Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Uncle Who Wanted My Children
The: The Uncle Who Wanted My Children
The photograph remained on my phone long after the unknown photograph remained on my phone long after the unknown number stopped number stopped messaging.
My uncle Daniel was standing outside my mother's house.
He wasn't hiding.
He wasn't even trying messaging.
My uncle Daniel was standing outside my mother's house.
He wasn't hiding.
He wasn't even trying to look suspicious.
He was smiling to look suspicious.
He was smiling.
The same smile he'd worn at my wedding when he'd raised a glass and told Tyler that.
The same smile he'd worn at my wedding when he'd raised a glass and told Tyler that he was lucky to have found a woman like me.
Now I knew that smile had meant something entirely different.
“Mom, lock the back door,” he was lucky to have found a woman like me.
Now I knew that smile had meant something entirely different.
“Mom, lock the back door,” I whispered.
My mother hurried toward the kitchen.
Rebecca pulled the curtains shut I whispered.
My mother hurried toward the kitchen.
Rebecca pulled the curtains shut.
“Vanessa, listen carefully. We need to leave this house.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knows we're here. And.
“Vanessa, listen carefully. We need to leave this house.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knows we're here. And if he has been monitoring your mother's communications, he may already know what we've found if he has been monitoring your mother's communications, he may already know what we've found.””
I looked toward the bassinet.
“What about the girls?””
“We take.””
I looked toward the bassinet.
“What about the girls?””
“We take them with us.””
My mother returned them with us.””
My mother returned, holding her phone.
“There's a car outside.””
“I, holding her phone.
“There's a car outside.””
“I know.””
“No, Vanessa. There's another one. Around the corner.””
Rebecca looked through know.””
“No, Vanessa. There's another one. Around the corner.””
Rebecca looked through a narrow gap in the a narrow gap in the curtains.
Her expression hardened.
“Two vehicles.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Are curtains.
Her expression hardened.
“Two vehicles.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Are they following us?””
“I don't know. But we're not going to find out by waiting.””
they following us?””
“I don't know. But we're not going to find out by waiting.””
My phone rang.
The callerMy phone rang.
The caller ID showed Tyler.
I rejected it.
It rang again.
Then ID showed Tyler.
I rejected it.
It rang again.
Then a message appeared.
I know you're with Rebecca. Don't trust her.
a message appeared.
I know you're with Rebecca. Don't trust her.
I showed it to Rebecca.
She read it withoutI showed it to Rebecca.
She read it without changing expression.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“Daniel changing expression.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“Daniel and Tyler are communicating.””
My mother looked frightened and Tyler are communicating.””
My mother looked frightened.
“How can you know?””
“Because Tyler has no reason to know.
“How can you know?””
“Because Tyler has no reason to know Rebecca is here unless someone told him.””
Before Rebecca is here unless someone told him.””
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
This time, it was I could respond, another message arrived.
This time, it was from Michael.
*Vanessa, do not leave your mother's house from Michael.
Vanessa, do not leave your mother's house until my driver arrives. Daniel's until my driver arrives. Daniel's associates have been asking questions about your location associates have been asking questions about your location.
I immediately called him.
He.*
I immediately called him.
He answered on the first ring.
“Are you safe?””
“ answered on the first ring.
“Are you safe?””
“I'm not sure. My uncle is outside.””
“II'm not sure. My uncle is outside.””
“I know.””
“How?””
“Daniel called one know.””
“How?””
“Daniel called one of my directors this morning. He wanted to know whether I had seen you.””
“Why would he contact you?””
“Because of my directors this morning. He wanted to know whether I had seen you.””
“Why would he contact you?””
“Because he believes I have the original ownership records.””
I glanced he believes I have the original ownership records.””
I glanced at Rebecca.
“He wants the trust documents.””
Michael paused.
“Then at Rebecca.
“He wants the trust documents.””
Michael paused.
“Then he knows you have the recording.””
“He also threatened he knows you have the recording.””
“He also threatened me.””
His voice became colder.
“Did he threaten the children me.””
His voice became colder.
“Did he threaten the children?””
“Yes.””
“I'm sending security. Don't open?””
“Yes.””
“I'm sending security. Don't open the door for anyone until they arrive.””
I swallowed the door for anyone until they arrive.””
I swallowed.
“Michael, I need to know something.””
“Go.
“Michael, I need to know something.””
“Go ahead.””
“Why are you involved in this so ahead.””
“Why are you involved in this so deeply?””
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
“ deeply?””
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
“Because Daniel approached me sixBecause Daniel approached me six months ago with a proposal to acquire part of Harrington Global months ago with a proposal to acquire part of Harrington Global Holdings. He claimed your father had promised Holdings. He claimed your father had promised him certain ownership rights.””
“And you believed him?””
“No him certain ownership rights.””
“And you believed him?””
“No. But I didn't know he was working. But I didn't know he was working with Sloane and Tyler until recently.””
“What with Sloane and Tyler until recently.””
“What did he want?””
“To use did he want?””
