Chapter 10 - THE PLAN TO TAKE HER CHILD
Amy didn’t understand.
“What do you mean, for Daniel?”
Ryan shook his head.
“Not written by Daniel.”
“Then why his name?”
“Because Blackwell’s plan was to make Daniel believe you were unstable.”
Amy stared at him.
Ryan continued.
“The leaked stories. The fake medical claims. Photographs of you angry at the gala. Anything they could use.”
“For what?”
“If you left him while pregnant, they planned to tell Daniel you were mentally unwell and hiding his child.”
Amy’s hand went automatically to her stomach.
Daniel’s face had gone white.
Ryan said, “They had draft legal motions. Emergency custody. Psychological evaluation requests. Private investigators.”
Amy felt nauseated.
“They wanted Daniel fighting me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel answered.
“Because I wouldn’t be watching the company.”
Ryan nodded.
“A divorce and custody war would consume him. The board would panic. Blackwell could push a sale.”
Amy looked at Daniel.
“So they knew exactly how you’d react.”
Daniel said nothing.
That frightened her.
“They knew you’d come after me.”
“I would’ve looked for you.”
“No. Be honest.”
Daniel stared at the floor.
Then nodded.
“If I believed you were unstable and keeping my child from me… yes. I would’ve gone to court.”
Amy laughed once.
Broken.
“Of course you would.”
“Amy—”
“No.”
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“That’s the problem.”
He stepped closer, then stopped himself.
“I wouldn’t now.”
“Because now you know it was a setup.”
“Yes.”
“But three days ago?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
Amy looked away.
That hurt more than Vanessa.
Because this was the deepest problem in their marriage.
Daniel loved her.
She believed that now.
But his love often came dressed as control.
Protection.
Decisions made without her.
Solutions she never asked for.
Ryan coughed.
“There’s more.”
Amy almost laughed.
“Why is there always more?”
“Blackwell didn’t invent the custody strategy.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“They hired someone.”
“Who?”
Ryan looked toward the door.
Then lowered his voice.
“Evelyn Price.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Amy noticed.
“Who is she?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Daniel.”
“My father’s attorney.”
“Your father is dead.”
“She worked for him before he died.”
Ryan added, “She was also Margaret’s attorney during Daniel’s parents’ separation.”
Amy stared at Daniel.
“Your parents separated?”
“For six months.”
“You never told me.”
“I was twenty.”
“What happened?”
“My father thought my mother was leaving with me and my sister.”
Amy felt the pieces shifting.
“Custody?”
Daniel nodded.
“He tried to freeze her accounts.”
Margaret’s warning echoed in Amy’s head.
Daniel shuts down when he’s scared.
Suddenly the pattern became clearer.
Daniel’s father had treated love like ownership.
And Daniel had spent years insisting he was nothing like him.
Maybe he was closer than he wanted to admit.
Ryan whispered, “Evelyn knows exactly what terrifies Daniel.”
Amy looked at him.
“Losing control.”
Ryan nodded.
“And she built the entire plan around it.”
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Mercer needs rest.”
Before Amy turned away, Ryan caught her wrist lightly.
She stiffened.
“I’m sorry.”
Amy looked down at his hand until he released her.
“Sorry doesn’t undo it.”
“I know.”
“But if Vanessa’s alive…”
Ryan’s face twisted.
“She is.”
“How do you know?”
He swallowed.
“Because she called me ten minutes ago.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What?”
Ryan looked at him.
“She said Evelyn has her.”
Amy’s stomach dropped.
May you like
Then Ryan whispered:
“And Evelyn wants to trade Vanessa for Amy.”
