Chapter 4: The Secret Plan Behind My Daughter's Birth
I read the words on the photograph three times.
*PROJECT EMMA CUSTODY.*
My daughter was less than twenty-four hours old, and someone had apparently been planning how to take her away from me before she was even born.
My hands began to shake.
“Daddy, what is this?””
My father studied the photograph on my phone.
“First, we're going to establish who sent it. Then we're going to find out what your husband has been doing.””
Major Brooks took out a small notebook.
“Rebecca, do you recognize the restaurant?””
I nodded.
“It's Bellamy's. Ethan took me there for our anniversary last year.””
“Have you ever met the man sitting across from him?””
“No.””
Dad zoomed in on the photograph.
The man wore a navy suit and had a silver wedding ring. His face was partially obscured by a glass of water, but I recognized the folder between them.
It was the same folder Ethan had brought home three weeks earlier.
I remembered that evening.
I had been sitting on the couch, folding tiny pink baby clothes, when Ethan walked through the front door carrying a black leather briefcase.
He had placed it on the dining table.
“What's that?”” I had asked.
“Business paperwork.””
He had looked unusually excited.
“Big deal?””
“Something like that.””
He kissed my forehead, then opened the briefcase.
I remembered seeing my name on a document.
When I asked about it, he had closed the folder immediately.
“Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart.””
At the time, I believed him.
Now I wished I could go back and photograph every page.
“Major Brooks,” my father said, “can we identify the other individual?””
“We can request assistance through the appropriate channels, sir. But we should preserve the original message first.””
She photographed the screen and made a note of the number.
Then my phone rang.
Ethan.
I stared at the screen.
Dad nodded toward it.
“Answer. Put it on speaker.””
I hesitated.
“Daddy, I don't want to talk to him.””
“You don't have to explain anything. Just listen.””
I answered.
“Hello?””
“Rebecca.””
Ethan sounded irritated.
“Finally. I've been trying to reach you.””
I looked at my father.
“What do you want?””
He sighed.
“Can we not start arguing? I'm coming to see you tomorrow.””
“I don't want you here.””
There was a brief silence.
Then he laughed.
“Don't be ridiculous. I'm the baby's father.””
“You left me bleeding on the kitchen floor.””
“Oh, we're still talking about that?””
My eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, Ethan. I'm still talking about the night you left me.””
“Rebecca, I had no idea things were that serious.””
“You knew what the doctor said.””
“I can't be expected to remember every medical detail.””
My father closed his eyes.
Major Brooks quietly wrote something down.
I swallowed.
“You received my messages.””
“Your messages were exaggerated.””
“I sent you a photograph of the blood.””
Ethan went silent.
Then his voice changed.
“Look, I don't want to discuss this over the phone. We have more important things to handle.””
“Like what?””
“The paperwork.””
My stomach tightened.
“What paperwork?””
“The documents Mom brought to you.””
“I won't sign them.””
His voice hardened.
“Rebecca, don't make this difficult.””
“I don't understand why you need me to sign anything.””
“It's for Emma's protection.””
“From what?””
“From you making emotional decisions while you're recovering.””
I stared at the ceiling.
“You think I'm incapable of making decisions for my own daughter?””
“That's not what I said.””
“Then explain the documents.””
He exhaled sharply.
“I'm not doing this now. My attorney will explain everything tomorrow.””
I looked at my father.
He gave a slight nod.
“Ethan, why does the document say Project Emma Custody?””
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then he spoke.
“Where did you hear that?””
I felt my heartbeat accelerate.
“Answer me.””
“Who showed you that?””
“Why were you meeting someone about taking custody of our daughter?””
His voice became colder.
“Rebecca, you need to stop listening to people who don't understand our marriage.””
“Did you plan to take Emma away from me?””
“Don't be stupid.””
Then he made a mistake.
A terrible one.
He said, “The arrangement was supposed to happen after the birth, not before.””
My father immediately looked at Major Brooks.
I felt the room tilt.
“What arrangement?””
Ethan realized what he had said.
“I meant the insurance arrangement.””
“No, you didn't.””
“Rebecca, I'm coming tomorrow. We'll discuss it face-to-face.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my father picked up the phone.
“Major, I want that recording preserved.””
She nodded.
“Understood.””
I looked at him.
“Daddy, he just admitted it.””
“He admitted that there was an arrangement connected to Emma's birth. We need to determine exactly what it was.””
I began crying.
“What if he actually planned to take her?””
Dad sat beside me.
“Then we'll make sure the proper authorities investigate.””
A nurse entered to check my medication.
“Rebecca, your daughter has been asking for her mother.””
I wiped my face.
“Can I see her?””
“Absolutely.””
They brought Emma into my room a few minutes later.
She was so tiny.
A little pink hat covered her head, and her fingers curled around the edge of her blanket.
I touched her cheek.
“Mommy's here, sweetheart.””
My father stood behind me, smiling sadly.
Then Major Brooks received a message.
She read it once.
Her expression changed.
“General?””
Dad turned.
“What?””
“We've identified the man in the restaurant photograph.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“Daniel Mercer. He's a family attorney who has represented the Carter family for eleven years.””
Dad frowned.
“And the documents?””
Major Brooks looked directly at me.
“Rebecca, Mr. Mercer recently filed a preliminary inquiry concerning temporary guardianship of an unborn child.””
My throat tightened.
“An unborn child?””
“Yes.””
“Who filed it?””
She lowered her eyes to the screen.
“Your husband.””
May you like
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
“The application was submitted using your name as the consenting parent.””
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