Chapter 6: The Message That Changed Everything
The words on that email seemed to float in front of my eyes.
*OPERATION FAMILY RESET — FINAL APPROVAL.*
Tomorrow.
I looked at Olivia.
“What's supposed to happen tomorrow?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know the entire plan. Ethan kept the details between himself, Patricia, and Daniel Mercer.””
Amanda carefully placed the email inside a transparent document sleeve.
“Olivia, do you still have access to the original messages?””
“Yes. I saved copies before leaving the company.””
“Are you willing to provide them to investigators?””
Olivia nodded.
“Absolutely.””
My father pulled a chair beside my bed.
“Rebecca, I need you to listen carefully. We are not going to confront Ethan based on assumptions. We will preserve the evidence, establish what is authentic, and let the appropriate authorities handle any suspected wrongdoing.””
I nodded.
But my thoughts were somewhere else.
My daughter was sleeping in the neonatal intensive care unit.
And somewhere outside the hospital, my husband was preparing to take her.
“I want to see Emma,” I whispered.
The nurse brought her in shortly afterward.
I held her carefully against my chest.
Her tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
“I'm not going to let anyone hurt you,” I whispered.
For the first time since the ambulance ride, I felt something stronger than fear.
Determination.
At noon, Amanda returned from a meeting with hospital administration.
She looked serious.
“Rebecca, we have a problem.””
My father stood.
“What happened?””
“Someone called the hospital claiming to be your legal representative. They requested copies of your medical records and asked whether you had been diagnosed with postpartum psychological complications.””
I stared at her.
“But Emma was born yesterday.””
“Exactly.””
“Who called?””
“The caller identified himself as Daniel Mercer.””
Amanda placed a printed request on the table.
It contained my name, Ethan's name, and an authorization document.
I looked at the signature.
It was the same forged signature.
My father's expression hardened.
“Has the hospital released anything?””
“No. The administration rejected the request because the authorization could not be verified.””
I exhaled.
“Thank God.””
Amanda nodded.
“There's another development. Daniel Mercer also asked whether the hospital had a discharge date for Emma.””
My father frowned.
“Why would an attorney need that information?””
“He claimed the family was arranging transportation.””
I looked down at my daughter.
“Ethan wants to take her.””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Major Brooks received a call.
She stepped into the hallway.
When she returned, she was holding her phone with both hands.
“General, we've received confirmation from the hospital security director. A man claiming to represent the Carter family attempted to access the neonatal unit this morning.””
My heart stopped.
“Was it Ethan?””
“No. It was a private security contractor.””
Amanda stood.
“Did he enter?””
“No. The unit refused access.””
My father looked at me.
“Rebecca, do you recognize the name of the security company?””
Major Brooks showed me the screen.
*Sterling Protective Services.*
I shook my head.
“No.””
Olivia suddenly spoke.
“That's the company Ethan mentioned.””
Everyone turned toward her.
“He told me to contact Sterling and ask about emergency family transportation. I thought he meant moving personal belongings.””
“What did they say?”” Amanda asked.
Olivia looked frightened.
“They asked whether the child would be transported with a parent or a legal guardian.””
My father rubbed his forehead.
“This is getting worse.””
Then Olivia reached into her bag and removed another phone.
“I kept this because I was afraid Ethan might delete everything from the company system.””
She unlocked it.
A recording appeared.
“Rebecca, I think you need to hear this.””
She pressed play.
Ethan's voice filled the room.
“Mom, the baby needs to be with us. Rebecca is too emotional. Once the doctors discharge Emma, we'll take her to the house.””
Patricia's voice followed.
“What if Rebecca refuses?””
Ethan laughed.
“Then we'll show her the paperwork.””
“And if she calls her father?””
A pause.
Then Ethan said something that made my father go completely still.
“Her father won't interfere once he understands what happens if he does.””
Patricia sounded nervous.
“Are you sure?””
“Absolutely. I've already spoken to the right people.””
The recording ended.
I looked at my father.
“What does he mean?””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked Major Brooks to replay the final sentence.
Then he looked at Amanda.
“Has anyone contacted Rebecca's father using my official identity?””
Amanda frowned.
“I don't know.””
My father picked up his phone.
“Find out.””
He stepped into the hallway.
Through the glass, I watched him make a call.
His posture was rigid.
His expression was colder than I had ever seen.
When he returned, Major Brooks was waiting.
“General?””
Dad nodded.
