Chapter 15 - SIMONE TELLS THE WHOLE TRUTH
Simone moved back to Indianapolis after giving birth.
Her son was healthy.
Her divorce finalized.
Months later, she asked Leah for one conversation.
Leah nearly refused.
Then agreed.
Simone arrived without makeup.
Without excuses.
“I used to think I was one of the victims.”
She said.
Leah waited.
“I’m not saying I wasn’t manipulated.”
Simone continued.
“But I also made choices.”
“Yes.”
“I slept with your husband.”
“Yes.”
“I agreed to lie about you.”
“Yes.”
“I took Doreen’s money.”
Leah looked up.
“You kept it?”
“No.”
Simone placed an envelope on the table.
“I returned everything I hadn’t spent.”
“What about what you spent?”
“I’m repaying it.”
Leah studied her.
“Why tell me?”
“Because I need to stop making apologies that are secretly requests for forgiveness.”
That surprised Leah.
Simone continued.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“But I am going to testify fully.”
“You already did.”
“There’s more.”
Simone took out her phone.
She had one final recording.
Doreen speaking to Nathan two months before Leah’s admission.
After the baby comes, Leah becomes emotionally vulnerable.
That is when we move.
Nathan asked.
What if she’s fine?
Doreen answered.
Then we document that she isn’t.
Leah closed her eyes.
Nathan had known the psychiatric plan existed before the hospital.
Not just days.
Months.
When confronted later, he admitted it.
“I told myself Mom was speaking hypothetically.”
Leah no longer cared how many lies he had told himself.
The recording ended any remaining argument in custody court.
Nathan’s supervised visitation continued.
The judge required individual therapy, parenting education, and financial separation from Doreen before any expansion.
Nathan accepted.
Not gracefully at first.
May you like
Eventually without argument.
Growth often begins after every easier option disappears.
