She looked down at her notebook.
“That sounds better.”
“It is.”
I reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“And Sofia?”
“Yes?”
“You never have to earn your place in this family. Not by cleaning, not by staying quiet, not by making yourself smaller so someone else can feel important.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
This time, they were not tears of fear.
The legal proceedings took months.
There were interviews, financial reviews, and meetings with lawyers. The evidence was examined carefully, and the allegations were assessed separately rather than treated as one large accusation.
The investigation into the treatment of Sofia established a pattern of intimidation and mistreatment. The financial inquiry uncovered evidence that supported further action concerning the attempted interference with her protected funds.
Patricia denied the allegations for as long as she could.
Teresa claimed she had merely followed her daughter’s instructions.
Bianca initially insisted that Sofia had invented everything out of jealousy.
