At the time, I’d assumed they were discussing a surprise baby shower.
Now I wasn’t so sure.
I looked at my father.
“Can you get the rest of the footage?”
“Already done.”
He handed me another phone.
“There are six cameras.”
My hands trembled.
I pressed play.
The kitchen appeared.
Roland’s mother sat at the table.
Faye placed papers in front of her.
The man opened his briefcase.
Then Roland entered.
He looked angry.
Faye pointed toward the papers.
He shook his head.
His mother said something.
The audio was faint.
I increased the volume.
Then I heard it.
“Once Simone signs the transfer, everything changes.”
My blood ran cold.
I looked at my father.
“What transfer?”
He didn’t answer.
The video continued.
Roland stood.
“I told you she won’t sign anything.”
His mother leaned toward him.
“She will if you make her believe it’s for Wren.”
Faye said something.
Then the man with the briefcase opened a document.
I couldn’t hear every word.
But one phrase was clear.
“Custodial transfer.”
My breathing stopped.
They weren’t talking about my house.
They were talking about Wren.
I looked at my father.
“Dad…”
He was already reaching for his phone.
“Call Elena.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
I did.
Elena answered immediately.
“Simone?”
“Someone is trying to make me sign a transfer involving Wren.”
Silence.
Then Elena’s voice changed.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I have video.”
“Send it to me.”
I looked at the screen.
“Why would they want custody of my daughter?”
Elena was silent for several seconds.
Then she said something that made every person in the room go still.
“Because if the documents I suspect are real…”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Your husband may not be trying to leave you.”
I swallowed.
“What is he trying to do?”
Elena’s voice was quiet.
“He may be trying to gain control of your family’s trust.”
I stared at Wren.
“And my daughter?”
Elena took a breath.
“Wren may be the key.”
The room became completely silent.
Then my father’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“It’s Roland.”
My father answered.
“Mr. Caldwell.”
Roland’s voice came through the speaker.
“Where is Simone?”
My father didn’t respond.
Roland continued.
“I need to speak to her.”
“You can speak to me.”
“No.”
His voice was suddenly cold.
“I need my wife.”
My father looked at me.
I nodded.
He put the call on speaker.
Roland spoke again.
“Simone, I know about the trust.”
I felt my heart pound.
“What do you know?”
“I know the house belongs to you.”
“And?”
“I know there are accounts.”
“And?”
He hesitated.
Then came the words I would never forget.
“Your mother-in-law knows about them too.”
My eyes narrowed.
“My mother-in-law?”
“She isn’t the one you should be worried about.”
“Then who?”
Roland was silent.
Then he whispered:
“Faye.”
The line went dead.
Everyone in the room stared at me.
I looked down at my sleeping daughter.
And suddenly, the entire marriage I thought I understood began to look like something else.
Something planned.
Something calculated.
Something that may have started long before Wren was born.
And for the first time, I wondered whether Roland’s cruel words at dinner had been spontaneous…
or whether leaving me at home had been part of a plan all along.
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