Chapter 3: The Grandmother Who Wanted My Babies
My mother entered the study without waiting for permission.
She placed the court document on my father's desk as if she were presenting a dinner menu.
"Temporary guardianship," she said.
"It's a precaution.""
I looked at the papers.
Then at her.
"Precaution against what?""
"Your current condition.""
I almost laughed.
"My condition?""
"You're not sleeping. You're behaving erratically. You're allowing a stranger to fill your head with ridiculous accusations.""
Elise stepped forward.
"Mrs. Caruso, I haven't—"
"Nobody asked you to speak.""
My mother didn't even look at her.
I picked up the document.
The petition requested temporary custody of Maisie and Rosie on the grounds that I was emotionally unstable and unable to provide adequate care.
It also claimed I had been neglecting my daughters since Isabella's death.
I looked at the signature line.
Victoria Caruso.
"You filed this?""
"I am their grandmother.""
"That wasn't my question.""
She removed her gloves.
"Dominic, you have a company to run. Two infants require constant attention. Your mother is simply offering to help.""
"By taking them away?""
"By protecting them.""
"From me?""
She sighed.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult.""
I threw the papers onto the desk.
"Where is Isabella?""
My mother's expression didn't change.
"She's dead.""
"Then explain the transfer record.""
"Fake.""
"The hospital signature?""
"Forged.""
"The video?""
"Edited.""
I stepped closer.
"How convenient.""
Victoria looked toward the ledger.
For the first time, I saw something shift in her eyes.
"Where did you get that?""
"My father's study.""
"Put it down.""
"No.""
"Dominic.""
"Tell me about the second trust.""
She went completely still.
Elise moved beside me.
My mother noticed.
Then she smiled.
It was the smile she used whenever she believed she had already won.
"Your wife was a very troubled woman.""
"Don't talk about her.""
"She was paranoid. Obsessed with money. She believed everyone was conspiring against her.""
"She found transfers from the girls' trust.""
"She misunderstood the arrangement.""
"Forty-eight million dollars disappeared.""
"Money moves between family accounts all the time.""
"Not without authorization.""
My mother leaned against the desk.
"Your father gave me control over certain assets. He trusted me.""
"He trusted me, too.""
"Your father was not always a good judge of character.""
I looked at the photograph of my father and Whitmore.
"Neither were you.""
Victoria's smile vanished.
She turned toward the guards.
"Take the ledger.""
Both men stepped forward.
I moved between them and the desk.
"Touch it and I'll have you arrested.""
One guard hesitated.
The other reached for the book.
Elise grabbed his wrist.
"Don't!""
He shoved her backward.
She struck the bookshelf, knocking several books onto the floor.
I lunged forward.
"Get your hands off her!""
The guard released her.
My mother raised her voice.
"Enough!""
The room went silent.
She looked at me.
"You have no idea what you're interfering with.""
"Then explain it.""
"I am trying to protect this family.""
"By filing for custody of my children?""
"By preventing you from destroying everything your father built.""
I picked up the court papers.
"Who prepared this?""
"Richard Voss.""
Of course.
I held up the document.
"Tell Richard he can expect a call from my attorney.""
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Your attorney?""
"Yes.""
"Which one?""
I smiled without humor.
"The one who isn't yours.""
For a moment, she looked almost amused.
Then she walked toward the door.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Dominic.""
"Maybe.""
She paused.
"But at least this time, it'll be my mistake.""
Her expression hardened.
She left with the guards.
The moment the door closed, Elise sat down on the floor.
Her hands were shaking.
I knelt beside her.
"Are you hurt?""
"No.""
"Elise.""
She looked at me.
"Your mother won't stop.""
"I know.""
"She has people everywhere. She can make calls, close accounts, destroy records. She can make someone disappear.""
I stared at her.
"Has she done that before?""
Elise hesitated.
Then she reached into her coat and pulled out a second envelope.
"This was supposed to be given to you only if your mother tried to take the girls.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a hospital corridor.
The date was visible in the corner.
Three days after Isabella's supposed death.
My wife was being pushed in a wheelchair.
Her head was turned toward the camera.
She was alive.
Standing behind her was Victoria.
And beside my mother was a man holding a clipboard.
I recognized him immediately.
Richard Voss.
I turned the photograph over.
A message had been written on the back.
*If they tell you she died, don't believe them. Ask who signed the second death certificate.*
My throat tightened.
"Second death certificate?""
Elise nodded.
"Isabella told me there were two.""
"Two?""
"The first one was issued by the hospital. The second was filed privately several days later.""
I looked at the photograph again.
There was a small detail I hadn't noticed.
A wristband around Isabella's arm.
The printed number was visible.
I took out my phone and enlarged the image.
The number matched the hospital transfer record.
"She wasn't just moved," I whispered.
Elise shook her head.
"No.""
"She was registered under another name.""
"Yes.""
I stared at the picture.
The name on the wristband was clearly visible.
*Evelyn Hart.*
I had never heard of Evelyn Hart.
But the date on the photograph was the day my mother had held my hand at Isabella's funeral.
I sat down heavily.
"Who is she?""
Elise looked toward the door.
"I think it was the name they used to hide your wife.""
I called my attorney, James Bennett.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Dominic? It's five in the morning.""
"I need you at the house.""
"What's happened?""
"My mother filed for temporary custody of the twins.""
There was a pause.
"What?""
"And I need you to investigate a hospital transfer, two death certificates, and a missing forty-eight million dollars.""
Another silence.
Then James asked the question that changed everything.
"Dominic, have you spoken to your father's old trustee?""
"Who?""
"Margaret Hale.""
I looked at the blue ledger.
"Why?""
"Because she was removed from the trust six years ago. Officially, she resigned. Unofficially, she told me your father believed Victoria had stolen money from the estate.""
My stomach dropped.
"Where is she now?""
James exhaled.
"She died last month.""
I closed my eyes.
"How?""
"Car accident.""
I looked at Elise.
She was staring at the photograph in my hand.
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Mr. Caruso, Margaret Hale wasn't the only person who died after asking questions about that trust.""
I turned.
"Who else?""
May you like
Elise swallowed.
"Isabella's obstetrician.""
