HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

Messages showed she had communicated frequently with Madison’s mother. She had shared private information about Lucia’s grief, therapy appointments, and home life. She had encouraged the idea that Lucia was “unstable” and “needed social consequences.” She had also sent photos of Lucia crying after private household conflicts, some of which ended up in group chats used to mock her.

Veronica did not just fail to protect Lucia.

She fed the fire.

At the divorce hearing, Thomas saw his wife across the courtroom and wondered how he had missed so much hatred.