Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO THOUGHT I WAS WEAK
My father left the hospital furious.
Within twenty-four hours, he filed a petition challenging the transfer of the house.
His attorney claimed Daniel had added me to the deed under "undue influence."
Margaret laughed when she read it.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was absurd.
"Daniel added you to the deed two years ago."
"Yes."
"Before the accident."
"Yes."
"Before your father knew about his health insurance."
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Then he's in trouble."
The hearing was scheduled for the following month.
But Richard didn't wait.
He started calling Daniel's business partners.
He told them I was unstable.
He told them I was pregnant and emotionally incapable of running a company.
He told them Daniel had intended to leave everything to him.
Some believed him.
Most didn't.
One man did.
Victor Kane.
The company's chief financial officer.
Victor had worked with Daniel for eight years.
He requested a private meeting.
I agreed.
He arrived with a folder.
"I don't know what your father is doing."
"Neither do I."
Victor looked uncomfortable.
"Daniel once told me something."
"What?"
"If anything happened to him, I should listen to you."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because he trusted you."
I almost smiled.
"That's funny."
"What?"
"My father thinks I'm incapable of running the company."
Victor leaned forward.
"Your father doesn't understand the company."
"You do?"
"I understand the numbers."
That caught my attention.
"Then tell me."
Victor opened the folder.
"There are irregularities."
"What kind?"
"Transfers."
"From where?"
"Company accounts."
"To whom?"
He hesitated.
"Entities connected to your father."
My stomach tightened.
"How much?"
"Almost four million."
"Four million?"
"Over the past eighteen months."
I stared at the paperwork.
"Why didn't Daniel tell me?"
"He was investigating."
I looked up.
"Investigating my father?"
Victor nodded.
"He suspected Richard was using company contracts to move money."
I felt sick.
"My father stole from Daniel?"
"We don't know the full amount."
"Then find out."
Victor looked at me.
"You really want to do this?"
I touched my stomach.
"Yes."
"You're eight months pregnant."
"I know."
"You're grieving."
"I know."
"And you're about to take over a seventy-million-dollar company."
I looked at him.
"My husband left me a job."
Victor smiled.
"No."
He closed the folder.
"He left you an empire."
That night, I went home.
The house looked different.
Not because the furniture had changed.
Because I had.
Daniel's shoes still stood beside the door.
His coffee mug was still in the cabinet.
His jacket hung on the chair.
I walked into the nursery.
The crib was unfinished.
Daniel had promised to finish it the weekend after his accident.
I sat beside it.
Then I heard a noise downstairs.
I froze.
Someone was inside.
I reached for my phone.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
I called security.
Footsteps moved across the hardwood.
Then a voice.
"Emily?"
My father.
I walked downstairs.
He stood in the living room.
"You can't keep doing this."
I stared at him.
"You broke into my house."
"I still have the key."
"Not anymore."
I held up my phone.
"I changed the locks."
He laughed.
"You think this is a game?"
"No."
"You don't understand business."
"I understand enough."
He stepped closer.
"Your husband is dead."
I flinched.
He continued.
"You're pregnant. You're emotional. You're alone."
I stared at him.
"I'm not alone."
He scoffed.
"Who do you have?"
I touched my stomach.
"My daughter."
"She's not here yet."
"She's still mine."
He shook his head.
"You need someone to manage things."
"I don't need you."
His face hardened.
"You'll regret this."
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
"Oh, Emily?"
I looked up.
"Kelsey is pregnant."
I froze.
My father's smile returned.
"She'll give me an heir."
Then he left.
I stood in the silent living room.
My father wasn't merely trying to take my money.
He was trying to replace me.
And for the first time, I understood the real reason Kelsey had been laughing on the porch.
May you like
She didn't see me as a widow.
She saw me as an obstacle.
