Chapter 6 - The Money Under the Baby’s Name
My father died two years before my wedding.
He left me a modest house, some investments, and one complicated provision I had barely thought about since becoming pregnant: the first grandchild would receive a family trust when born, funded by shares in his medical-supply company.
I had never told Margaret the exact amount.
Apparently Ethan had.
Lena read from the paperwork over the phone.
“They’re laying a foundation to argue that if you’re mentally unfit after delivery, Ethan should have sole physical custody and control over decisions affecting the child.”
“Can he control the trust?”
“Not automatically. But a custodial parent can create leverage, especially if they push for a guardian or trustee change. The point isn’t that this paperwork guarantees him the money. The point is that somebody has been planning around it.”
I looked down at my belly.
“How much is the trust worth now?”
Lena hesitated.
“Your father’s company was acquired last year. The shares rolled over.”
“How much?”
“Just over four million.”
The room tilted.
I had known it was substantial. I had not known it had become that substantial.
Renee sat beside me. “Claire?”
I held up one finger.
Lena continued. “And there’s more. Ethan has debt.”
“What debt?”
“Two civil suits connected to private investment losses, one lien, and a line of credit that is almost maxed out.”
I thought of the dinners he had canceled, the calls he took outside, the sudden interest in my father’s old paperwork.
“How much?”
“Close to six hundred thousand.”
I closed my eyes.
Ethan had spent months telling me I was paranoid whenever I asked why money was disappearing.
Now the shape of the lie was coming into focus.
Margaret had not shoved me because she hated me.
Hatred was personal.
This was business.
A knock came at the door.
Renee opened it two inches.
A hospital aide stood outside holding a vase of flowers.
“No card,” he said.
Renee took them.
Tucked between the white lilies was a folded note.
I opened it.
May you like
Three words were written in Ethan’s handwriting.
DELETE THE VIDEO.
