Chapter 5 - THE AUCTION THAT NEVER EXISTEDBy morning, Evelyn’s son was breathing without assistance.
That should have been enough to make the day feel hopeful.
Instead, Evelyn watched two security guards take positions outside the NICU.
Victor had arranged them.
Samuel had petitioned the court to prevent Garrett from exercising any authority over Evelyn’s trust.
Garrett responded within hours.
He filed for emergency guardianship.
Not just over the twins.
Over Evelyn.
Samuel read the filing beside her bed.
“He claims you are suffering a severe postpartum psychiatric episode.”
Evelyn laughed.
“I gave birth yesterday.”
“He included records predating the delivery.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What records?”
Samuel turned the pages.
Dr. Laura Bennett.
Evelyn’s psychiatrist.
For nearly a year, Evelyn had spoken to Laura about anxiety, insomnia, and fears surrounding childbirth.
Now the notes looked different.
Patient reports increasing suspicion toward husband.
Patient exhibits emotional volatility.
Patient fears unnamed people may harm children.
“That’s not what I said.”
Samuel nodded.
“I believe you.”
“I said Eleanor hated me.”
“That appears as ‘persecutory concerns regarding family members.’”
Evelyn felt sick.
She remembered Garrett encouraging therapy.
You’ve been stressed, Evie.
It’ll help.
Talk to Laura.
Tell her everything.
A trap disguised as concern.
Samuel continued.
“Garrett wants an independent evaluation.”
“Independent?”
Victor snorted.
“Nothing about Garrett is independent.”
Evelyn looked toward him.
“Where did Garrett actually go yesterday?”
Victor had been investigating.
He placed photographs on the bed.
Garrett.
Eleanor.
Martin Keene.
Entering First Commonwealth Bank at 9:14 a.m.
“The auction was a lie,” Victor said.
“They went to a bank.”
“Private vault facility.”
“What’s inside?”
Samuel answered.
“Possibly the secondary Mercer trust documents.”
Evelyn stared.
“My father put documents in a Blackwood-accessible bank?”
“He didn’t.”
Samuel pointed to Martin.
“Martin did.”
The betrayal hurt strangely.
Martin had been at her tenth birthday party.
He had attended Thanksgiving.
He hugged her at her father’s memorial.
“He knew about the trust?”
Samuel nodded.
“Enough of it.”
“What were they trying to get?”
“Something called the Mercer Archive.”
Victor’s expression changed.
Evelyn noticed.
“What is that?”
Samuel looked at Victor.
“You know more.”
Victor sighed.
“Your father collected evidence against Richard.”
“Financial crimes?”
“Among other things.”
“What other things?”
“Bribery. Money laundering. Political payoffs. Corporate blackmail.”
Evelyn stared.
“My father had evidence?”
“A lot.”
“And it’s in the bank?”
“We don’t know.”
“Garrett thinks it is.”
Samuel nodded.
Evelyn looked at Victor.
“Why would they leave me in labor to get documents?”
“Because your children’s birth activated the trust.”
“But the babies weren’t born yet.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“They expected them to be.”
A cold silence filled the room.
Evelyn slowly understood.
“They knew I was in labor.”
“Yes.”
“Eleanor knew.”
Victor said nothing.
“She checked her watch.”
The memory returned.
Eleanor standing over her.
Not surprised.
Not concerned.
Watching the time.
Evelyn whispered:
“They wanted me to deliver while they were gone.”
Samuel’s face tightened.
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
Victor answered.
“If Garrett already had documents establishing you as unstable, the period immediately after birth was their best opportunity.”
“Take the trust while I’m recovering.”
“Yes.”
“And if something happened to me?”
Nobody answered.
Evelyn looked toward the nursery.
“If I died, who inherits?”
Samuel spoke carefully.
“The twins.”
“And who controls assets for minor children?”
“Normally, a guardian or trustee.”
“My husband.”
“He could petition.”
Evelyn’s stomach turned.
Garrett didn’t need her.
He needed the babies.
Her phone rang.
Garrett.
Victor shook his head.
Evelyn answered anyway.
“What?”
Garrett’s voice was calm.
“We need to talk without Victor.”
“No.”
“You don’t know who he is.”
“I’m learning.”
“He’s using you.”
“So are you.”
Silence.
Then Garrett said:
“I didn’t know your labor was real.”
“You locked the door.”
“I made a mistake.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I was trying to ensure doctors didn’t make reckless decisions.”
“Stop lying.”
Garrett’s voice changed.
“Fine.”
The warmth disappeared.
“The people behind your father’s trust are dangerous.”
“My father?”
“Not your father. The people he stole from.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Mercer Archive contains information worth killing for.”
Victor moved closer.
Evelyn put the call on speaker.
Garrett heard.
“Victor,” he said.
“Garrett.”
“Still pretending you’re protecting her?”
Victor’s expression remained still.
Garrett continued.
“Tell Evelyn why Charles Mercer was collecting those files.”
Victor said nothing.
“Tell her he wasn’t trying to expose criminals.”
Evelyn looked at him.
Garrett laughed softly.
“He was blackmailing them.”
The line went dead.
Evelyn stared at Victor.
“That’s not true.”
May you like
Victor didn’t answer.
And Evelyn’s confidence disappeared.
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