My Fiancé Chose Her So I Chose Myself Chapter 34
The hotel shuttle had barely left the airport when Marissa forwarded me the meeting attachments.
“Lakecrest council requested the review,” she said. “They folded Jenna Collins’s case, TerraGrid’s conflict of interest issues, and the protection-contact system into the same file.”
I scrolled through the screen.
The first page acknowledged that the old rules lacked oversight. The second argued that placing too much emphasis on consent and property boundaries might make protection contacts hesitate to help vulnerable members out of fear of liability.
It was the same familiar logic, just dressed up in more formal language.
As long as someone was registered as needing care, any refusal from anyone else could be framed as cruelty.
“When does the meeting start?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. You have a coordination seat, so you can submit comments—or request recusal.”
Marissa looked at me.
“You don’t have to handle this yourself.”
“I know.”
In the past, hearing *you don’t have to* would have felt like exclusion.
Now, it just meant the choice was mine.
I kept reading. Every piece of supporting material in the attachment came from proceedings that had already ended: the expenses and dates Travis had publicly released; the TerraGrid inquiry record; Jenna’s plea outcome and protective order; Brooke’s witness-certified statement.
There were no secrets, no new accusations.
The things those people had said with their own mouths were finally laid on the same table.
“Reply for me,” I said. “I’ll attend, but I won’t take part in any disciplinary decision involving individuals.”
Marissa opened a new email.
“What should I put as the subject line for your comments?”
Outside, snow covered the edge of the road. The driver slowed as the hotel lights came into view.
“The vulnerability of one person cannot be the reason another loses their boundaries.”
She typed it in.
A few seconds later, the meeting secretary sent a confirmation.
Lakecrest council had also requested remote testimony from three related individuals.
The first name on the list was Jenna Collins.