Chapter 10 - They Tried to Take My Baby
The moment I heard Kelsey’s name, every piece of fear I had been carrying turned into something else.
Something stronger.
Anger.
Not the kind of anger that made me lose control.
The kind that made me see clearly.
“They tried to access my medical records?”
The assistant nodded.
“Yes. The hospital security team stopped her before she could see anything.”
Margaret stood immediately.
“Call the hospital back.”
“I already did.”
“What did they say?”
“She claimed she was a family member.”
I laughed.
A cold, empty laugh.
“Family.”
That word sounded almost ridiculous coming from her.
A woman who stood there and watched my father throw me onto a porch while I was pregnant.
A woman who wanted access to my private information.
A woman who was now trying to get closer to my baby.
“She’s trying to find out when I’ll deliver.”
Thomas looked at me.
“Why?”
I already knew.
Because once they knew the timing, they could make their next move.
Margaret grabbed her phone.
“We need protection around you immediately.”
I nodded.
“No more waiting.”
That night, I stayed at a secure apartment Margaret arranged.
Not my house.
Not Daniel’s house.
Because even though I owned it, it no longer felt safe.
Every sound made me wake up.
Every shadow outside the window made my heart race.
But I refused to break.
Because Daniel’s voice was still in my head.
“Protect Emily.”
The next morning, Margaret arrived with more documents.
“We found something.”
I looked up.
“What?”
She placed a folder on the table.
“Your father and Kelsey weren’t just trying to steal the company.”
“What else?”
“They were building a custody case.”
My stomach dropped.
“For my baby?”
Margaret nodded.
“They planned to claim you were unstable after Daniel’s death.”
I stared.
“Because I was grieving?”
“Yes.”
My hands shook.
“They wanted to use my pain against me.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the papers.
False statements.
Fake reports.
Letters claiming I was unable to care for a child.
My own father had created a story where I was the villain.
Where he was the hero.
Where he would “save” my baby.
I covered my mouth.
“He wanted to take my daughter.”
Margaret sat beside me.
“He wanted control.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
She hesitated.
Then she answered:
“Because Daniel’s trust is tied to your child.”
Everything went silent.
“What?”
“If something happened to you, custody of the baby would determine who controls Daniel’s assets.”
My heart sank.
“They weren’t trying to remove me because they hated me.”
“No.”
“They were trying to remove me because of my daughter.”
Margaret nodded.
A message appeared on my phone.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A photo.
My front porch.
Taken that morning.
Then another message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED.
My blood went cold.
“They know where I am.”
Margaret immediately called security.
But before anyone answered…
A second message arrived.
THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING.
I stared at the screen.
Then I typed one reply.
NO.
Margaret looked at me.
“Emily?”
I hit send.
“You want my baby?”
My fingers trembled.
“Come try.”
Seconds later…
My phone rang.
Private number.
I answered.
And heard Kelsey whisper:
May you like
“You have no idea what your husband left behind.”
Then she hung up.
