Chapter 6 - THE CUSTODY PETITION
Genevieve denied sending the letter.
She had lived with Julian temporarily after losing her apartment, she said. His computer stored multiple family credentials.
Access did not prove authorship.
The camera logs, server’s account, and redirected mail formed suspicion.
The family court required stronger evidence.
Julian expanded his custody petition.
He claimed Henry’s wealth created a risk that I would remove Maya from the country.
He attached flight itineraries booked under my old Blackwood travel profile.
The tickets were real.
New York to Zurich.
Two passengers.
Eleanor Blackwood and Maya Vance.
I had not booked them.
The reservation originated from an IP address connected to Blackwood corporate offices.
For one day, the evidence appeared to support Julian.
Henry denied involvement.
His chief of staff discovered the booking came through a legacy account that remained active after my restrictions were lifted.
Anyone with the old password and access to my personal details could have entered it.
Julian had both.
Yet the corporate location complicated attribution.
Naomi advised me not to accuse him publicly.
The court prohibited both parents from international travel with Maya and placed her passport in neutral custody.
The order restricted me because someone else had created a reservation in my name.
I felt trapped by evidence designed to look like my freedom.
Henry responded badly.
He instructed Blackwood security to investigate every Vance employee without consulting me.
Naomi stopped the operation before it expanded.
“You cannot conduct private surveillance around an active custody case,” she told him.
“I am protecting my granddaughter.”
“You are generating evidence that Julian can describe as intimidation.”
Henry looked toward me.
I did not defend him.
“You do not get to take control because I asked for help.”
“I did not wait six years to watch them hurt you again.”
“You waited six years because you preferred being obeyed to being present.”
The words struck him.
He left the apartment without argument.
Two days later, he transferred authority over my restored accounts from Blackwood Family Office to an independent fiduciary selected by Naomi and me.
It was the first time my father surrendered power before being forced.
The hotel’s forensic review produced a clearer lead.
Julian’s event credential had disabled the foyer camera.
A second credential had adjusted camera two to face the ballroom entrance.
That credential belonged to Genevieve.
Her attorney argued both changes related to privacy and photography.
Then investigators recovered a deleted message between the siblings.
Genevieve: What if she just takes Maya and leaves?
Julian: She won’t. Not after you make her angry enough.
The message ended there.
May you like
It did not say what Genevieve was supposed to do.
It proved the reaction had been anticipated.
