Chapter 11
Lucas did not want to meet Cassian immediately.
Cassian accepted it.
Badly.
But he accepted it.
Leah’s attorney delivered the message.
“He wants to know whether you really didn’t know.”
Cassian answered:
“Yes.”
“He wants evidence.”
“Give him everything age-appropriate.”
“He wants to see the original letter.”
Cassian paused.
The forged no-contact letter was brutal.
Still:
“When his therapist says he’s ready.”
That was the compromise.
Cassian did not force a father-son reunion simply because DNA gave him the legal word.
Lucas had lived twelve years without him.
Relationship would come later, if the boy wanted it.
The foundation investigation moved faster.
Lucinda was suspended from every administrative role.
Northgate’s contracts were terminated pending review.
Peter Shaw retained counsel and began cooperating.
He denied knowing Lucinda intended to frame Cassian.
The evidence partly supported him.
Peter knew support payments were inflated.
He knew Leah was being pressured to sign relocation documents.
He knew Lucinda wanted Lucas moved.
But he did not appear to know about the forged Cassian acknowledgments or divorce strategy until late.
That did not make him innocent.
It made his conduct narrower.
The direct case involving Millie was simpler.
Hotel footage.
Door logs.
Millie’s account.
Lucinda had intentionally locked a six-year-old in a maintenance passage.
She claimed she was trying to calm an overwhelmed child.
The footage showed Millie resisting.
The repeated prior incidents made the explanation weaker.
Child endangerment and unlawful confinement charges followed.
Cassian’s own shove remained separate.
His attorney advised him against hiding behind what Lucinda had done.
Cassian accepted responsibility through a negotiated misdemeanor assault disposition.
Counseling.
Community service.
A fine.
No heroic exemption.
Vincent Romano called him furious.
“You knocked a tray away and put her into a padded chair.”
“I shoved her.”
“She locked Millie in a wall.”
“That’s her charge.”
“She hid your son.”
“That’s also hers.”
Vincent stared at him.
“So what exactly are you guilty of?”
Cassian looked at him.
“Using force after Millie was already safe because I wanted Lucinda to feel what I was feeling.”
Vincent had no answer.
Cassian continued.
“If Millie grows up believing my anger changes the rules, Lucinda still gets to shape her.”
That ended the argument.
The independent audit uncovered broader family problems too.
Several legacy assistance accounts had vague expenses.
Dominic had routinely mixed personal family security with foundation-paid programs.
Two relatives received benefits they should have disclosed.
Cassian reimbursed another $22,000 tied to an old private travel allocation.
The foundation paid tax penalties.
Nothing exploded.
May you like
The institution simply became more honest and more expensive for a while.
Cassian found that strangely satisfying.
