Chapter 13: The Woman Who Tried to Take My Child
We left the vault immediately.
Robert called security.
Michael contacted the authorities.
But all I could think about was the photograph.
My nursery.
Someone had been watching my home.
Watching me.
Watching my baby.
By the time we reached my house, police were already outside.
The front door was open.
My stomach dropped.
I ran.
“Emily!””
Robert grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
But I couldn’t.
I rushed inside.
Nothing looked broken.
Nothing looked stolen.
That scared me more.
A person looking for valuables destroys things.
A person looking for information searches carefully.
A person looking for control leaves a message.
On the kitchen counter was a white envelope.
My name was written on it.
Daniel whispered:
“No.””
I opened it.
Inside was a single document.
A custody agreement.
My name.
Daniel’s name.
And a request for emergency guardianship.
I looked at him.
“What is this?””
His face went pale.
“I don’t know.””
A voice came from behind us.
“I do.””
Victoria stood in the doorway.
Police officers immediately moved toward her.
“Ma’am, step back.””
She ignored them.
Her eyes stayed on me.
“You think you can take my family away?””
I stared.
“Your family?””
She laughed.
“You don’t understand.””
“No. I understand perfectly.””
She stepped forward.
“You are carrying a Carter child.””
I felt sick.
“My child.””
Her expression hardened.
“Our family’s child.””
Robert stepped between us.
“Victoria, enough.””
She looked at him.
“You ruined everything.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You did.””
She laughed.
“You always thought you were better than me.””
“No. I thought you could change.””
She smiled.
“That was your mistake.””
The police officer looked at her.
“You need to come with us.””
Victoria finally looked nervous.
But only for a second.
Then she smiled.
“You think this ends with me?””
Nobody moved.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
She looked at Daniel.
“Tell her.””
Daniel froze.
“Mom.””
“Tell her what you promised.””
I turned toward him.
“What did you promise?””
Daniel looked trapped.
“I…”
Victoria smiled.
“He promised me custody.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Not anymore,” Victoria said.
I looked at him.
“Is that true?””
He looked devastated.
“Emily, it was before I knew…”
“Before you knew what?””
“That I was wrong.””
I stepped back.
The man I loved had made plans for my child without me.
The police escorted Victoria away.
But the damage was already done.
That night, I stayed at Robert’s house.
Not because I trusted him completely.
Because I didn’t know where else to go.
Daniel came to the door.
I almost didn’t let him in.
But I needed answers.
“Did you really plan to take my baby?””
He looked destroyed.
“No.””
“Then why did she say that?””
“Because I was weak.””
I looked away.
“That’s your answer for everything.””
He sat down.
“I thought if I cooperated with my mother, she would stop.””
“And did she?””
“No.””
“Did she ever?””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You let a monster use you.””
“Yes.””
“And you became part of the monster.””
He closed his eyes.
“I know.””
The next morning, Michael arrived with another file.
His expression was serious.
“We found the person who sent those messages.””
I stood.
“Who?””
He looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
“It wasn’t Victoria.””
My heart sank.
“Then who?””
Michael placed a photograph on the table.
A man.
The same man from the old picture.
James Whitmore.
“He’s been controlling this entire situation from the beginning.””
Robert frowned.
“But why?””
Michael looked at me.
“Because your grandmother’s company isn’t just valuable.””
He opened the file.
“It holds a patent worth billions.””
I stared.
“What patent?””
Michael lowered his voice.
“The technology your mother created before she died.””
I felt dizzy.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
He looked at Daniel.
“And James Whitmore believed marrying you into the Carter family was the easiest way to access it.””
I whispered:
“This was never about the shares.””
Michael shook his head.
“No.””
May you like
He opened the final page.
“It was about what your mother left hidden.””
