Chapter 10 - Daniel Began to Break
Daniel requested an additional supervised visit.
I agreed.
Not because I trusted him.
Because Camila deserved the opportunity to know her father if he could learn to become one.
The visit took place at a family center.
I watched through a one-way window with Dr. Herrera.
Daniel entered carrying an enormous stuffed bear.
Camila looked at it.
Then at him.
“Hi, princess.”
She did not run to him.
That hurt more than I expected.
Daniel knelt.
“I brought you something.”
Camila touched the bear’s ear.
“Thank you.”
He smiled too widely.
“You can take it home.”
She looked toward the door.
“Mommy’s home?”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s smile weakened.
For the first twenty minutes, they played quietly.
Then Camila reached for a snack from the table.
Daniel froze.
I saw it instantly.
So did Dr. Herrera.
Camila noticed too.
“Can I?”
Daniel’s face changed.
He looked devastated.
“Yes.”
His voice cracked.
“Of course.”
Camila took the crackers.
She ate one carefully.
Then she asked, “I don’t have to go outside?”
Daniel lowered his head.
His shoulders began moving.
He was crying.
Not loudly.
Not theatrically.
Just collapsing under the weight of a sentence spoken by a three-year-old.
The supervisor leaned forward.
Daniel wiped his face.
“No, baby.”
He shook his head.
“You never have to do that.”
Camila watched him.
“Grandma said I was bad.”
“I know.”
“You said Grandma knows.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I was wrong.”
For the first time, he said it without adding anything.
No explanation.
No mother.
No stress.
No Mariana.
Just wrong.
After the visit, Daniel asked to speak with me through Rafael.
I agreed to a short conversation with attorneys present.
Daniel sat across from me.
He looked exhausted.
“I didn’t understand what she remembered.”
I said nothing.
“I thought she would forget.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“I know.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“My mother has been controlling my entire life.”
Rafael remained silent.
So did Daniel’s attorney.
Daniel continued.
“She made every decision.”
“Then you should understand exactly why I won’t let her make decisions for Camila.”
He nodded.
“I do now.”
I studied his face.
“Did you help her apply for the loan?”
His attorney immediately intervened.
“My client will not discuss matters outside the custody scope.”
Daniel looked at him.
Then at me.
The answer was obvious.
I stood.
“Then we’re done.”
“Mariana.”
I stopped.
“I never meant for things to become this.”
I turned around.
“What did you mean?”
He had no answer.
I left.
That evening, Rafael called.
Daniel’s attorney had requested settlement discussions.
They were willing to drop the claim against my business.
In exchange, Daniel wanted financial support for two years and temporary continued occupancy of the apartment.
I laughed.
Rafael did too.
“That was my reaction.”
“What did you tell them?”
“That we would review it.”
“No.”
“I assumed.”
“No support beyond what the law requires.”
“Agreed.”
“And he leaves my apartment as soon as legally possible.”
“Agreed.”
There was a pause.
“Mariana, there’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“The lender confirmed the signature on the consent document was submitted electronically from an IP address registered to your apartment.”
My stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Saturday afternoon.”
The same day Carmen entered.
Rafael lowered his voice.
“Daniel may be breaking emotionally.”
May you like
He paused.
“But legally, things are about to become much worse for him.”
