Chapter 3 - The Custody War Begins
The next morning, Grant made his first move.
Not an apology.
Not a conversation.
A legal attack.
My attorney called me at 7:12 AM.
“Mara, you need to sit down.”
I immediately knew.
“What happened?”
“Grant filed for emergency custody of Ellie.”
The room went cold.
“He what?”
“He is claiming you are unstable.”
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“After what he did?”
“He has prepared evidence.”
My hands tightened.
“What evidence?”
Daniel answered:
“Photos.”
“Of what?”
“You attending Kingsley business meetings.”
I frowned.
“That’s not illegal.”
“No.”
He paused.
“But he’s claiming you hid your wealth and identity from him.”
I stared.
The plan.
It was already happening.
Grant wanted to make me look like the liar.
The secretive wife.
The dangerous parent.
Then Daniel sent me the documents.
And one sentence stood out.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: OBTAIN GUARDIANSHIP OF ELLIE MERCER.
Not divorce.
Not money.
Ellie.
He wanted my daughter.
That was when my fear disappeared.
And something stronger replaced it.
Determination.
That afternoon, Grant appeared outside my house.
With Vanessa.
Of course.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
I looked at him.
“You tried to take my daughter.”
“I’m protecting her.”
I almost smiled.
“You don’t even believe that.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Ellie deserves stability.”
I looked at her.
“You mean she deserves your lifestyle?”
Her face changed.
Grant stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what’s happening.”
“No.”
I looked him directly in the eyes.
“You don’t understand what you started.”
He lowered his voice.
“You think your family name scares me?”
I smiled.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I think you forgot who created your entire success.”
His expression changed.
Because he knew.
He finally understood.
The company he built…
Was built on Kingsley investments.
The reputation he protected…
Was protected by my family.
Then my phone received a notification.
Another Bluebird file unlocked.
This one contained a video.
My father.
Speaking directly to me.
“Mara, if you are watching this…”
His expression was serious.
“It means someone close to you has betrayed you.”
I stopped breathing.
My father continued:
“And the person you should fear most…”
The video glitched.
Then his final words appeared.
May you like
“Is not Grant.”
The screen went black.
