Chapter 10: The Morning My Husband's World Began to Collapse

At 6:15 the following morning, my father received a call that changed everything.

I was sitting in my hospital bed, trying to feed Emma when Major Brooks entered without knocking.

“General Hayes, the investigators are ready.””

My father looked up from his coffee.

“Ready for what?””

“The search warrants have been approved. They're moving on the Carter residence and two business offices.””

I stopped feeding Emma.

“Are they going to arrest Ethan?””

Major Brooks answered carefully.

“That decision belongs to the investigating authorities. Their immediate priority is securing evidence and preventing the destruction of potentially relevant records.””

My father nodded.

“Good. Make sure everything is conducted properly.””

I looked at him.

“Can I ask you something?””

“Of course.””

“Why did you never tell me how much trouble Ethan could get into?””

Dad sat beside me.

“Because I never wanted your marriage to become a military operation. I wanted you to have a normal life.””

I looked down at Emma.

“I wanted that too.””

He gently touched her tiny hand.

“Then we'll fight to give her one.””

At 7:03 a.m., my phone began vibrating.

Ethan.

I let it ring.

Then it rang again.

And again.

Finally, a message appeared.

Rebecca, what have you done?

Another followed.

There are people at my office asking questions about documents that belong to me.

Then:

Call your father immediately. Tell him to stop this.

I stared at the messages.

For the first time, I wasn't frightened by his anger.

I was simply exhausted.

I typed one sentence.

You should have thought about that before leaving your wife bleeding on the kitchen floor.

I put the phone down.

A minute later, it rang again.

This time, Ethan's mother.

I answered.

“Rebecca, what is your father doing?””

Patricia sounded frantic.

“Good morning to you too.””

“Don't play games with me! There are investigators at Ethan's company.””

“Then perhaps he should answer their questions.””

“You know perfectly well this is because of you!””

I glanced at Emma.

“No, Patricia. This is because of what your son did.””

She lowered her voice.

“Listen carefully. Ethan made mistakes. But you are destroying an entire family.””

I almost laughed.

“Your son left me bleeding while you cut your birthday cake.””

“That was a misunderstanding!””

“He refused to call an ambulance.””

“He didn't know!””

“He knew enough to leave.””

Patricia went quiet.

Then she said, “You're going to regret involving your father.””

I ended the call.

My father had heard every word.

He looked at me.

“She's frightened.””

“Good.””

He raised an eyebrow.

I sighed.

“I don't mean I want her hurt. I just don't want her controlling me anymore.””

He smiled faintly.

“That's the Rebecca I know.””

At 8:20 a.m., Amanda Collins arrived with an update.

“The investigators have recovered several computers, financial records, and original versions of the documents submitted in your name.””

“Did they find the custody application?””

“Yes. They also found correspondence with Daniel Mercer.””

“What's in it?””

Amanda opened her briefcase.

“Mr. Mercer appears to have drafted a series of documents intended to establish a temporary guardianship arrangement. Some were never filed. Others were submitted without your verified consent.””

I looked at the pages.

One contained a paragraph claiming I had experienced severe emotional instability during pregnancy.

Another described me as unwilling to cooperate with medical professionals.

I shook my head.

“They made that up.””

Amanda nodded.

“That's why we're preserving your medical records and the testimony of the doctors who treated you.””

My father added, “And the paramedics.””

“Absolutely.””

Then Amanda turned to another page.

“There's also a document showing that Ethan intended to transfer certain company interests into a newly established holding company.””

I frowned.

“Whose company?””

“Michael Rourke's.””

I looked at Dad.

“So he was planning to give him part of my inheritance?””

“Potentially. That's what the investigators are examining.””

At that moment, Major Brooks received another call.

She listened.

Then she said, “Understood.””

When she turned around, her expression was serious.

“General, Ethan Carter has requested an emergency meeting with the board of Hayes Strategic Holdings.””

My father frowned.

“He has no authority to request that.””

“He claims to represent the majority beneficiary.””

I stared.

“But I'm the beneficiary.””

“Correct.””

Amanda stood.

“Then we need to issue formal notice that nobody is authorized to act on Rebecca's behalf without her explicit consent.””

Dad nodded.

“Do it.””

I looked at the document on the table.

“Can I attend the meeting?””

Everyone turned toward me.

Amanda shook her head gently.

“Not while you're recovering from surgery. There's no need to put yourself through that.””

“But it's my company.””

My father took my hand.

“And you will have a voice in every decision. But right now, your health and Emma's health come first.””

I reluctantly nodded.

At 10:42 a.m., Ethan called again.

This time, I answered.

“Rebecca, listen to me.””

His voice sounded different.

No arrogance.

No irritation.

Just panic.

“What?””

“You need to tell your father that this is a misunderstanding.””

“Which part?””

“The documents. The transfers. Everything.””

“Did you forge my signature?””

“That's not how it happened.””

“Did you?””

He sighed.

“I was trying to protect our future.””

“By taking my daughter?””

“Don't twist my words!””

I looked at Emma.

“Ethan, you weren't even there when she was born.””

“I was busy.””

“You were celebrating.””

“Rebecca, I made a mistake!””

“One mistake?””

He became silent.

Then he said something that made my blood run cold.

“Your father doesn't know what he's interfering with.””

I frowned.

“What does that mean?””

“You think those investigators can solve everything? You have no idea who Victor Langford is.””

“Then tell me.””

“I can't.””

“Or you won't?””

He lowered his voice.

“Rebecca, if this continues, people are going to get hurt.””

My father immediately stood.

Major Brooks moved closer.

I swallowed.

“Are you threatening me?””

“No. I'm warning you.””

“About what?””

Ethan hesitated.

Then he said:

“Ask your father what happened to the last person who tried to challenge Victor Langford.””

The call ended.

My father took the phone.

He looked at the screen for several seconds.

Then he turned toward Major Brooks.

“Find out exactly what Ethan meant.””

“Yes, sir.””

I looked at Dad.

“Daddy?””

He sat beside me.

“Don't worry about that now.””

But I knew him.

Something about Ethan's warning had frightened him.

And for the first time, I wondered whether the man I had married had become involved in something far more dangerous than financial fraud.

At 11:16 a.m., Amanda received an update.

Daniel Mercer had been located.

He had agreed to meet investigators.

And he had offered to provide evidence against Ethan.

But there was one condition.

He wanted immunity from prosecution.

My father read the message.

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Then he looked at me.

“Rebecca, I think we're about to discover how far this really goes.””