Chapter 11: The Attorney Who Finally Turned Against My Husband
Daniel Mercer arrived at the investigative offices at 1:30 p.m.
I wasn't there.
I was still recovering in the hospital, and my father had insisted that I stay with Emma.
But Major Brooks kept us updated.
At 2:05 p.m., she sent a message.
Mr. Mercer has begun providing documents.
At 2:47 p.m., another message arrived.
The documents confirm that the guardianship application was prepared before the child's birth.
At 3:12 p.m., my father received a call.
He answered and listened without speaking.
Then his expression changed.
“Are you certain?””
A pause.
“Send me the file.””
He ended the call.
I looked up from Emma's bassinet.
“What happened?””
Dad sat down slowly.
“Daniel Mercer has admitted that he prepared the documents under Ethan's instructions.””
I swallowed.
“Did he say why?””
“He claims Ethan wanted temporary control over Emma because of your inheritance.””
I looked at the ceiling.
“I knew it.””
Dad nodded.
“But there's something else.””
He opened the file that had arrived on his phone.
It contained a recorded interview summary.
According to Mercer, Ethan had approached him five months earlier with a proposal.
He wanted to establish a private family foundation.
At first, Mercer believed it was a legitimate estate-planning arrangement.
Then Ethan explained the real objective.
He wanted control over the financial interests Emma would inherit.
And he wanted Patricia to become the public face of the arrangement.
I frowned.
“Why Patricia?””
“Because Ethan believed she would be more convincing when dealing with family members and medical professionals.””
I remembered Patricia standing in my hospital room, demanding that I sign the guardianship papers.
I remembered her saying I wasn't capable of making decisions.
Now I understood.
She hadn't been improvising.
She had been following a script.
Dad continued reading.
“Mercer also says Ethan planned to use Dr. Helen Foster's professional credentials to support an emergency guardianship request.””
“Did Dr. Foster agree?””
“That's still being investigated.””
I looked at Amanda.
“Can they make a doctor say I'm mentally unstable?””
“Not lawfully. Any professional opinion would need to be based on an appropriate evaluation and accurate information.””
I looked down at Emma.
“They never even asked me how I was feeling.””
Amanda's expression softened.
“That's important.””
Dad closed the file.
“There's enough here to justify further investigation.””
At 4:20 p.m., Major Brooks returned.
She had a printed photograph in her hand.
“General, Mr. Mercer provided this.””
Dad took it.
The photograph showed Ethan sitting in a private office.
Across from him was Victor Langford.
Between them sat a stack of documents.
The date was visible.
Five months earlier.
My father stared at it.
“Where was this taken?””
“Mr. Mercer's office.””
I looked at the photograph.
“What are they discussing?””
Major Brooks placed a second page on the table.
“It appears to be a proposed acquisition agreement involving Hayes Strategic Holdings.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“An acquisition?””
Amanda examined the document.
“It's a proposal to transfer certain assets into a separate investment vehicle.””
“Could they do that?””
“Not without proper authority from the trust and the relevant company directors.””
My father pointed to a paragraph.
“Look at this.””
Amanda read it aloud.
Upon appointment of the minor beneficiary's legal representative, the proposed transfer may proceed without additional approval from the existing family administrator, subject to applicable law.
She looked up.
“They were attempting to use guardianship as a route to influence the corporate structure.””
I couldn't believe it.
My husband had spent five months preparing a plan that involved my daughter, my inheritance, and my supposed inability to care for her.
“Was he planning to divorce me?””
I asked the question quietly.
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Major Brooks said:
“Mercer claims Ethan discussed divorce as a possibility, but only after the financial arrangements were completed.””
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The truth I had been avoiding.
Ethan hadn't simply stopped loving me.
He had been planning to use me.
My father moved closer.
“Rebecca, look at me.””
I opened my eyes.
“You are not responsible for what he chose to do.””
I nodded, but the tears came anyway.
“I defended him so many times.””
“I know.””
“I told everyone he was a good husband.””
“You believed in him. That's not a crime.””
I wiped my face.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice spoke.
“Mrs. Carter? This is Dr. Helen Foster.””
My father immediately looked at me.
I put the call on speaker.
“Why are you calling me?””
“I need to explain something.””
“Go ahead.””
There was a pause.
“Your husband contacted my office several weeks ago. He requested a psychiatric evaluation.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Of me?””
“Yes.””
“Did I agree to that?””
“No. He said you would attend voluntarily.””
I looked at Amanda.
“Did you ever evaluate me?””
“No.””
“Then why did my name appear in those documents?””
Dr. Foster sounded distressed.
“I don't know. I was recently shown a report containing my professional information and a signature that I did not authorize.””
My father leaned forward.
“Doctor, are you willing to provide that information to investigators?””
“Yes. I have already contacted my professional association and legal counsel.””
“Did you ever tell Ethan that Rebecca was mentally unstable?””
“No. I've never met her.””
I closed my eyes.
“Thank you for telling me.””
Dr. Foster continued.
“There's something else. Ethan asked me whether pregnancy complications could be used to justify temporary separation between a mother and newborn.””
My hands went cold.
“What did you tell him?””
“I told him that medical complications alone do not establish parental unfitness. Any decision would need to be based on the child's actual safety and the mother's condition.””
I looked at my father.
“He knew that.””
Dad nodded.
The doctor continued.
“Mrs. Carter, I also want you to know that I received an email from your mother-in-law yesterday.””
Patricia.
“What did she say?””
“She asked whether I would be willing to confirm that you had a history of emotional instability.””
My father closed his eyes.
Dr. Foster added:
“I refused.””
The call ended.
For several moments, I couldn't speak.
Then Amanda received a notification.
She read it and looked up.
“Rebecca, Dr. Foster has agreed to provide a formal statement. That will be important.””
My father nodded.
“Good.””
But Major Brooks was looking at another message.
“General, we have a new development.””
“What now?””
“Victor Langford has contacted the board of Hayes Strategic Holdings.””
“Why?””
“He claims the company is involved in an unauthorized transaction and wants to remove the current administrator.””
My father stared at her.
“On whose authority?””
“An emergency resolution submitted in Rebecca's name.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Another fake signature?””
Major Brooks nodded.
But this time, she added something else.
“The resolution includes the signatures of two existing board members.””
Amanda looked alarmed.
“Who?””
Major Brooks handed her the document.
Amanda read the names.
Then she whispered:
“Those two people are supposed to be on Rebecca's side.””
My father looked at me.
“Do you know them?””
I studied the names.
One was my grandmother's longtime financial adviser.
The other was a man who had attended my wedding.
I recognized both.
May you like
And suddenly, I understood that Ethan might not have been working alone.
He might have had people inside my own company helping him.
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