Chapter 6 - The Fake Evaluation
The psychologist’s name was Dr. Martin Vale.
Brooke remembered him.
Gary called him “a family counselor.”
He visited twice.
Both times he asked strange questions.
Did Brooke ever feel angry at authority?
Did she spend money impulsively?
Did she ever think people were against her?
Brooke thought it was therapy.
It wasn’t.
Dr. Vale was gathering material for a competency report.
And according to the state licensing board, he was no longer authorized to practice.
His license had been revoked after falsifying evaluations in another guardianship case.
Nathan stared at Gary.
“You hired him.”
Gary shrugged.
“He’s experienced.”
Brooke almost laughed.
“At fraud?”
Her mother whispered:
“Gary told me his license issue was paperwork.”
Nathan shook his head.
“How many times are you going to say Gary told me?”
That question hit her.
Because it was the foundation of everything.
Gary told me Nathan abandoned you.
Gary told me the trust withdrawals were legal.
Gary told me Brooke needed an evaluation.
Gary told me Ethan was difficult.
Gary told me fear was discipline.
At some point, believing every convenient lie became a choice.
Brooke’s mother seemed to realize it too.
She looked at Ethan.
Then at the belt still lying on the table.
Her face crumpled.
Gary saw weakness.
He hated it.
“Don’t start acting like some victim.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed.
Brooke stepped closer to her mother.
“Did he ever hit you?”
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
“Threaten you?”
Silence.
Gary barked:
“Answer her.”
Her mother flinched.
That was an answer.
Not physical violence.
Control.
Threats.
Financial pressure.
And fear.
Still, Brooke wasn’t ready to excuse her.
“You watched him scare Ethan.”
“I know.”
“You signed my name.”
“I know.”
“You lied about Dad.”
Her mother looked at Nathan.
That lie had begun before Gary.
And it had a reason.
Years earlier, Nathan discovered she was using money from Brooke’s small custodial account for personal expenses.
They fought.
She feared losing custody.
So she accused Nathan of threatening behavior.
The court ordered temporary supervised visitation while the claims were reviewed.
Nathan complied.
Then Brooke’s mother started intercepting communications.
Later, she filed the forged relinquishment.
Nathan, struggling financially and emotionally exhausted, failed to challenge it quickly enough.
Years passed.
Then he finally obtained records suggesting fraud.
But by then Brooke’s mother had moved.
Changed phone numbers.
Married Gary.
Nathan had spent years trying to locate the children through legal channels.
Brooke stared at him.
“You could’ve tried harder.”
He nodded.
“I could have.”
No excuses.
That mattered.
“I should’ve kept fighting sooner.”
Brooke’s eyes filled.
Nathan continued:
“But your mother lying doesn’t erase my mistakes.”
Brooke looked away.
Everyone wanted to simplify adults into heroes and villains.
Reality was uglier.
Nathan had failed her too.
Just differently.
Then Ms. Harper, the trust attorney, arrived with a sealed file.
She placed it on the table.
“There is something else you need to know.”
Brooke looked at the folder.
“What?”
“The trust audit found payments going somewhere other than Gary’s company.”
Gary’s face changed.
His wife noticed.
“Where?”
Ms. Harper answered:
“To a woman named Denise Lawson.”
Brooke’s mother stared at Gary.
May you like
“Who is Denise?”
Gary stopped breathing.
