Chapter 8 - ETHAN’S INHERITANCE
The call lasted seventeen seconds.
Police couldn’t trace it.
Daniel disappeared again.
But his message changed everything.
Ethan owned something.
Something Richard wanted.
Marcus pulled the old estate documents.
Daniel’s grandfather had created a family trust.
The controlling shares of Carter Industrial couldn’t be sold outside the bloodline.
When Daniel disappeared, his shares passed automatically to his legal heir.
Ethan.
My four-year-old son owned thirty-eight percent of a corporation worth nearly four hundred million dollars.
I stared at the documents.
“I didn’t know.”
Marcus nodded.
“Most people didn’t.”
“Did Richard?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He became your husband.”
Sarah leaned forward.
“He gained access to your household records.”
Marcus continued.
“And after adopting Ethan, Richard could potentially act as guardian over certain financial interests.”
I felt sick.
“He adopted my son for money.”
No one answered.
“He pretended to love Ethan so he could control his inheritance.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
I stood and began pacing.
“That’s why he changed.”
“When?” Marcus asked.
“About a year ago.”
“What happened?”
“Richard started taking over Ethan’s paperwork.”
“Medical?”
“Everything.”
“Did he ask you to sign anything?”
I stopped.
“Yes.”
Sarah looked alarmed.
“What?”
“A family asset consolidation.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“Did you sign?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“My father told me never to sign anything without sending it to Sarah.”
Sarah exhaled.
“That may have saved Ethan’s trust.”
Marcus asked, “Did Richard react badly?”
“He said I didn’t trust him.”
Sarah smiled without humor.
“You didn’t.”
My phone buzzed.
A text from Richard.
COME HOME ALONE.
I showed Marcus.
He shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
Another message appeared.
I HAVE BROOKE.
Then a photograph.
Brooke was sitting on a chair in a dark room.
Her hands appeared bound.
Chloe was in her lap.
Both were crying.
A third message.
BRING ETHAN’S TRUST DOCUMENTS.
I stared at the screen.
Marcus took the phone.
“This is kidnapping.”
Another text.
NO POLICE.
OR THE BABY PAYS.
I whispered, “He’s lost his mind.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“He’s finally showing you exactly who he is.”
