Chapter 7: My Mother-in-Law Tried to Take My Newborn Daughter
The photograph of Patricia sitting inside that black SUV remained on the table long after Major Brooks finished explaining the security report.
I couldn't stop looking at it.
My mother-in-law had been outside the hospital.
Watching my daughter's room.
After everything she had said to me, after knowing I had nearly died, she had apparently decided that my newborn was still something she could claim.
“Daddy, why is she here?””
My father studied the photograph.
“We don't know yet.””
Major Brooks stepped closer.
“The vehicle has been parked outside the hospital for approximately forty minutes. There are two occupants. Patricia Carter and an unidentified male.””
“Ethan?”” I asked.
“No. We've identified the driver as Michael Rourke.””
Olivia immediately covered her mouth.
“That's him.””
My father looked at her.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes. He was Ethan's consultant. He attended those private meetings about Emma.””
Amanda Collins picked up her phone.
“I'm notifying hospital security. Nobody gets access to Rebecca or the baby without proper authorization.””
I looked at my father.
“Can you please make sure Emma stays with me?””
He squeezed my hand.
“She's staying right where she belongs.””
A nurse entered a moment later.
“Mrs. Carter, we need to move your daughter back to the neonatal unit for another examination.””
I reluctantly handed Emma over.
As the nurse adjusted the blanket, I kissed my daughter's forehead.
“Mommy will see you soon.””
The nurse smiled.
“She'll be fine.””
Then she left.
Less than five minutes later, the hospital security director appeared at our door.
“General Hayes, we have a situation.””
My father stood.
“What happened?””
“A woman claiming to be the baby's paternal grandmother attempted to enter the neonatal unit.””
My heart dropped.
“Patricia?””
The security director nodded.
“She presented a document stating she had temporary guardianship authority.””
Amanda immediately asked to see it.
The director handed her a printed copy.
Amanda examined the document.
“This is not a court order.””
“That's what we suspected,” he replied.
I stared at the signature.
There it was again.
My name.
My supposedly authorized consent.
Except I had never signed it.
“Did you let her in?””
“No, ma'am.””
I exhaled.
“Thank you.””
The director continued.
“She became aggressive when we refused.””
My father raised an eyebrow.
“What did she say?””
The director checked his notes.
“She told the nurse that the mother was emotionally unstable and that the baby would be safer with the Carter family.””
I closed my eyes.
Even here.
Even after everything.
Patricia was still trying to make me look like the problem.
Then the security director added:
“She also threatened to call the police and have the hospital staff arrested for kidnapping her granddaughter.””
My father shook his head.
“Unbelievable.””
Amanda handed the document back.
“Please preserve this as evidence. It appears to be another unauthorized attempt to exercise legal authority over the child.””
The director nodded.
Then he left.
I thought that would be the end of it.
I was wrong.
At 5:26 p.m., my phone rang again.
Patricia.
I answered because I wanted to hear what she would say.
“Rebecca!””
Her voice was sharp.
“What?””
“Tell your father to stop interfering in my family.””
I stared at the phone.
“Your family?””
“Yes. Ethan and I have rights here.””
“You don't have rights over my daughter.””
She laughed.
“You clearly don't understand how these things work.””
“Then explain it.””
“Ethan is her father. His family has just as much claim as yours.””
I looked toward Amanda.
She shook her head slightly.
Patricia continued.
“I went to see Emma, and your father had security turn me away.””
“Because you don't have permission to take her.””
“I wasn't taking her. I wanted to hold my granddaughter.””
“Then why did you bring guardianship paperwork?””
Silence.
Then she snapped.
“Because you are not thinking clearly!””
I felt my hands trembling.
“You planned to tell people I was unstable.””
“Oh, Rebecca. You always were sensitive.””
“You and Ethan planned this before she was born.””
Patricia lowered her voice.
“Listen to me carefully. Your father may be important, but he cannot change the fact that Ethan is Emma's father.””
“I know that.””
“Then stop making enemies.””
I swallowed.
“Did you know Ethan planned to use my medical records against me?””
She didn't answer.
“Did you know he wanted a psychiatrist to declare me unfit?””
Still nothing.
Then she said something I would never forget.
“You should have thought about that before marrying into this family.””
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
My father took the phone from my hand.
“That's enough.””
He turned toward Major Brooks.
“Have the hospital preserve the call records and report the attempted unauthorized access.””
“Yes, sir.””
Then he looked at me.
“Rebecca, you need rest.””
But sleep was impossible.
At 7:10 p.m., Olivia received another message.
She read it and suddenly went pale.
“What is it?”” Amanda asked.
Olivia turned her phone around.
The message came from Ethan.
Your little performance has gone far enough. Tomorrow, everything changes.
A second message followed.
Tell Rebecca that if she wants to keep her daughter, she should stop hiding behind her father.
I looked at my father.
“What does he mean by tomorrow?””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Major Brooks received a call.
She listened for several seconds, then walked toward the window.
When she returned, her expression was serious.
“General, the investigators have located the source of the forged guardianship documents.””
“Where?””
“A private office leased by Carter Holdings.””
“And the signature?””
“The preliminary examination indicates it was copied from a document Rebecca signed several years ago.””
Amanda nodded.
“That supports the need for a formal forensic review.””
My father looked at Olivia.
“Do you know whether Daniel Mercer is working alone?””
Olivia shook her head.
“No. Ethan has been speaking with someone else. Someone he calls Mr. Chairman.””
“Do you know his identity?””
“No.””
She hesitated.
“But I remember something.””
“What?””
“Ethan once told Patricia that the chairman had promised to make their family untouchable.””
My father went very still.
“Untouchable?””
Olivia nodded.
“He said nobody would question the custody arrangement once the chairman approved it.””
Major Brooks looked at my father.
“Sir, that could explain the unusual access attempts.””
Dad nodded slowly.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
The message contained a photograph of Emma's hospital bracelet.
I stopped breathing.
Beneath the photograph were seven words.
Tomorrow, your daughter comes home with us.
I screamed for my father.
He rushed to my bedside.
When he saw the image, his expression changed completely.
“Major Brooks.””
“Yes, sir?””
“Secure the hospital perimeter. Notify the appropriate authorities. Nobody approaches my daughter or granddaughter without verification.””
She nodded and left immediately.
I clutched the blanket.
“Daddy, they're going to take her.””
He held my face gently.
“No, sweetheart. They are not.””
Then he looked at the photograph again.
May you like
And quietly said:
“Now I know why Ethan thinks he can get away with this.””
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