Chapter 5 - The Custody Petition Had a Lie
Richard called his attorney.
Emily called hers.
Within an hour, a family-law lawyer named Julia Bennett arrived at the hospital.
She read the petition.
Then she looked at Emily.
“This was never filed.”
Emily exhaled.
“Thank God.”
Julia shook her head.
“That doesn’t make it harmless.”
Ryan had prepared it.
The petition alleged Emily had experienced paranoid episodes.
That she threatened self-harm.
That she had refused prenatal care.
Every claim was false.
Then Julia reached the financial section.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Emily asked.
Julia looked at Richard.
“Who owns Carter Biotech?”
Richard frowned.
“I founded it.”
“And Emily?”
“My daughter owns twenty-six percent.”
Emily stared at Julia.
“What does that have to do with custody?”
Julia turned the page.
The petition requested that Ryan be appointed temporary manager of Emily’s personal affairs during any period of incapacity.
Richard stood.
“That is not a custody request.”
“No.”
Julia’s voice became quiet.
“It’s a control request.”
Emily looked at the newborn sleeping beside her.
Ryan had not only prepared to separate her from her baby.
He had prepared to control her shares.
Richard asked, “Could he do that?”
“Not from this document alone.”
“But?”
Julia pointed to an attached power of attorney.
Emily’s signature was on it.
She stared.
“I never signed that.”
Richard looked at the date.
Six weeks earlier.
Emily had been at a prenatal appointment that morning.
Ryan had driven her.
Then she remembered.
He had brought paperwork into the waiting room.
Insurance updates.
Hospital registration.
She had signed several pages without reading every line.
Her stomach turned.
“Could one of those have been this?”
Julia’s face hardened.
“Possibly.”
Emily closed her eyes.
May you like
Ryan had not started planning yesterday.
He had been building this for weeks.
