Chapter 6: He Used Our Unborn Daughter's Identity
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
I stood in my kitchen, holding the phone against my ear, staring at the garden outside.
The morning sunlight hadn't changed.
The birds were still singing.
A delivery truck passed the house.
Everything looked ordinary.
Except someone had just used my unborn daughter's identity to move millions of dollars.
"Marcus," I finally whispered, "explain exactly what you mean.""
His voice was unusually serious.
"Forty minutes ago, approximately six million dollars was transferred from Northbridge Asset Management into an offshore trust account. The beneficiary information identifies your daughter.""
"But she hasn't been born.""
"I know.""
"She doesn't even have a birth certificate.""
"That's what concerns us. The account was opened using an advance identity registration containing her expected name, date of birth, and your personal information.""
I gripped the counter.
"Who supplied those details?""
"We're tracing the application.""
I closed my eyes.
Ethan knew everything about our pregnancy.
He'd attended the hospital appointments.
He knew our daughter's expected name.
He'd even insisted on keeping a copy of the hospital paperwork.
At the time, I'd thought he was excited about becoming a father.
Now I wondered whether he'd been collecting information for something else.
"Marcus, freeze that account.""
"We've already contacted the relevant financial institutions and initiated emergency preservation procedures. Our attorneys are coordinating with the authorities.""
"Good.""
"There's another concern.""
I swallowed.
"What?""
"The application contains an authorization that appears to carry your electronic signature.""
I laughed once.
Not because anything was funny.
Because I couldn't believe the audacity.
"Another forged signature?""
"That's our preliminary assessment.""
"Then find the original device used to create it.""
"We're working on that.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat alone.
Then I felt my daughter move.
I placed both hands over my stomach.
"Nobody gets to use you," I whispered.
"Not even your father.""
At noon, Marcus arrived with two investigators and a forensic accountant.
They set up in my study.
I watched them examine the documents Rebecca had supplied.
One investigator, a woman named Olivia Grant, introduced herself as the senior forensic specialist assigned to the case.
"Mrs. Caldwell, we need to establish who had access to the personal information used in the application.""
"Ethan had access to everything.""
"Did he have access to your phone or computer?""
"Yes. We shared a home office.""
"Did he know your passwords?""
"Some of them.""
Olivia wrote something down.
"Did you ever authorize him to establish a trust for your daughter?""
"Never.""
"Did you discuss opening an investment account?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Olivia exchanged a glance with Marcus.
"Then we need to examine the electronic authorization trail.""
She opened her laptop.
A moment later, a document appeared on the screen.
It was a trust registration.
My daughter's proposed name was printed across the top.
Beneath it was my signature.
But the signature wasn't simply copied from an old document.
It contained a digital verification certificate.
"That's unusual," Olivia said.
"Why?"" I asked.
"Because whoever created this document used a credential associated with your private family office.""
I stared at her.
"My family office?""
"Yes.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"That credential should only be accessible to three authorized individuals.""
"Who?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"Myself, your personal legal counsel, and the trust administrator.""
I slowly turned toward him.
"Who is the trust administrator?""
"Jonathan Pierce.""
I knew Jonathan.
He'd worked for my mother for twenty years.
He'd attended her funeral.
He'd helped arrange the transfer of her estate.
I'd trusted him.
"Has anyone contacted him?""
Marcus shook his head.
"We've attempted to reach him since the transfer was discovered. His office is closed, and his phone is switched off.""
A cold sensation settled in my stomach.
"Find him.""
"We will.""
Olivia closed her laptop.
"Mrs. Caldwell, there's something else you should know.""
I looked at her.
"The account wasn't opened yesterday. It was established six months ago.""
I stared.
"Six months?""
"Yes. The transfer was simply made today.""
"Who created it?""
"We're still investigating. But the initial registration was submitted from a device associated with your household.""
My mouth went dry.
Ethan had been planning this for months.
Possibly longer.
At 4:30 p.m., I received a call from my obstetrician.
She wanted me to come in for a precautionary examination because I'd reported unusual abdominal discomfort during our last appointment.
Marcus immediately arranged transportation.
At the hospital, a nurse helped me onto the examination bed.
The doctor examined the baby's heartbeat.
A steady rhythm filled the room.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
I closed my eyes.
"Everything looks reassuring," Dr. Miller said.
"But I want you to rest. Stress isn't something you need more of right now.""
I nodded.
She adjusted the monitor.
"Your daughter seems perfectly comfortable.""
For the first time that day, I smiled.
"She's stubborn.""
"That's usually a good thing.""
I laughed softly.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Ethan.
I'm coming to the hospital. We need to settle this.
I showed it to Marcus.
He read it and immediately contacted security.
"Would you like me to have him stopped at the entrance?""
I looked at the message.
"No. Let him come.""
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes.""
Twenty minutes later, Ethan entered the hospital room.
He was no longer wearing his expensive tuxedo.
His shirt was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and his face looked exhausted.
He glanced at the monitor.
Then at me.
"How's the baby?""
"Fine.""
He approached the bed.
"Can we talk?""
Marcus stood beside the window.
Ethan frowned.
"Can we have privacy?""
"No," I answered.
He looked at me.
"Evelyn, please.""
"Say what you came to say.""
He pulled a chair closer.
"I know about the investigation.""
"Good.""
"I know Rebecca talked to you.""
"She did.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She's making things worse.""
"She gave investigators evidence.""
"She doesn't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Ethan leaned forward.
"The money was supposed to be temporary.""
"Eight million dollars?""
"I was going to return it.""
"With what?""
He didn't answer.
"And why did you open an account in our daughter's name?""
His eyes moved toward Marcus.
For a fraction of a second, he looked genuinely startled.
Then he recovered.
"What account?""
I stared at him.
"Don't insult me.""
"Evelyn, I don't know what you're talking about.""
"Someone created an offshore trust using our unborn daughter's identity.""
He shook his head.
"That's not possible.""
"Your account authorized the transfer.""
His jaw tightened.
"Those records can be manipulated.""
"Your electronic signature?""
"Someone could have copied it.""
I looked at him.
"You mean someone could have stolen your identity the same way you stole mine?""
He stood.
"This is ridiculous.""
A nurse appeared at the door.
"Sir, please lower your voice.""
Ethan ignored her.
"You think you're untouchable because you have money?""
I remained seated.
"No. I think you're in trouble because you have evidence against you.""
He leaned closer.
"You don't understand what happens when people start digging into private financial arrangements.""
Marcus stepped between us.
"Mr. Caldwell, the conversation is over.""
Ethan looked at him.
Then he turned toward me.
"You're making a huge mistake.""
I met his eyes.
"No, Ethan. My mistake was believing you were the man I married.""
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he walked out.
The door closed.
I looked toward Marcus.
"Find Jonathan Pierce.""
Marcus nodded.
"Already searching.""
That evening, as I returned home, Olivia called with an update.
They had located the device used to create the offshore account.
It had been registered to a laptop.
A laptop belonging to my late mother's former estate office.
And the last person recorded using it was not Ethan.
It was Jonathan Pierce.
But when Olivia opened the device's recovered files, she found something even more disturbing.
A folder containing photographs of me.
Photographs taken inside my own home.
Including one of me sleeping beside Ethan.
May you like
And every photograph had been saved under the same name.
*PROJECT HEIRESS.*
