Eight months later, the divorce became final. Evan lost almost everything — his marriage, his home, and most importantly, the trust of the daughter he abandoned before she was even born.

Patricia accepted a plea deal and became the center of the kind of public scandal she once loved spreading about other people. Claire apologized sincerely, and I accepted her letter for Nora’s sake.

One year later, winter returned. I stood on my porch holding Nora while snowflakes landed softly on her tiny cheeks. Inside the house, the walnut crib stood polished and restored beneath the nursery light.

I kissed my daughter’s forehead and whispered, “No one takes what belongs to you