Part 2: My son h.i.t me 30 times in front of his wife… so the next morning, while he sat in his office, I sold the house he thought was his.

My hands began shaking.

Trevor had struck me.

Malcolm had stolen company funds.

And someone was preparing to describe me as mentally incapable.

I looked toward Daniel.

"Find out whether they've filed anything concerning my capacity."

He nodded.

But I noticed something strange.

For the first time since we'd met that morning, my attorney wouldn't look me directly in the eye.

***

The first real clue came from Kristen.

She called that evening.

I almost ignored her.

Then I answered.

"Gloria?"

Her voice sounded unusually small.

"What do you want?"

A pause.

"Trevor says you're trying to send him to prison."

I closed my eyes.

"Trevor made his own decisions."

She began crying.

"He's your son."

"Yes."

I looked down at the photographs of my injuries.

"And I'm his mother."

Silence.

Then Kristen whispered, "Malcolm said you wouldn't go this far."

My heartbeat quickened.

"What?"

She stopped breathing.

I sat straighter.