Chapter 17 - THE ADOPTION MOVES AGAIN
The adoption evaluator completed the supplemental safety review.
Findings:
Sawyer was safe with me and Adrian.
No evidence Adrian wanted him removed.
No evidence I physically harmed Sawyer.
Adult conflict around Imogen had caused emotional distress.
My box retaliation and premature financial accusation were concerns but had been acknowledged and addressed.
Adrian’s secret pause showed poor co-parent communication.
Both of us had begun counseling.
Imogen had no legal caregiving role.
No contact allowed.
Recommendation:
Adoption process may resume once court receives updated identity-fraud report and foundation-conflict disclosure.
Not final approval.
Resume.
Sawyer celebrated by eating cereal for dinner.
His choice.
Then Adrian asked:
“Do you still want this?”
Sawyer rolled his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why eye roll?”
“You ask every day.”
Fair.
We stopped asking so often.
Then foundation reform hearing moved forward.
Other family members filed objections.
Not to Sawyer.
To losing automatic family seats.
They argued:
Beatrice wanted family perspective.
Alice proposed compromise:
Family members may still be appointed.
But no automatic activation through a child.
Qualification based on training, conflicts and board approval.
No child becomes a governance trigger.
That preserved perspective without making adoption strategic.
Good.
Then Imogen’s stipend.
Suspended while she remained off the board.
No backpay pending findings.
Could that financially hurt Felix?
Daniel said no.
Imogen had substantial design income and settlement assets.
Good.
No child deprived.
Then cyber-forensics finalized.
The restored iPad:
Created fake messages from Adrian’s account.
Connected from Imogen’s home network.
Unlocked with Imogen’s biometric profile.
Accessed our vehicle location.
Drafted adoption-related emails.
No evidence another user created the specific fake messages.
Strong.
Prosecutor charged:
Unauthorized computer access.
Identity impersonation.
Attempted interference with an official/private legal process using falsified communications.
Misdemeanor child battery.
Exact statutory labels varied, but evidence clear enough to proceed.
No arrest spectacle.
Imogen appeared through counsel.
Released under conditions.
No contact with Sawyer.
No access to our accounts.
Devices restricted per court.
Then Adrian’s warning note became emotionally less central.
Digital evidence was stronger.
Good.
No miracle note solving everything.
Then Sawyer asked:
“Is Imogen jail?”
“Court hasn’t decided.”
“Did she do fake Adrian?”
“Investigators say the device evidence shows that.”
“Why?”
“To try to slow the adoption.”
“Because chair?”
“Partly.”
He looked annoyed.
“I don’t want chair.”
“You don’t have one.”
“Good.”
Then:
“Can Adrian adopt me without chair?”
“We’re working on exactly that.”
That became our goal.
Not beat Imogen to a deadline.
Remove the deadline’s meaning.
Then Adrian formally filed a waiver.
He would not personally claim the dormant family-advisory seat.
But waiver alone did not prevent the legal adoption from activating the branch under old language.
So foundation counsel petitioned for modification.
The court scheduled hearing.
One week before the adoption final hearing.
Good sequence.
No shortcut.
Then Imogen opposed the modification.
Why?
Her lawyer said:
“Settlor intent.”
Beatrice.
But Beatrice’s own letters favored noncompetitive child status.
Weak.
Still legal argument.
She had the right to make it.
I stopped calling every objection manipulation.
May you like
Some were simply litigation.
That was progress too.
