Chapter 15 - THE DEPOSITION CARTER COULD NOT BURY
The judge rejected Carter’s confidentiality claim. He had represented neither Valeria Rose nor the Canadian clinic when the deposition was made.
The recording showed a tired woman speaking from a hospital bed.
Valeria Rose testified that Elena regained enough capacity to reject Carter’s control. She wanted Mia raised by Isabel until she recovered. Carter forged a permanent incapacity declaration and threatened the nurse with prosecution for helping “abduct” the child.
Rose fled after copying the records. Carter later found her daughter and offered protection, never revealing that he had driven the mother into hiding.
The deposition included no allegation that Carter caused Isabel’s plane crash or Rose’s cancer. It documented what she personally witnessed.
At the end, Rose addressed her daughter.
“If he helped you, that help was real. It was also a chain. You are allowed to be grateful for what saved you and still refuse what it demands.”
Valeria watched twice without speaking.
Lucas sat beside her but did not touch her. Comfort was not his to assume after ending the engagement.
The deposition established Mia’s guardianship as protective rather than criminal. It also supported restoring Elena’s legal capacity through independent evaluation.
Carter appealed and requested the wedding be postponed, claiming publicity now threatened everyone’s rights.
For the first time, he wanted delay.
Priya opposed. Public attention was protecting Mia. Moving the operation into private legal rooms would favor Carter’s network.
The court allowed the church gathering to proceed but prohibited execution of any marriage or trust document pending review.
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Carter appeared calm outside the courthouse.
Then Naomi saw him give the wedding security chief a photograph of Mia.
