Chapter 4 - The Wrong Father
Ava screamed when the officer reached for her.
"No! That's my dad!"
Emilio raised both hands.
"Do not scare her."
"Then cooperate."
"I am cooperating."
Tessa was crying again now. Not the furious tears from before. Perfect tears. Camera-ready tears.
She moved behind the officers.
"He's been unstable for months," she said.
Emilio looked at her.
Calvin added, "We were trying to keep Ava safe."
Marcus muttered, "Here we go."
The lead officer introduced himself as Sergeant Nolan.
"Mr. Vega, we have an emergency welfare report stating you threatened to remove Ava from the state tonight."
"Filed by who?"
"I can't discuss that here."
"You can discuss the part where someone locked her in a closet."
Nolan glanced at Ava's torn dress.
Then at the equipment case.
His expression shifted.
"What is that?"
"Exactly," Emilio said.
Tessa jumped in. "We've never seen it before."
Ava pointed at her.
"She knew about the bottle."
Tessa snapped, "Stop lying!"
Nolan looked at her sharply.
That single mistake helped.
He ordered another officer to secure the room.
Then Marcus whispered to Emilio, "We need a lawyer now."
Emilio already had one.
Mara Chen answered on the second ring.
"Tell me you're not calling from your own gala."
"I'm calling from my own disaster."
He gave her the short version.
She was silent for three seconds.
Then: "Do not leave with anyone except uniformed police whose names I verify. Do not sign anything. Do not let Tessa take Ava."
"I wasn't planning to."
"There's more."
His chest tightened. "What?"
"I got an automated court notice twenty minutes ago."
"About what?"
"A petition for emergency temporary guardianship."
Emilio stared at Tessa.
"Who filed it?"
Mara exhaled.
"Tessa."
The noise in the lounge seemed to disappear.
"She has no standing."
"She claims you've become violent, paranoid, and medically impaired since Lucia died."
Calvin lowered his eyes.
Mara kept talking.
"She attached physician notes, travel records, private therapy summaries, and statements from employees."
Emilio felt cold.
Those records were sealed.
Only three people had access.
Him.
His doctor.
And his company's executive benefits administrator.
Calvin Reed.
Mara said, "There's one more thing."
"What?"
"The petition names a proposed successor trustee for Ava's inheritance if you're found unfit."
Emilio already knew before she said it.
"Calvin."
"Yes."
Across the room, Calvin met his eyes.
And smiled.
Not much.
May you like
Just enough.
Then Ava whispered, "Daddy, the man with the snake ring said Uncle Calvin would be my new dad after tomorrow."
