Chapter 8: The Price of a Mother's Freedom
Helen called an emergency meeting at her office that afternoon.
I was still recovering from delivery, so Margaret arranged a private room where I could rest while the lawyers reviewed the evidence.
Andrew refused to leave.
He sat beside the window, staring at his phone.
Every few minutes, he checked for a message.
Nothing came.
I finally broke the silence.
“Andrew, when was the last time you saw your mother?””
He looked up.
“I was eleven.””
“What happened that day?””
He rubbed his hands together.
“She was in a hospital after a car accident. I remember visiting her. She had a bandage around her head and kept asking when we could go home.””
His voice became distant.
“My father came into the room and told her he was taking me to get something to eat. She kissed my forehead and told me she'd see me soon.””
He swallowed.
“That was the last time I saw her.””
I looked at the photograph.
Twenty-five years.
Twenty-five years of believing a lie.
“I'm sorry.””
Andrew gave a small nod.
Then he asked, “Do you know what the worst part is?””
“What?””
“I remember being angry with her.””
He looked down.
“I thought she abandoned me. For years, I hated her for it.””
I reached across the table.
“She probably never stopped looking for you.””
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Helen entered carrying a thick folder.
“We have a problem.””
Margaret immediately stood.
“What now?””
Helen placed the folder on the table.
“Richard has filed an emergency petition asking the court to appoint Derek as Claire's temporary financial guardian.””
My stomach tightened.
“Can he do that?””
“He can file it. Whether the court accepts it is another matter.””
Helen opened the folder.
The petition included statements from two doctors claiming I had experienced severe emotional instability during pregnancy.
One statement described me as confused, disoriented, and incapable of managing complex financial decisions.
I stared at the page.
“I never met this doctor.””
Helen pointed to the signature.
“Dr. Martin Shaw.””
I shook my head.
“I don't know anyone by that name.””
Margaret leaned forward.
“Where did this examination supposedly happen?””
Helen checked the document.
“Your home. Two weeks ago.””
I felt my stomach turn.
Two weeks ago, Derek had insisted that a family doctor visit because I was having trouble sleeping.
I remembered the man.
He had asked a few questions, checked my blood pressure, and left after ten minutes.
Derek had told me he was a friend.
“That's him,” I whispered.
Helen studied the report.
“Did he ask you to sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did he examine your mental state?””
“He asked whether I was sleeping and whether I felt stressed.””
Helen closed the folder.
“This is not enough to establish incapacity, but it may be enough to create a delay.””
Margaret slammed her hand against the table.
“Richard is using his own son to steal a company from a woman who just gave birth.””
Helen looked at her.
“Which is why we need to expose the entire arrangement before Friday.””
Andrew stood.
“Forget Friday. My mother is missing now.””
Helen nodded.
“I haven't forgotten.””
She turned to him.
“Detective Harris has obtained an emergency search order for the transport company. They're tracing the vehicle that collected Catherine.””
Andrew immediately grabbed his phone.
“Have they found it?””
“Not yet.””
He looked as though he might collapse.
Then my phone rang.
Derek.
I answered.
“What?””
“That's no way to speak to your husband.””
“You stopped being my husband when you left me on the kitchen floor.””
He exhaled sharply.
“Claire, enough. We need to resolve this.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
“About what?””
“Catherine.””
Silence.
“She's a dangerous woman,” he finally said.
“She's Andrew's mother.””
“She's not who you think she is.””
“Then explain.””
Derek lowered his voice.
“Your grandmother destroyed my father's life.””
I looked at Helen.
She motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Derek continued.
“Richard built that company. He worked for years while Evelyn sat in her office collecting profits. Then she decided he was stealing.””
“Was he?””
“He was protecting the business.””
“By transferring money into his private accounts?””
“Those were management arrangements.””
“By taking Andrew away from his mother?””
Derek's breathing became heavier.
“Who told you that?””
“Your father did.””
I heard a sharp noise.
Then Derek spoke again.
“You need to stop talking to Andrew.””
“Why?””
“Because he's lying to you.””
“Is Catherine alive?””
He said nothing.
“Derek?””
Finally, he answered.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
I felt my fingers tighten around the phone.
“You knew.””
“Claire, you don't understand.””
“You knew his mother was alive all these years?””
“It's complicated.””
“No. It's actually very simple. Your father took a child away from his mother, then told him she was dead.””
Derek raised his voice.
“You don't know what happened!””
“Then tell me.””
He hesitated.
“My father did what he had to do.””
I stared at the table.
“That's what you believe?””
“Claire, I am trying to protect our future.””
“Our daughter deserves better than this.””
He laughed bitterly.
“You think that baby gives you some kind of power?””
My chest tightened.
“What did you just say?””
“You're emotional. You're exhausted. You're letting my mother and some stranger manipulate you.””
Helen quietly wrote something down.
Derek continued.
“Sign the papers, Claire. We can still fix everything.””
“What happens if I refuse?””
A long pause.
Then he said, “You won't like what happens next.””
I ended the call.
My hands were shaking.
Helen immediately contacted Detective Harris.
She explained the conversation and asked whether the admission that Catherine was alive could be included in the investigation.
While Helen spoke, Andrew approached me.
“Did he admit it?””
I nodded.
Andrew turned away.
He walked toward the window and pressed both hands against the glass.
“My mother was alive.””
I watched his shoulders shake.
Margaret quietly stood beside him.
For the first time, she didn't argue with him.
She simply placed a hand on his back.
A few minutes later, Detective Harris called.
She had located the transport vehicle.
It had been tracked to a private property outside the city.
The property belonged to a company registered under D&R Capital.
Helen immediately requested a warrant.
But there was a complication.
Richard had filed an emergency medical guardianship document authorizing Catherine's relocation.
It had been signed by a physician.
And the physician was the same man who had signed my false medical report.
Dr. Martin Shaw.
Helen stared at the document.
“That's our connection.””
Margaret looked at her.
“What connection?””
“Someone is using this doctor to create false medical authority over vulnerable women.””
Andrew looked furious.
“Then let's arrest him.””
“We need proof that he knowingly falsified the records.””
Helen turned toward me.
“Claire, do you remember anything unusual about his visit?””
I thought carefully.
The doctor had barely looked at me.
He had asked Derek several questions.
He had written something down.
And before leaving, he had said something strange.
Your husband seems very concerned about your ability to manage stress.
At the time, I thought it was an ordinary medical observation.
Now I understood.
He had been preparing the story Derek needed.
My phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was a law firm I didn't recognize.
The subject line read:
*NOTICE OF EMERGENCY GUARDIANSHIP HEARING — CLAIRE BENNETT.*
The hearing was scheduled for Thursday morning.
Less than twenty-four hours away.
I opened the attachment.
At the bottom of the petition was a statement signed by Derek.
I believe my wife is currently incapable of making rational decisions regarding her financial inheritance and the welfare of our newborn child.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Helen.
“He's not just trying to take the company.””
Her expression hardened.
“No.””
“He's trying to take my daughter.””
Helen nodded slowly.
“And if we don't stop him, he may convince a judge that separating you from your child is in her best interest.””
Andrew stepped closer.
“Then we make sure the judge sees everything.””
He picked up the original ledger.
But before he could place it inside his bag, his phone rang.
Detective Harris.
He answered.
“Yes?””
A pause.
Then his face changed.
“What do you mean the property is empty?””
He listened again.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Finally, he whispered:
“Did they leave anything behind?””
Another pause.
Then Andrew looked at me.
“They found Catherine's medication.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“But no Catherine.””
