Chapter 5: The Unborn Owner
“You’re saying my unborn son bought a house?””
My father didn’t answer immediately.
That silence frightened me more than the words.
I stood in Noah’s nursery with my baby against my chest while Ethan stared at the floor and Diane looked ready to run.
“Dad?””
“The deed lists a trust created in Noah’s name,” he said.
“The filing was recorded three months before his birth.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Yes.””
“Then how does it exist?””
“That’s what Rebecca is determining.””
I looked at Ethan.
He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“You knew.””
“Claire—”
“You knew Noah’s name was on the property.””
“It was supposed to protect the investment.””
“He didn’t exist legally as a person yet.””
Diane scoffed.
“Stop pretending you understand financial structures.””
I turned toward her.
“Apparently I understand enough to know you shouldn’t forge documents for a fetus.””
Richard made a strangled sound that might have been a laugh.
Diane glared at him.
Dad spoke through the phone.
“Claire, leave the apartment.””
“I’m collecting Noah’s things.””
“Evelyn can handle that.””
His tone had changed from father to commander.
“There may be criminal exposure here. I don’t want you touching files, computers, or anything related to these transactions.””
I looked at the laptop on the desk.
Ethan followed my gaze.
Too quickly.
“Evelyn,” I said.
She understood immediately.
“Mr. Carter, please step away from the desk.””
Ethan stiffened.
“That’s my computer.””
“It belongs to Claire,” Evelyn replied.
“I use it.””
“Then don’t touch it.””
Diane pushed past Richard.
“You people cannot storm into my son’s home and seize property.””
“My home too,” I said.
“Not for much longer if you keep behaving like this.””
I almost admired the absurdity.
She still thought divorce was a threat against me.
My phone buzzed.
Rebecca.
I put her on speaker.
“Claire, do not remove the laptop.””
Ethan visibly relaxed.
Then Rebecca continued.
“Photograph where it is and leave it exactly there. We may seek preservation through proper legal channels.””
His relief vanished.
“Preservation?”” he demanded.
Rebecca ignored him.
“Claire, I need to ask you something. During your pregnancy, did Ethan ever have access to copies of your identification?””
“Yes.””
“Passport?””
“Yes.””
“Social Security information?””
My stomach tightened.
“Yes.””
Diane suddenly moved toward the hallway.
Richard caught her wrist.
“Where are you going?””
“Let go of me.””
“Where?””
“To get my purse.””
Melissa stood near the bedroom door.
“Your purse is in the kitchen.””
Diane froze.
Everyone looked at her.
Melissa’s face changed.
“Mom?””
“I said let go.””
She jerked free and hurried toward the guest room.
Evelyn stepped into her path.
“Mrs. Carter.””
“Move.””
“Why?””
Diane’s breathing became shallow.
“There are private belongings in there.””
Melissa whispered, “Oh my God.””
She rushed past them into the guest room.
“Melissa!”” Diane shouted.
A drawer opened.
Then another.
I heard something hit the floor.
Melissa reappeared holding a large brown envelope.
Her face was white.
“Is this what you wanted?””
Diane lunged.
Richard blocked her.
“Give me that!””
Melissa backed away.
“What is this?””
The envelope had my maiden name written across it.
CLAIRE MORGAN.
My skin prickled.
“Don’t open it,” Rebecca ordered through the phone.
“Set it down.””
Melissa carefully placed it on the dining table.
The flap was already unsealed.
Several papers had slipped partially out.
I could see a photocopy of my passport.
My driver’s license.
A bank statement.
And something blue.
My birth certificate.
“How did you get those?”” I asked.
Diane said nothing.
Ethan did.
“Mom.””
His voice cracked.
“You told me Claire gave them to you.””
Diane turned on him.
“Shut up.””
“No.””
He stared at the envelope.
“You said she agreed to the trust structure.””
“Ethan, stop talking.””
“You told me she knew.””
Diane’s face became terrifyingly calm.
“And you were happy to believe me.””
That landed.
Ethan stepped backward as though she had struck him.
I felt no sympathy.
He had stolen from me.
Whether Diane manipulated him or not, he had chosen every step.
Dad’s voice came through the speaker.
“Evelyn.””
“Yes, General?””
“Get Claire and the baby out.””
I looked toward the empty jewelry box.
“What about my things?””
“We’ll recover what can be recovered.””
Something in his voice told me this had grown far beyond a divorce.
I picked up Noah’s medical bag.
Evelyn took it from me.
As we headed toward the door, Ethan followed.
“Claire.””
I kept walking.
“Claire, wait.””
I turned.
“What?””
His eyes were wet.
“I didn’t know she forged everything.””
“You knew enough.””
“I thought you’d agreed to some of it.””
“You stole $480,000.””
“I was going to replace it.””
“You sold my grandmother’s jewelry.””
“That was Mom.””
“And you said nothing.””
He had no answer.
I stepped into the hallway.
Then Richard called my name.
He stood beside the dining table staring at one of the papers that had slipped from Diane’s envelope.
“Claire.””
His hands were shaking.
Rebecca immediately said, “Mr. Carter, please don’t handle anything further.””
But Richard wasn’t listening.
He was staring at Diane.
“What did you do?””
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Richard pointed at the document.
“This isn’t about the Hamptons.””
Ethan walked toward him.
“What is it?””
Richard read the heading aloud.
“Petition for appointment of temporary guardian.””
The hallway seemed to tilt.
I tightened my hold on Noah.
“Guardian of whom?””
Richard looked at me.
Then at the baby.
His voice dropped.
“Noah.””
Diane whispered, “Richard, put that down.””
But he kept reading.
And then his face went gray.
“Claire…”
“What?””
“This petition says you’re mentally unstable after childbirth.””
I stopped breathing.
May you like
He looked at the signature line.
“And it asks the court to place Noah temporarily with Diane.””
