"
She handed me several printed pages, and my blood ran cold. There was Paige at her favorite playground, but the background had been digitally altered. Paige at her science fair, but I'd been completely edited out of the photo. Paige's school picture from last year, professionally retouched and used in what appeared to be a company brochure.
"These are photos I sent to her parents," I said, my voice hollow. "But they've been... changed."
"Photoshopped, yes," Ms. Hayes confirmed. "Ms. Davis, you've been using digitally altered images of a child you haven't seen in eleven years to promote your business venture, haven't you?"
"I..." Sarah's face had gone ashen. "Those images represent my hopes for reconnecting?—"
"They represent fraud," Ms. Hayes cut her off sharply.
Sarah's practiced composure was cracking. "I don't see what?—"
"Ms. Davis," Ms. Hayes interrupted, her voice sharp now, "when was the last time you spoke to your daughter before filing this custody petition?"
"I—that's not?—"
"The answer is eleven years ago, isn't it? When she was three months old and you abandoned her?"
"Objection!" Brad shot up. "Inflammatory language?—"
"Sustained," Judge Morrison said, but his voice lacked conviction.
"I apologize, Your Honor,” Ms. Hayes said pleasantly, “Let me rephrase. Ms. Davis, prior to filing this custody petition, you had no contact with Paige Crawford for eleven years, two months, and sixteen days. Is that correct?"
"I was going through a difficult time?—"
"Yes or no, Ms. Davis."
"Yes, but?—"
"Yet you've been publicly claiming to be a 'devoted mother' while seeking millions in venture capital funding. Isn't it true that your investors expect to meet this daughter you've been featuring so prominently in your marketing materials?"
Sarah's face went pale. "I don't know what you're implying?—"
"I'm not implying anything. I'm stating facts." Ms. Hayes produced a stack of papers. "These are emails between you and your lead investor, Meridian Capital. Would you like me to read the one where they specifically mention wanting to meet your family at the closing dinner?"
Brad was practically vibrating with objections, but Ms. Hayes pressed on.
"Isn't it true, Ms. Davis, that your entire funding round depends on maintaining this fiction of being a devoted mother? That losing this custody case would expose you as a fraud to your investors?"
"That's not—I genuinely want to be in Paige's life?—"
"For Series A funding purposes."
"No!"
"Then explain to this court why, after eleven years of complete silence, you suddenly developed maternal instincts precisely eighteen months ago—the same month you incorporated VitalFlow Therapeutics."
Sarah opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. No sound came out.
"Furthermore," Ms. Hayes continued, her voice building momentum, "isn't it true that you systematically consulted with family law attorneys throughout this jurisdiction for the express purpose of creating conflicts of interest that would prevent Mr. Crawford from obtaining adequate representation?"
Judge Morrison leaned forward, his expression sharp. "Ms. Davis?"
"I… my attorney handled?—"
"Your attorney? Who's sitting right there?" Ms. Hayes gestured toward Brad, who suddenly looked like he wanted to disappear into his expensive suit. "Mr. Kensington, did you or did you not engage in a pattern of consultations designed to prevent opposing parties from obtaining counsel?"
