Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Knew Too MuchThe photographs were only the beginning.
Margaret spent the next forty-eight hours investigating Russell's financial activities.
Every hour brought another discovery.
He had opened accounts I didn't know existed.
He had transferred money through shell companies.
He had purchased jewelry for Tessa.
He had even signed a lease on a luxury apartment under a corporate entity.
But there was something worse.
He had been planning to divorce me for nearly a year.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Emails.
Private messages.
Legal drafts.
Bank transfers.
And then Margaret found something that made her go silent.
"What?"
She turned her laptop toward me.
It was an email from Russell to his attorney.
Once Callie signs, I want full control of the company.
I read the next line.
She won't fight. She has nobody.
My chest tightened.
Then I saw another message.
The babies will make her even easier to control.
I felt sick.
He had planned to use our children against me.
I looked at Colonel Whitaker.
"I want him stopped."
"He will be."
That afternoon, Russell arrived again.
This time alone.
He stood outside the NICU room.
"Callie."
I didn't answer.
He stepped inside.
"I want to talk."
"No."
His face hardened.
"You don't understand what's happening."
"I understand perfectly."
He glanced toward the incubators.
"Our children need both parents."
"You should have remembered that before bringing divorce papers."
He flinched.
"I made a mistake."
I almost laughed.
"You made a plan."
He looked down.
"Callie, Tessa means nothing."
I stared at him.
"Then why was she wearing my coat?"
He had no answer.
I continued.
"Why did you move money into accounts she controls?"
Silence.
"Why did you tell your attorney my babies would make me easier to control?"
His face drained of color.
"I never meant for you to see that."
"That's your defense?"
He moved closer.
"I was angry."
"You were calculating."
His eyes became desperate.
"I still love you."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You love the woman you thought I was."
He stared at me.
Then the NICU monitor beside Jonah suddenly began beeping faster.
My entire body froze.
A nurse rushed in.
"His oxygen is dropping."
I stood too quickly and nearly collapsed.
Colonel Whitaker caught my shoulder.
The nurses surrounded my son.
"Callie, please step back."
I watched helplessly as they adjusted his breathing support.
Russell stood frozen near the door.
For once, he looked frightened.
"Is he going to be okay?"
The nurse didn't answer.
Minutes passed.
Then the monitor stabilized.
Jonah's oxygen level began climbing.
I cried silently.
Russell wiped his face.
"Callie..."
I turned toward him.
"Leave."
He hesitated.
"But—"
"Leave."
This time he obeyed.
Later that evening, Tessa called me.
I almost didn't answer.
But curiosity won.
"Why are you calling?"
Her voice sounded different.
"I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"Russell isn't who you think he is."
I almost laughed.
"I know."
"No."
She whispered.
"You don't."
I sat up.
"What are you talking about?"
"I found documents."
"What documents?"
"About your father."
My blood ran cold.
"How do you know about my father?"
Silence.
Then she said something that made my heart stop.
"Because Russell wasn't the first man your father warned me about."
I couldn't breathe.
"What?"
She hung up.
I immediately called Colonel Whitaker.
He answered.
"Callie?"
"Tessa knows about my father."
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"Don't contact her again."
"Why?"
"Because there's something your father never told you."
"What?"
The colonel exhaled.
"Russell wasn't the person your father feared most."
I stared at the dark hospital window.
"Then who was?"
Before he could answer, the NICU doors opened.
A nurse stood there.
"Mrs. Harlan?"
"Yes?"
"There's a man asking for you."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
"He says his name is Daniel Whitaker."
Colonel Whitaker went completely still.
May you like
"Daniel?"
The color drained from his face.
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