Chapter 168: Annette Stymied

"Hey, Mikaela. How are you feeling? Don’t worry, your mom is safe and alive, and your dad has promised to not force you anywhere," said Natsumi, as Mikaela sat forlornly in her office.

"I’m fine, Doctor. I’ve been doing some thinking, and... and I think I should stay with my mom. As much as I would like to stay with Daddy, I know that my mom needs me, more than I need her," said Mikaela, her voice subdued.

"Mikaela, listen to me. It is not your job to fix your mom, or keep her happy. You need to think about what is good for yourself. It’s OK to be a bit selfish," said Natsumi gently.

"I get that. But I don’t hate my mom. I just wish she was a little nicer and not so strict all the time," sighed Mikaela.

"I know, sweetie. I know, but think carefully. What do you think will happen if you decide to stay? Your mom keeps saying she’ll try and do better, but it never happens," said Natsumi.

Mikaela took a deep breath, and looked at Natsumi with some conviction.

"Can you fix her, Doctor?" she asked.

"I can only do so much, Mikaela. I can only advise and tell your mom what she’s supposed to do. I can’t make her do it," said Natsumi.

"OK. I’ll stay with her until I’m grown up. But I’m doing things my way. I want to attend St. Ignatius, I want to eat whatever I want, I want to buy my own clothes, and I want to make my own friends. If I can do those things, I can stay," said Mikaela.

"What about your father? You don’t want to stay with him?" asked Natsumi.

"I’d like it if he and Mom kiss and make up, but I know that’s never happening. As long as I get to see him, I’m fine if I’m not staying with him," said Mikaela.

"Well, that is a very mature take on things. OK, we’ll do it your way, but first we have to see if your mom is well enough to still take care of you. I can’t let you stay if she pulls a knife and tries to bite people like that. It’s too dangerous," said Natsumi.

"I know," said Mikaela.

---

Natsumi entered Annette’s room to find Annette sitting forlornly on the hospital bed, her eyes red from crying.

"I’ve been having some reflection Doc. I’ve messed up bad haven’t I?" she asked.

"Well, your admission is a positive step, even if it is far too late," sighed Natsumi.

"Too late?" asked Annette, her voice cracking.

"Yes, your actions have forced an almost total loss of innocence in Mikaela. A ten-year-old girl shouldn’t feel responsible for her own mother’s mental health, to the point of sacrificing her own desires! And ten-year-old girl shouldn’t be trying to work on a compromise, where she stays with you just to keep the damn peace and begs for some basic autonomy!" snarled Natsumi, her professional facade falling.

Annette just broke into sniffles and sobs as Natsumi glared at her.

Natsumi calmed herself down with a deep breath.

"OK. I’m mandating weekly anger management and therapy sessions for you," she said.

"You mean I can get out of these?" asked Annette hopefully, gesturing to her restraints.

"As much as I’d like to punish you by forcing you to use a bedpan for a few days, yes. But let me be absolutely clear. Another breakdown like this is going to land you right back here for the rest of your life. Also, you’ll have to let Mikaela eat what she wants, attend whatever school she wants, and associate with whomever she wants. You can voice your concerns and reservations, of course. But unless they are a genuine, and I mean genuine bad influence or danger, you stay out of it. You got it?" asked Natsumi.

"That doesn’t sound like a parent child relationship," grumbled Annette.

"Yeah, well, you don’t have a choice. It’s either this, or Mikaela goes to Ivan, and you get committed," said Natsumi.

"I need to have at least some say, Doc. I’m her mother. I may not be the best mother, but I’m still her mother," said Annette, her voice trembling.

"Sure, sure, just like how Ivan is her father, but you try and dictate exactly what he can buy, what he can say, hell, even what he can think. Sucks being on the receiving end, doesn’t it? Like I said. You can voice your concerns, but you cannot arbitrarily ban or restrict anything. You have to justify it with something more than parental authority. And political or ideological reasons are not going to fly either," said Natsumi.

