Chapter 22 - Sophie’s custody changes
After Victoria’s conviction, family court entered longer-term order.
Daniel received:
Primary residential custody.
Tie-breaking authority on education after good-faith consultation.
Victoria received:
Regular parenting time.
Initially daytime plus one overnight every other weekend after a transition period.
Why contact at all?
Because Sophie loved her mother.
No finding Victoria physically abused Sophie.
Risk was emotional manipulation.
So safeguards:
No discussion of litigation.
No boarding-school applications without consent.
No disparaging Daniel, Noah, Margaret, or me.
No using Sophie to carry messages.
Therapy continued.
If violations:
Court could modify.
Then first overnight after Victoria completed custody.
Sophie returned.
Daniel asked:
“How was it?”
“Okay.”
Anything wrong?
“Mom said sorry.”
“For what?”
“For making me take chair.”
Then:
“She said Noah didn’t steal anything from me.”
That was progress.
But later:
“She said Mr. Raffaele hates her.”
Less good.
Daniel documented.
Therapist addressed.
May you like
No instant punishment.
Behavior measured over time.
