Chapter 3 - The Grant
The grant was intended to build housing for foster families across California.
Victoria’s foundation promised apartments, childcare and counseling services for parents willing to accept older children.
The public proposal looked compassionate.
The private budget told a different story.
Only twelve percent of the grant would support families.
The rest funded executive offices, donor retreats, consulting fees and a luxury residential complex controlled by Victoria’s relatives.
Adrian read the budget.
“My firm prepared the housing plans.”
Victoria answered:
“Your firm prepared what the foundation requested.”
“You told me most of the units were for foster families.”
“They were family-oriented residences.”
Maya looked at the income requirements.
Almost no foster parent could qualify.
The apartments were priced for executives and wealthy donors.
The campaign used children to secure public money, then designed housing those children’s caregivers could never afford.
Judge Carter asked why Lily’s adoption mattered.
Maya opened the grant conditions.
The foundation needed proof that its leadership had personally completed an adoption involving an older child.
Lily was nine.
Photogenic.
Quiet.
And already trained by years in the system not to upset adults who controlled where she slept.
Victoria looked offended.
“We gave her experiences she never would have had.”
Lily’s fingers tightened around the blanket.
“I wanted to go to Rosa’s house.”
The room changed.
Maya knew the name.
Rosa Alvarez had cared for Lily for nearly three years before Victoria entered the case.
Rosa was a hotel housekeeper living in a modest apartment in Long Beach.
She had applied to adopt Lily.
Her application was denied.
The report claimed her income was unstable, her neighborhood was undesirable and her home lacked the resources expected for a child with Lily’s potential.
Victoria had a mansion.
Rosa had one bedroom, two jobs and a child who already called her home.
Judge Carter looked at Maya.
“Who wrote the report against Ms. Alvarez?”
May you like
Maya hesitated.
“The evaluator was paid through Victoria’s foundation.”
