Chapter 7
Grace Mercer became the most hated woman in the Carvelli mansion within forty-eight hours.
Not because she was cruel.
Because she was authorized.
Natalia’s documents gave her standing to request court review if Lulu’s safety plan was triggered.
Marcella had tried to exploit that trigger.
Instead, she activated the person Natalia actually trusted.
Grace petitioned for:
A guardian ad litem for Lulu.
Independent therapy.
Restrictions on Marcella.
Review of all Natalia trust records.
A household safety plan.
And court supervision of any adult claiming authority through Natalia’s packet.
Dominic’s lawyer wanted to fight.
Dominic asked:
“Would fighting help Lulu?”
The lawyer hesitated.
“No.”
“Then don’t.”
Grace was not trying to take Lulu immediately.
She said that plainly in court.
“Removal from her father is not my goal. Ensuring that his home no longer operates like a private kingdom is.”
The judge looked at Dominic.
“Do you understand the distinction?”
Dominic answered:
“I’m starting to.”
The judge ordered temporary conditions.
Marcella no contact.
No unsupervised access by staff hired through Marcella.
No party or publicity use of Lulu’s image.
Independent review of the trust.
Therapy.
CPS monitoring.
Dominic’s contact remained intact but supervised around major transitions until the court was satisfied he would not retaliate or pressure witnesses.
He hated every condition.
May you like
He obeyed every condition.
Lulu noticed that too.
