CHAPTER 9: THE WITNESS
My father was the key witness.
He testified at the preliminary hearing, and his testimony was devastating. He described how my mother had manipulated him, how she had lied about my approval, how she had forged my signature while he watched.
"Did you know the signature was forged?" the prosecutor asked.
"I suspected. But I didn't want to believe it."
"And when you realized it was forged, what did you do?"
"I confronted her. She denied it. She said Bella had changed her mind and didn't want to admit it."
"Did you believe her?"
"Part of me wanted to. It was easier than accepting the truth."
The courtroom was silent.
"Mr. Carver, did you participate in the scheme?"
"Not knowingly. But I was complicit. I should have stopped it. I should have asked Bella directly."
My father looked at me from the witness stand. His eyes were filled with regret.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he said. "I'm sorry for everything."
I nodded. It wasn't forgiveness. But it was acknowledgment.
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My mother's lawyer cross-examined my father, trying to paint him as an unreliable witness. But my father held firm. He didn't waver. He told the truth.
And the truth was enough.
