A month after adopting 4-year-old Ioana, she quietly told me, “Mommy, you

shouldn’t put your faith in Daddy.” Ioana, who had been reserved but showed promise,

seemed to adjust slowly, but I began noticing her anxiety around Mihai.

One day, she told me, “He’s not who he says he is” and spoke about a man from

the orphanage who had been angry and made cruel remarks about her. Her words

confused me, as Mihai and I had gone through every adoption step together.That

evening, I discovered concerning emails from Mihai regarding Ioana’s adoption,

suggesting doubts about her suitability, despite his apparent enthusiasm.

When Mihai slept, I whispered to Ioana that I would protect her. I now felt

a deep need to uncover the truth behind Mihai’s actions and Ioana’s fear of him

.

I began to do some research and found out that Mihai had a history of abusive behavior in his previous relationships. Shocked and devastated, I realized that I had put my daughter in a dangerous situation by trusting someone who didn’t deserve it.

I decided to confront Mihai about what I had discovered. He denied everything at first, but when I showed him the evidence, he became defensive and angry. It was clear to me that I needed to get Ioana away from him as soon as possible.

I reached out to a lawyer and filed for a restraining order against Mihai. I was scared of what he might do, but I knew that I had to protect my daughter no matter what. It was a long and difficult process, but finally, we were able to cut ties with him and move on with our lives.

Ioana slowly began to trust me more and open up about her past experiences. It broke my heart to hear about the things she had gone through, but I was determined to give her the love and support she needed to heal.

As time passed, Ioana started to flourish. She laughed more, played freely, and showed a confidence that I had never seen before. It was a long road, but seeing her happy and safe made it all worth it.

Looking back on that day when Ioana first told me not to trust Daddy, I am grateful that I listened to her. It was a difficult lesson to learn, but it taught me to always prioritize my daughter’s well-being above all else.

Now, Ioana is thriving in a loving and supportive environment, and I am grateful every day for the second chance we were given. I may not have been able to protect her from everything, but I will always do my best to keep her safe and happy.