PART 2
Dad called twelve times before lunchtime.
Mom called nine times.
My aunt sent one message:
You’re really suing family over a joke?
I forwarded it directly to my attorney.
At 1:30, Miles returned home early, holding his phone as though it had suddenly become too heavy.
“Your dad called me,” he said.
I looked up from preparing Lily’s lunch for the following day.
“And?”
“He says this is getting out of hand.”
“This became out of hand when adults mocked a child online.”
Miles flinched.
“I know. But legal action is extreme.”
I slowly closed the lunchbox.
“Extreme was staying silent while our daughter asked what mistake meant.”
His expression shifted.
But not enough.
Then my attorney, Rebecca Sloan, called on speakerphone.
“Claire,” she said, “we confirmed the image was taken from the school’s password-protected parent portal. Your mother accessed it through your husband’s login.”
The kitchen suddenly felt cold.
I turned toward Miles.
His mouth opened slightly.
“I didn’t know.”
Rebecca continued.
“The school has suspended the account and opened an internal privacy review. We are also issuing a demand for removal, preservation of evidence, and damages related to unauthorized use of a minor’s image.”
Miles sat down.
I remained standing.
“How did she get your password?” I asked.
He stared at the table.
“She asked once. She said she wanted to see Lily’s class photos because you blocked her.”
I could barely form the words.
“I blocked her because she called our daughter proof I ruined my life.”
He lowered his voice.
“I thought it would keep things calm.”
My phone buzzed.
Another message from Dad appeared.
Call me now or I’ll post the truth about who paid for your wedding.
Rebecca heard my silence.
“Claire, send me that.”
I forwarded it.
Thirty seconds later, she inhaled sharply.
“What?” I asked.
“Your father should not have mentioned the wedding,” she said. “Because we just found the check records. Claire, there is something your parents have been lying about for years.”