“Someone has been making inquiries using my name and claiming to represent my office.””
“Who?””
“That's what we're going to establish.””
Amanda looked at the recording again.
“Could Ethan have been bluffing?””
“He could have,” Dad replied.
“But we won't assume that.””
Then he turned toward me.
“Rebecca, there's something you need to know about your father.””
I gave him a confused look.
“Daddy, I know who you are.””
He smiled faintly.
“Do you?””
I waited.
He sat down.
“When I retired, I transferred several responsibilities to a succession committee. Some of my old security authorizations remained active because I continued advising certain defense organizations.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with Ethan?””
“Someone has apparently been telling him that my position gives him leverage over me.””
My stomach tightened.
“Could he be threatening you?””
Dad shook his head.
“Not me, sweetheart. He's threatening the wrong people with information he doesn't understand.””
Major Brooks received another message.
She read it.
Then she looked directly at my father.
“Sir, we have a match.””
“What kind of match?””
“The individual who contacted the hospital under your name used an identification number associated with a former contractor.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Name?””
“Michael Rourke.””
Olivia gasped.
I looked at her.
“You know him?””
She nodded slowly.
“He was Ethan's business consultant. He attended several meetings at the Carter headquarters.””
Amanda asked, “Do you know what he does?””
Olivia swallowed.
“He used to work in military logistics. Ethan always said Michael could make anything happen.””
My father stood.
“Major, contact the appropriate investigative authorities. This is no longer just a family dispute.””
“Understood, sir.””
Then he turned toward Amanda.
“And I want an immediate review of the guardianship filings and every request made in Rebecca's name.””
Amanda nodded.
I looked at my father.
“Will Ethan be able to come here tomorrow?””
“Not if he has no lawful reason to access restricted areas or interfere with your care.””
“But what if he comes to the house?””
Dad was silent for a moment.
Then he said, “He may try.””
I looked at Emma.
Her tiny chest rose and fell beneath the pink blanket.
I couldn't imagine returning to that house.
Not after what had happened.
Not after knowing what Ethan and Patricia had planned.
At 4:37 p.m., my phone rang.
It was Ethan.
I answered without speaking.
“Rebecca, I've had enough of this nonsense.””
His voice was sharp.
“Where are you keeping my daughter?””
“In the hospital.””
“I know that. When is she coming home?””
“The doctors haven't given me a discharge date.””
“That's unacceptable. I've arranged everything.””
“What have you arranged, Ethan?””
He paused.
“Transportation. A private nurse. Everything Emma needs.””
“I don't want you arranging anything.””
His voice dropped.
“You don't get to make all the decisions.””
I stared at my father.
Then I asked the question I had been afraid to ask.
“Why did you create Project Emma Custody?””
Silence.
Then Ethan laughed.
“You've been talking to Olivia.””
“Answer me.””
“Rebecca, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.””
“Did you forge my signature?””
His breathing changed.
“Be careful with accusations.””
“Did you?””
“I'm coming tomorrow. We'll settle this in person.””
I swallowed.
“Don't come near Emma without the hospital's permission.””
His voice became icy.
“You really think your father can protect you forever?””
Before I could answer, he ended the call.
My father held out his hand.
I gave him the phone.
He read the call details.
Then Major Brooks entered with a printed report.
“General, the authorities have confirmed the security contractor's vehicle registration.””
Dad looked up.
“And?””
“They located the vehicle outside the Carter residence.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
Major Brooks placed the report on the table.
“Because someone has already delivered several large military-style transport cases to your husband's property.””
My father studied the photograph attached to the report.
Then his eyes narrowed.
“Those aren't ordinary transport cases.””
“What are they?”” I whispered.
Major Brooks looked at me.
“Equipment cases marked with the insignia of a restricted military contractor.””
My father slowly folded the report.
“Ethan has made a very serious mistake.””
And then, for the first time, he told me what would happen when my husband returned to our house.
He wouldn't find a newborn waiting in the nursery.
He would find investigators, military vehicles, and officers who had already begun asking questions about the man he thought he could become.
But Major Brooks wasn't finished.
She placed one final photograph in front of me.
It showed a black SUV parked outside the hospital.
The driver was looking directly toward the neonatal unit.
And sitting in the passenger seat was Patricia Carter.
Her phone was pressed against her ear.
On the screen of the photograph, the time was visible.
*4:52 p.m.*
May you like
She had been watching my daughter's hospital room.
And according to the security report, she hadn't come alone.
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