Chapter 14: My Husband's Mother Took the Stand
The boardroom doors opened at 9:28 p.m.
Twenty-two directors sat around the enormous mahogany table.
At the far end stood Richard Hayes.
Beside him was Dr. Helen Caldwell.
She wore a cream-colored suit and a pearl necklace.
Her expression was composed, almost sympathetic.
Ethan sat in the second row.
He looked exhausted.
When he saw me, he stood.
“Evelyn.””
I walked past him.
“Don't.””
Marcus followed me into the room with two corporate attorneys.
Alexander and Vanessa entered behind us.
Richard smiled.
“Wonderful. The entire family has arrived.””
I took my seat.
“Let's get this over with.””
Richard lifted a document.
“Before we begin, I would like the board to understand the seriousness of this situation.””
He turned toward the directors.
“Mrs. Caldwell has concealed significant information regarding the ownership structure of this company. More importantly, recent medical and genetic findings raise questions about the legitimacy of her unborn child's claim to the Hayes family trust.””
One director frowned.
“Are you questioning the chairwoman's pregnancy?””
Helen stepped forward.
“I'm afraid the situation is more complicated than that.””
I looked at her.
“Dr. Caldwell, you accessed my private medical records without authorization.””
She adjusted her necklace.
“As a physician and future grandmother, I was concerned.””
“You are not my physician.””
“Nevertheless, I had a responsibility to protect my son's interests.””
I almost laughed.
“Your son?””
Helen placed a laboratory report on the table.
“According to this document, Ethan may not be the biological father of Evelyn's child.””
Ethan stood.
“Mother, stop.””
Helen turned sharply.
“Sit down, Ethan.””
He didn't.
“Tell them the truth.””
Richard slammed his palm against the table.
“This is not a family argument!””
“No,” Ethan replied.
“It's a fraud.””
Every director turned toward him.
He walked to the center of the room.
“I authorized the transfers to Vanessa's company. I helped Richard prepare the ownership documents. I knew the DNA report was being manipulated.””
Helen's face went pale.
“Ethan, you're confused.””
“I'm not confused anymore.””
He turned toward me.
“I lied to you. I cheated on you. I helped them steal your company.
I deserve whatever happens to me. But I won't let them use our daughter to finish what they started.””
I stared at him.
It was the first time he had publicly called her our daughter without using her as an excuse.
But an apology didn't erase what he had done.
Richard laughed.
“How touching. The disgraced husband suddenly discovers his conscience.””
Ethan ignored him.
“Show them the original report.””
Vanessa stepped forward and connected her laptop to the presentation screen.
The laboratory document appeared.
Then she displayed the original laboratory correspondence.
A technician had written:
The genetic markers confirm a biological relationship consistent with a close maternal-family connection. The results do not establish paternity.
Helen immediately stood.
“That document is incomplete!””
Marcus placed another folder on the table.
“Actually, Dr. Caldwell, we've obtained the laboratory's complete chain-of-custody records.””
He opened it.
“The sample submitted under Mrs. Caldwell's name was not collected under independent medical supervision. The laboratory has confirmed that the report was altered before being presented to the family.””
Richard's expression darkened.
“Where did you get those records?””
“From the laboratory's legal department.””
Marcus continued.
“We've also identified the person who requested the alteration.””
He turned toward Helen.
Her hands began trembling.
I stood.
“Did you alter my medical records?””
Helen looked at Richard.
He gave her a warning glance.
Then she spoke.
“I was protecting my son.””
Ethan shook his head.
“You were protecting Richard.””
Helen's face crumpled.
“Your father promised me everything would be taken care of.””
I froze.
“Your father?””
She realized her mistake.
Richard immediately stood.
“Mother, stop talking!””
But Helen was crying now.
“Victor promised that nobody would question the family arrangement. He said the company would remain protected.””
Alexander stepped forward.
“Victor is not your husband.””
Helen looked at him.
“No. But he is your biological father.””
The room exploded with whispers.
Alexander stood motionless.
“What?””
Helen covered her mouth.
I looked between them.
“Are you saying Victor Sterling is Alexander's father?””
Helen nodded.
“Your mother was married to your father when she discovered she was pregnant. But Victor had been involved with her before the marriage. The family concealed the truth because your father agreed to raise both children.””
Alexander looked devastated.
“My father raised me?””
Helen shook her head.
“Your biological father is Victor.””
Alexander's voice trembled.
“Then why did he abandon me?””
Richard interrupted.
“Because none of this matters! We have a company to protect!””
I turned toward him.
“Actually, it matters very much.””
Marcus opened the final document.
“Madam Chairwoman, we have also verified the original succession amendment.””
He placed it in front of me.
The document showed that my mother had designated me as the primary controlling beneficiary.
The remaining twenty-six percent was held under a separate protective arrangement.
And the person authorized to activate it was not Richard.
It was my daughter.
I looked at the board.
“Then the company remains under the protection of the Hayes trust.””
Richard laughed.
“Not if you lose control tonight.””
He raised another document.
My mother's alleged final will.
The paper named Richard as the sole successor to the entire trust.
But when Marcus examined it, he smiled faintly.
“Mr. Hayes, there's a problem.””
“What?””
“This document was signed two years after your mother's death.””
The room fell silent.
Richard's face turned white.
Marcus placed the document under the overhead camera.
“The notary seal belongs to a company that wasn't registered until last year.””
Richard stepped backward.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Two police officers entered.
“Richard Hayes, we need you to come with us.””
Richard stared at me.
“You think this is over?””
One officer took his arm.
“You have the right to remain silent.””
As they led him away, he twisted around.
“Evelyn! Ask Marcus about your mother's final instruction! Ask him what happens when the baby is born!””
I looked at Marcus.
May you like
His expression had changed.
Because apparently, even after everything we had uncovered, there was still one final document nobody had shown me.
