They gathered evidence: Victor’s early text (“I’m dying”), the chilling voicemail (“unpleasant for everyone… especially your mother”), court filings accusing Ava of abandonment.
Naomi filed for annulment on grounds of fraud and secured a temporary no-contact order.
Victor escalated. Process servers. Threats veiled as offers. But Ava held firm.
Then a high-school acquaintance, Hannah, texted: He’s telling people at a fundraiser he’s terminal. Asking about young women.
Ava’s blood ran cold. He was repeating the lie.
Hannah identified the new target: Lily Sanderson, nineteen, sick mother, absent father. Victor was already courting her.
Ava couldn’t stay silent. She sent a factual statement to the fundraiser organizers: her experience, attached messages, the no-contact order. They quietly removed him from the program.
With Naomi’s help, Ava pushed for expedited discovery. A judge granted supervised access to Victor’s office.
They arrived with a deputy. Victor opened the door, composure cracking at the edges.
Naomi photographed the medical report (healthy), the trust clause (child within twelve months), the annulment provision.
The truth was now on record.