Chapter 11 - Forty-Eight Hours
Grant’s filing called Noah a street child.
It called Rosa a disgruntled former employee.
It described Lily’s attempt to stand as a dangerous stunt encouraged by an emotionally distressed father.
There was no mention of the forged therapy order.
No mention of the guard.
No mention of Emily.
Lily read every page.
Andrew asked her not to.
She kept reading.
“He wants me back in the house.”
Claire shook her head.
“He wants control of the situation.
A court hasn’t given him that.”
“When do we go?”
“Monday morning.”
Forty-eight hours.
The foundation’s winter benefit had ended.
The next performance would take place before a judge.
On Sunday, a gossip site published Noah’s photograph.
BAREFOOT BOY EXPLOITS DISABLED HEIRESS.
Rosa shut the laptop.
Too late.
Noah had seen it.
By noon, someone had found his school.
By two, a reporter had called the restaurant where Rosa worked.
Her manager told her to take a few days off.
Unpaid.
Andrew offered money.
Rosa stared at him.
“You still think that’s the first thing people need from you.”
“What do you need?”
“For your name to stop crushing my son.”
He left the room.
An hour later, Claire found him recording a statement.
“My daughter did not ask to become the face of our foundation.
Noah Alvarez did not harm her.
He and his mother brought serious concerns to our attention, and those concerns deserve an independent investigation.”
Claire stopped him before he posted.
“Anything you say can affect the case.”
“Then help me say it accurately.”
They worked through it together.
No excuses.
No claims they couldn’t prove.
Andrew publicly confirmed that Grant had been suspended and that records had been provided to investigators.
The statement spread faster than the gossip article.
It didn’t fix everything.
But Noah’s principal called Rosa that evening to offer support.
Lily found him sitting on Beth’s kitchen floor.
“You can use a chair,” she said.
“I know.”
She lowered her hand toward him.
He touched his palm to hers.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You didn’t write it.”
“My family did.”
He looked up.
“You’re not all the same person.”
She wanted to believe that.
At nine, Beth checked the apartment lock.
At ten, Rosa and Noah left for the hotel Claire had arranged.
At eleven, Noah called Lily.
He sounded out of breath.
“My mom went down to the lobby.”
“How long ago?”
“Twenty minutes.”
A door slammed on his end.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“There’s somebody outside our room.”
