Chapter 16 - CLARISSA’S EMAILS
Clarissa’s role became clearer through her own discovery production.
She had not forged my signature herself.
Metadata and testimony pointed to my husband.
She did, however, encourage use.
Email:
If the signed copy exists, do not let Morwenna destroy it during one of her emotional swings.
Another:
Hospital staff need certainty. Bring the packet.
Another:
Once the baby is settled here, courts will not rip a newborn out of a stable home without reason.
That statement was legally oversimplified.
Maybe something a layperson believed.
Then:
My husband:
There won’t be court unless she leaves.
Clarissa:
She will.
Why so certain?
Because Clarissa had already decided I could not tolerate living under her authority.
She was right about that.
Then:
Clarissa:
Do not chase her when she storms out. Let her choose Eamon.
There.
Strategy.
Then another:
My husband:
What if she takes baby with her?
Clarissa:
Then call lawyer immediately. Do not make a scene.
Interesting.
No plan to physically stop me.
Good.
Their plan relied on forged consent if baby remained.
If I took baby, ordinary court.
That distinction mattered.
Then the most damaging email:
Clarissa:
You need one clean document showing she agreed before emotions take over.
My husband:
She didn’t agree.
Clarissa:
Then you have failed to lead your household.
There.
He inserted signature three days later.
Did Clarissa explicitly order forgery?
No.
Did she create pressure?
Yes.
Could she be criminally liable?
Maybe conspiracy would require more.
Prosecutor remained cautious.
Then:
Clarissa:
If she leaves without baby after signing, her lawyer can complain later. You will have the status quo.
Direct.
My husband responded:
Stop putting things like this in email.
That looked terrible.
Not denial.
Awareness.
Then later he admitted:
“I knew what she meant.”
There.
Clarissa’s lawyer said she believed signature was genuine.
Could that be true?
Texts suggested she asked for “signed copy” but maybe husband lied.
Then my husband testified privately:
He told Clarissa I had “basically agreed” even though I had not.
Important.
So Clarissa’s culpability narrowed.
She encouraged pressure.
She knew I opposed ninety days.
But she may not have known exact signature was forged at first.
Then after party, her face went pale when I confronted.
Why?
Because by then she knew enough.
My husband had shown her completed copy days earlier.
She asked:
“She finally signed?”
He answered:
“It’s handled.”
Not explicit.
Clarissa accepted what she wanted to believe.
May you like
Again.
People rarely need perfect lies when truth threatens their plans.