“To use my company as a vehicle to purchase assets my company as a vehicle to purchase assets from your father's trust.””
I closed my eyes.
“So everyone from your father's trust.””
I closed my eyes.
“So everyone was connected.””
“More than you realize.””
A was connected.””
“More than you realize.””
A car door slammed outside.
My mother gasped.
I moved car door slammed outside.
My mother gasped.
I moved toward the window.
Daniel was walking up toward the window.
Daniel was walking up the driveway.
He held a small gift bag in one hand.
A the driveway.
He held a small gift bag in one hand.
A gift bag.
As though he were visiting for Sunday gift bag.
As though he were visiting for Sunday lunch.
The doorbell rang.
Then lunch.
The doorbell rang.
Then came his familiar voice.
“Marg came his familiar voice.
“Margaret? It's Daniel. Open up.””
My mother lookedaret? It's Daniel. Open up.””
My mother looked at me.
I shook my head.
Daniel rang at me.
I shook my head.
Daniel rang again.
“Vanessa? I know you're inside.””
again.
“Vanessa? I know you're inside.””
Rebecca whispered, “Don't answer.””
Rebecca whispered, “Don't answer.””
But Daniel wasn't finished.
“IBut Daniel wasn't finished.
“I brought something for the girls.””
He brought something for the girls.””
He lifted the gift bag toward the glass panel lifted the gift bag toward the glass panel.
“Little presents. I thought they might.
“Little presents. I thought they might like them.””
My stomach turned.
Then his voice changed like them.””
My stomach turned.
Then his voice changed.
“Vanessa, we need to talk about your father's company.””
.
“Vanessa, we need to talk about your father's company.””
I stepped toward the door.
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
“Don't.””
I stepped toward the door.
Rebecca grabbed my arm.
“Don't.””
Daniel knocked.
“Your father madeDaniel knocked.
“Your father made some terrible decisions. I'm trying to protect some terrible decisions. I'm trying to protect what's left of his legacy.””
I stared at the what's left of his legacy.””
I stared at the door.
“You're not welcome here,” I called door.
“You're not welcome here,” I called.
Silence.
Then a quiet laugh.
“That's a.
Silence.
Then a quiet laugh.
“That's a shame.””
He leaned closer shame.””
He leaned closer to the glass.
“Because I think you'll to the glass.
“Because I think you'll want to hear what I have to say about want to hear what I have to say about Tyler.””
My mother covered Tyler.””
My mother covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“Your husband has been lying to you, her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“Your husband has been lying to you, sweetheart. But so has Rebecca sweetheart. But so has Rebecca.””
Rebecca's face tightened.
I turned.””
Rebecca's face tightened.
I turned toward her.
“What does he mean?””
“Nothing,” she whispered.
Daniel heard toward her.
“What does he mean?””
“Nothing,” she whispered.
Daniel heard us.
“Ask her what happened to the original shares us.
“Ask her what happened to the original shares. Ask her why your father removed her name. Ask her why your father removed her name from the company records.””
Rebecca looked away from the company records.””
Rebecca looked away.
I stepped back from.
I stepped back from the door.
“Rebecca?””
Before the door.
“Rebecca?””
Before she could answer, headlights swept across the front she could answer, headlights swept across the front windows.
A black vehicle pulled into the driveway.
Two security officers stepped out windows.
A black vehicle pulled into the driveway.
Two security officers stepped out.
Daniel looked toward them.
His smile disappeared.
Daniel looked toward them.
His smile disappeared.
He dropped the gift bag onto the porch.
Then he turned and walked away without another word.
I watched him get into the dark.
He dropped the gift bag onto the porch.
Then he turned and walked away without another word.
I watched him get into the dark sedan.
As it pulled away, my phone rang again.
Michael.
“Security is there?””
“Yes.””
“Good. sedan.
As it pulled away, my phone rang again.
Michael.
“Security is there?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Now I need you to come to my office.””
“Why?””
“Because I have the Now I need you to come to my office.””
“Why?””
“Because I have the original shareholder register.””
I glanced original shareholder register.””
I glanced at Rebecca.
“And?””
“And Vanessa, there's a name in that register that you need to at Rebecca.
“And?””
“And Vanessa, there's a name in that register that you need to see.””
“Whose?””
Michael's answer made my blood run cold.
“Your husband, Tyler Reed.””
Michael see.””
“Whose?””
Michael's answer made my blood run cold.
“Your husband, Tyler Reed.””
Michael's office occupied the top floor of a glass building overlooking the harbor.
By the time we arrived, the twins were sleeping's office occupied the top floor of a glass building overlooking the harbor.
By the time we arrived, the twins were sleeping in their carriers, my mother was in their carriers, my mother was exhausted, and Rebecca hadn't spoken more than a dozen exhausted, and Rebecca hadn't spoken more than a dozen words.
Michael met us in the private reception words.
Michael met us in the private reception area.
He looked tired.
His suit was immaculate, but his eyes area.
He looked tired.
His suit was immaculate, but his eyes were red.
