Chapter 8: The Secret My Husband Never Knew About My Father
My father spent most of that night making phone calls.
He didn't shout.
He didn't threaten anyone.
He simply asked questions, listened carefully, and wrote down names.
At 2:15 a.m., I woke to find him sitting beside the window with a cup of untouched coffee.
“Daddy?””
He turned immediately.
“I'm here.””
“Have they found out who sent the photograph?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
He hesitated.
“Someone connected to Michael Rourke.””
I tried to sit up.
“Why would he send it?””
“To frighten you. Or to see how much we know.””
I looked toward the bassinet.
Emma was sleeping peacefully.
“Daddy, I want to understand something.””
“Ask me anything.””
“Why is Ethan so confident? He knows you're my father. He knows you have military connections.””
Dad sighed.
“Because he thinks those connections are the same as power over the law.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
He pulled his chair closer.
“When I retired, I didn't disappear. I continued serving as an adviser on several national security projects. I also remained involved with a foundation that supports military families and veterans.””
I nodded.
I knew about the foundation.
Grandma had helped establish it years earlier.
But Dad had never explained how extensive its operations were.
He continued.
“Your grandmother's estate includes an investment company that owns shares in several defense technology businesses. One of those businesses has contracts with government agencies.””
I stared at him.
“Is that why Ethan wanted access to the trust?””
“Possibly. But there's more.””
He opened his laptop.
A corporate chart appeared on the screen.
At the top was a company called Hayes Strategic Holdings.
I recognized the name.
“That's Grandma's company.””
“Yes.””
“Didn't she leave it to me?””
“She did. You inherited the controlling interest through the trust. I manage certain administrative responsibilities, but the beneficial ownership belongs to you.””
I looked at the screen.
“Then Ethan was trying to get control of a defense company?””
“That's one possibility we're investigating.””
I shook my head.
“I thought he was just a businessman.””
My father gave me a sad smile.
“Sometimes people reveal their character only when they believe they have something to gain.””
A knock interrupted us.
Major Brooks entered carrying a folder.
“General, we've received information from the financial investigators.””
Dad stood.
“Go ahead.””
“The account connected to the unauthorized trust access attempts has received three transfers from Carter Holdings.””
Amanda, who had arrived earlier that morning, looked up.
“How much?””
“Approximately $2.4 million in total.””
I covered my mouth.
“Two million?””
Major Brooks nodded.
“The transfers were described as consulting and administrative fees. However, the recipient company appears to have no meaningful business activity.””
My father examined the documents.
“Who owns it?””
“Michael Rourke.””
I felt sick.
“Ethan was paying him?””
“That's what the preliminary records indicate.””
Amanda turned another page.
“Were any of the transfers connected to the trust?””
“Not directly. But one attempted transaction referenced a financial account administered by Hayes Strategic Holdings.””
Dad looked at me.
“That's the connection.””
I stared at the documents.
Ethan hadn't simply been planning a custody dispute.
He had been trying to gain access to my inheritance.
And Emma's future.
“Why would he need custody to do that?”” I asked.
Amanda answered carefully.
“Depending on the trust provisions and applicable law, an appointed guardian could potentially seek authority over certain financial matters involving a minor beneficiary. That doesn't automatically mean they would receive unrestricted control. But the documents appear designed to create that opportunity.””
My father closed the folder.
“Then we make sure he never gets that opportunity through fraudulent paperwork.””
At that moment, Olivia entered.
She looked as though she hadn't slept.
“Rebecca, there's something else I need to tell you.””
I gestured toward the chair.
“Sit down.””
She shook her head.
“I can't. I need to leave soon, but I found another email.””
She placed her phone on the table.
“This was sent to Ethan six days before you went into labor.””
Amanda read it.
Then her expression changed.
“Who sent this?””
Olivia pointed to the address.
“Daniel Mercer.””
The email said:
The medical records are sufficient for the initial application. However, we need an independent professional statement. Once the child is born, the family can request temporary emergency arrangements if the mother is considered medically or psychologically unable to care for the infant.
I stared at the screen.
“They were waiting for me to give birth.””
Olivia nodded.
“They believed the delivery would give them an opportunity to act before you recovered.””
My father slowly sat down.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he asked Olivia a question.
“Did Ethan ever mention the military contracts?””
She frowned.
“Not directly.””
“What about Michael Rourke?””
“He once told me he had connections with a defense contractor.””
Major Brooks looked up.
“Which contractor?””
Olivia searched her memory.
“Northstar Tactical Systems.””
The room became silent.
My father looked at Major Brooks.
“Are you certain?””
She nodded slowly.
“Northstar is one of the subcontractors associated with a project I worked on several years ago.””
I stared at them.
“Why does that matter?””
Dad explained.
“Some defense contracts involve sensitive equipment and controlled procurement information. If someone uses fraudulent corporate documents to obtain access, it can become a serious matter.””
Amanda added:
“But we need evidence before drawing conclusions.””
My father nodded.
“Agreed.””
Then Major Brooks received another call.
She listened carefully.
“Understood.””
She ended it.
“General, the investigators have identified the chairman Olivia mentioned.””
Dad looked up.
“Who?””
“Victor Langford.””
I frowned.
“Who is that?””
My father stared at the name.
For the first time since I had woken up in the hospital, I saw genuine surprise on his face.
“Victor Langford used to chair the board of a major defense supplier.””
“Is he still involved?””
“Not officially.””
Major Brooks opened her folder.
“His name appears in several communications involving Rourke and Carter Holdings.””
Dad walked to the window.
“That's not good.””
I swallowed.
“Why?””
He turned toward me.
“Because Victor Langford spent twenty years building relationships with people who believed money could buy influence.””
Then he added something that made me realize how badly Ethan had misunderstood my family.
“He also spent twenty years trying to gain access to your grandmother's company.””
I looked at the corporate chart.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wanted you to live your own life. Your grandmother believed the company should benefit your family, not control it.””
I lowered my eyes.
“And Ethan?””
Dad returned to my bedside.
“Ethan married you without knowing what you owned.””
I looked at him.
“Do you think he ever loved me?””
My father took a long breath.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
His answer hurt more than I expected.
Then Major Brooks spoke.
“General, there's another issue.””
“What?””
“Victor Langford has requested an urgent meeting with the board of Hayes Strategic Holdings.””
I frowned.
“Can he do that?””
“Not without proper authority,” Dad replied.
Major Brooks placed a document in front of him.
“The meeting request was submitted by an individual claiming to represent Rebecca.””
I stared at the signature.
Again.
My name.
My identity.
My future.
All being used without my permission.
My father closed the folder.
“Ethan isn't working alone.””
May you like
Then he looked directly at me.
“And tomorrow, we're going to find out who has been helping him.””
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