Chapter 6: The Mother-in-Law Who Wanted My Babies
The officer placed his phone on the table.
I stared at the document.
My name was written across the bottom.
Emily Mitchell.
The signature looked convincing from a distance.
But I knew every curve of my handwriting.
This wasn't mine.
"That's a forgery," I said.
The officer nodded.
"That's what we're trying to determine.""
Tyler leaned over his shoulder.
"Who gave you that?""
"My mother," the officer replied.
"She claims you and your wife agreed to temporary custody arrangements.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"My wife never agreed to anything!""
The officer looked at him.
"Then you should explain why your mother's document includes your signature as well.""
Tyler froze.
I looked at the paper.
There it was.
Tyler Mitchell.
A signature almost identical to the one on his passport.
He shook his head.
"I didn't sign that.""
Michael stepped closer.
"Officer, please preserve the original document. Our legal team will cooperate with the investigation.""
The officer nodded.
"We'll need Mrs. Mitchell to come with us to provide a statement.""
I tightened my arms around the twins.
"Can I go home first?""
"Not until the officers finish securing the property.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at Tyler.
"Did you know your mother was planning this?""
He shook his head.
"Emily, I swear I didn't.""
"Did you ever discuss giving her custody of our daughters?""
"No.""
"Did you tell her I wasn't a good mother?""
He looked away.
The silence answered me.
"Tyler.""
He swallowed.
"Mom complained that you were too emotional after the birth. She said you weren't sleeping and that you were struggling.""
I stared at him.
"Because I had newborn twins and my husband was missing!""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
His eyes filled.
"I told her you were doing your best.""
I shook my head.
"Doing my best? Tyler, I was surviving.""
Michael interrupted.
"There's another reason Margaret may have been interested in obtaining custody.""
Rachel opened the folder to the trust agreement.
She pointed to a paragraph near the bottom.
"Under the original agreement, Tyler's father placed a restriction on the inheritance. If Tyler dies, the trustee cannot distribute the funds to the children until their guardianship is established by a court.""
I frowned.
"Meaning?""
"Meaning whoever controls the guardianship process could influence how the trust is administered.""
Michael nodded.
"Margaret has been managing the trust for years. If she becomes the twins' legal guardian, she could retain substantial influence over their financial interests.""
Tyler stared at the document.
"She wouldn't steal from her own grandchildren.""
Rachel didn't respond.
Instead, she placed another statement on the table.
It showed withdrawals from the family trust.
The first was $120,000.
The second was $280,000.
The third was $450,000.
All had been approved by Margaret.
Tyler's face went pale.
"What are these?""
"Payments to three companies," Rachel explained.
"All registered within the last year.""
"Who owns them?""
Rachel turned the page.
"One is connected to Vanessa Bennett.""
Vanessa, who had been standing silently near the terminal entrance, suddenly stepped backward.
Michael noticed.
"Where do you think you're going?""
She forced a smile.
"I need some air.""
"Stay where you are.""
Vanessa looked at Tyler.
"Tell him to stop.""
Tyler stared at her.
"Did you take money from my father's trust?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa!""
She snapped.
"Your mother paid me!""
The entire group went silent.
Michael slowly turned.
"Paid you for what?""
Vanessa looked as though she'd bitten her tongue.
Then she covered her face.
"Forget it.""
Rachel closed the folder.
"We can't forget it. These transactions are now part of the investigation.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You think you're innocent in all this?""
I frowned.
"What?""
She laughed bitterly.
"Your husband told me everything. He said you married him because of his family's money.""
I stared at Tyler.
He shook his head.
"Emily, I never said that.""
Vanessa continued.
"He said you knew about the eighteen million. He said you were waiting for him to inherit it.""
I felt sick.
"You're lying.""
She shrugged.
"Maybe. But ask your husband why his mother hated you from the beginning.""
Tyler looked down.
I stepped closer.
"Why?""
He took a long breath.
"My father didn't approve of our marriage.""
"That's not an answer.""
He looked at me.
"Before he died, he changed the trust. He made you and our future children protected beneficiaries.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Mom threatened to cut me off.""
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"And what did she want instead?""
Tyler hesitated.
"She wanted me to marry someone else.""
Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
"Someone like me?""
Tyler looked horrified.
"No. You were never supposed to be involved.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"That's funny. Because Margaret told me I would be.""
Rachel quickly wrote something down.
Michael turned toward Vanessa.
"Explain.""
She looked at Tyler.
Then at me.
Finally, she whispered:
"Margaret promised me half the trust if I helped her get rid of the marriage.""
My stomach dropped.
"Get rid of the marriage?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She said Tyler would eventually divorce you. She said the twins would be better off with the Mitchell family.""
Tyler stepped forward.
"You're insane.""
Vanessa laughed through her tears.
"Am I? Then why did your mother send me the medical documents?""
Michael's expression changed.
"What medical documents?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
It was a hospital discharge summary.
Tyler's name was printed across the top.
The date matched the night he'd collapsed aboard the ship.
And underneath the diagnosis was a handwritten note.
*Possible adverse reaction to an unidentified substance. Further toxicology recommended.*
Tyler stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
Vanessa looked at Michael.
"Margaret gave it to me.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Why would she give you his medical records?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Because she needed to know whether the first dose had worked.""
Tyler stumbled backward.
Michael immediately signaled to the officer.
"Secure that document.""
The officer took it carefully.
Then Vanessa said something that made everyone freeze.
"There's another dose.""
Tyler looked at her.
"What?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Margaret told me she was going to give it to you when you got home.""
I clutched Piper and Poppy against my chest.
"Where is it?""
Vanessa looked toward Tyler's luggage.
"In the black suitcase.""
Michael turned sharply.
"Which suitcase?""
"The one he brought off the ship.""
Tyler stared at his luggage.
Then his phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
The sender was Margaret.
Come home alone, Tyler. I have something for you. Don't bring Emily or Michael.
A second message followed.
And don't worry. This time, I'll make sure you finish what we started.
Tyler slowly lifted his eyes.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that the woman he had spent his entire life trusting might be the person most dangerous to him.
But before Michael could respond, the officer's radio crackled.
"Control, we have a situation at the Mitchell residence.""
Everyone turned.
The officer listened for several seconds.
Then his expression darkened.
"What's happening?"" I demanded.
He lowered the radio.
"Your mother-in-law is no longer inside the house.""
I exhaled shakily.
"Where did she go?""
The officer looked at me.
"She left with someone.""
"Who?""
He glanced at the photograph on his screen.
A woman was carrying a baby in a yellow blanket.
Vanessa's baby.
May you like
And beside her stood Margaret Mitchell.
*The woman who had supposedly wanted custody of my daughters was already holding someone else's child.*