"Fine. In that case I’d like to be treated as a functioning adult as well, and have my alimony payments be unrestricted. I’m not going to use it for anything other than Mikaela’s well-being," said Annette, a pleading note in her voice.

"You can take that up with Ruth," said Natsumi, and left Annette’s room.

---

"How are you feeling?" asked Ruth coming into Annette’s room.

"Right now? I’d kill you with my bare hands if I weren’t restrained. You were not even with me when Stefan served me with papers to take Mikaela away from me, and now I’m stuck in this!" snarled Annette, straining against her restraints.

"That’s because I’m not your lawyer anymore. I quit that job when Mikaela begged me to let her live with Ivan. I’m now representing Mikaela’s interests. Sure, I’ll help you with whatever legal problems you have, but only because Mikaela has decided to stay with you, and is dependent on your sorry ass," said Ruth, glaring back at Annette.

"In that case, I want another, proper lawyer. I have rights," said Annette, her voice flat, and her eyes dead.

"That’s still me. But like I said. I don’t do whatever you tell me to anymore. I act in the best interest of Mikaela," said Ruth.

"I want my alimony to be unrestricted. I can’t function knowing that every transaction is monitored by Ivan, on top of all the bullshit I have to agree to now, no-thanks to the shit you pulled doing a number on my mental health," said Annette.

"And how will this benefit Mikaela?" asked Ruth, ignoring Annette’s complaints.

"If I can use it to buy her things knowing that Ivan isn’t looking over my shoulder and judging me, I can provide for her much better," said Annette, forcing herself to remain calm.

"All right, anything else?" asked Ruth.

"No, that’s it for now," sighed Annette.

"I’ll negotiate on this point with Stefan," said Ruth, and left the room.

---

Ivan entered Annette’s room.

"What do you want?" asked Annette, unable to meet his eyes.

"I’m only going to say this once, so it had better get through that thing you have in place of a brain. My patience and tolerance for you is hanging on by a very thin thread. Dr. Kitagawa has already warned you that another breakdown from you will result in you being committed. I’m here to tell you that another stunt like this won’t land you in a cozy place like this. One more outburst, one more breakdown, and you’ll be taken to Sirius Software where Aaron has a pair of experts to completely break you and rewire your ideology. If you survive that, I take you back, not as a wife, or even an ex-wife, but as a trained pet, who’s only purpose, is to cater to Mikaela’s every whim. Do we have an understanding?" asked Ivan, as Annette began to shake.

"I... understand," she said, her voice hoarse.

"Good. Now, as to that little request you had about the alimony checks. I’ve already transferred the entire account directly to Mikaela’s name and linked it with her phone banking app and biometrics. She’s demonstrated responsibility far beyond her years, and so I’ve decided to let her manage her own destiny. You can use whatever you make at Boston Public for your own affairs," said Ivan.

"What?" asked Annette, her voice flat.

"You heard me. If you think you can use that money to try and whisk away Mikaela to some cesspool like Portland or Hollywood, then you’re sorely mistaken. You’ve already tried indoctrinating her, and it has backfired. So, back off, or you’ll be subjected to Aaron’s personal brand of the Patriarchy instead of the theme park version that you already so despise," said Ivan.

"Mikaela is all I have left, Ivan. I have to abide by your damn rules now because I have no choice. But I only did what I did because that’s the brutal fact. The only thing I have now is Mikaela," said Annette, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

"No, Annette. It’s your ideology and dogma that’s the only thing you have left now. And it’s you desperately clinging to that which has made you lose everything else. Mikaela is still here for you, but it cannot be at the cost of her own happiness," said Ivan.

"This is all on you, Ivan. You keep undermining me, you enabled Aaron, and you’re enabling Mikaela now. Aaron turned into a monster, I can only hope that Mikaela doesn’t follow suit. Get out, or don’t. I’m done talking to you," said Annette, turning her face away from Ivan as best she could.