Chapter 7 - The Escape and the Media War
We left for Austin before sunrise.
Emma slept most of the way, waking up only to ask why it was a secret.
I told her Daddy's family was upset and we needed a break.
When we arrived at my sister Megan's house, I told her everything.
She was furious but supportive.
Mark called, panicking about our disappearance.
I played the calm, concerned mother, telling him we just needed space.
He bought it, for now.
David called soon after, confirming the emergency orders were signed and Mark and Linda had been served.
But the media war had already begun.
Linda had called every reporter she knew, painting me as an unstable kidnapper.
News stations and social media were flooded with stories twisting my past to make me look like an unfit mother.
Megan wanted to fight back online, but I refused.
We would fight in the courtroom.
That night, Mark called Emma, playing the sweet, missing father.
But Emma didn't believe him anymore.
She asked me why he lied so much.
I told her some people lie because they are scared, and that we would be okay no matter what.
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We were a team.
I knew the hearing in two weeks would be brutal, but we had the truth on our side.