“Vanessa.””
He were red.
“Vanessa.””
He greeted me gently.
Then he looked at the babies.
“May greeted me gently.
Then he looked at the babies.
“May I?””
I nodded.
He leaned down and smiled I?””
I nodded.
He leaned down and smiled at Piper.
For a moment, he looked like a completely different man.
Then at Piper.
For a moment, he looked like a completely different man.
Then he straightened.
“Come with me.””
Inside he straightened.
“Come with me.””
Inside his office, a large conference table was his office, a large conference table was covered with documents.
Michael opened a locked cabinet and removed a thick covered with documents.
Michael opened a locked cabinet and removed a thick leather-bound register.
“This is the original shareholder record from leather-bound register.
“This is the original shareholder record from the year your father established Reed Meridian Holdings.””
He placed it in front of me.
I turned the pages.
My the year your father established Reed Meridian Holdings.””
He placed it in front of me.
I turned the pages.
My father's name appeared first.
Then Daniel's.
Then several father's name appeared first.
Then Daniel's.
Then several early investors.
But near the bottom of the page was early investors.
But near the bottom of the page was an entry dated six months before my father an entry dated six months before my father died.
**Proposed transfer of voting shares: died.
*Proposed transfer of voting shares: Daniel Reed to Tyler Reed.*
I looked Daniel Reed to Tyler Reed.**
I looked up.
“Why is Tyler's name here?””
Michael folded up.
“Why is Tyler's name here?””
Michael folded his arms.
“Because Daniel attempted to transfer shares to him.””
“But could he his arms.
“Because Daniel attempted to transfer shares to him.””
“But could he?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel never owned those shares.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She finally spoke.
“Your father allowed Daniel to manageBecause Daniel never owned those shares.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She finally spoke.
“Your father allowed Daniel to manage certain assets. He never gave certain assets. He never gave him ownership.””
“Then why was his name on the original register?””
“Because he was an executive director, not a shareholder.””
I looked at the transfer him ownership.””
“Then why was his name on the original register?””
“Because he was an executive director, not a shareholder.””
I looked at the transfer entry again.
“Did Dad reject entry again.
“Did Dad reject it?””
Rebecca nodded.
“He discovered it shortly before his it?””
Rebecca nodded.
“He discovered it shortly before his death.””
Michael placed another document beside the register.
It was a letter death.””
Michael placed another document beside the register.
It was a letter signed by my father.
*Any attempted transfer of company voting rights by Daniel Reed without written authorization from the controlling beneficiary signed by my father.
Any attempted transfer of company voting rights by Daniel Reed without written authorization from the controlling beneficiary shall be considered void.
I read the shall be considered void.*
I read the sentence twice.
“That's why Daniel needs sentence twice.
“That's why Daniel needs the original records.””
Michael nodded.
“And why Tyler was willing to marry you.””
The room fell silent.
the original records.””
Michael nodded.
“And why Tyler was willing to marry you.””
The room fell silent.
Then my mother spoke.
“What about Sloane?””
Michael'sThen my mother spoke.
“What about Sloane?””
Michael's jaw tightened.
“She helped Daniel obtain access to my company's financial systems.””
“Your own wife jaw tightened.
“She helped Daniel obtain access to my company's financial systems.””
“Your own wife?””
“Yes.””
He looked down.
“She believed Daniel would reward her with a controlling interest in one of his proposed?””
“Yes.””
He looked down.
“She believed Daniel would reward her with a controlling interest in one of his proposed acquisitions.””
I stared at him.
“And Tyler?””
“Tyler was acquisitions.””
I stared at him.
“And Tyler?””
“Tyler was supposed to secure your signature, supposed to secure your signature, transfer the assets, and provide Daniel with a legitimate-looking transfer the assets, and provide Daniel with a legitimate-looking ownership chain.””
My hands trembled.
“And the money?””
“Part of it went to ownership chain.””
My hands trembled.
“And the money?””
“Part of it went to Tyler. Part went to Sloane. The Tyler.
Part went to Sloane. The rest was routed through companies controlled by Daniel.””
Rebecca rest was routed through companies controlled by Daniel.””
Rebecca suddenly leaned forward.
“Michael, there's something you haven't told her.””
He looked at her.
She turned suddenly leaned forward.
“Michael, there's something you haven't told her.””
He looked at her.
She turned toward me.
“Your father discovered that Tyler had been paid toward me.
“Your father discovered that Tyler had been paid before he even met you.””
I felt the room before he even met you.””
I felt the room spin.
“How much?””
Rebecca opened her spin.
“How much?””
Rebecca opened her handbag.
“Twenty thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
She placed an old bank transfer handbag.
“Twenty thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
She placed an old bank transfer record on the table.
“Because Daniel wanted Tyler record on the table.
“Because Daniel wanted Tyler to approach you at the charity fundraiser.””
My throat tightened.
The man I had loved had been to approach you at the charity fundraiser.””
My throat tightened.
The man I had loved had been selected.
Purchased.
Positioned.
And I had mistaken the selected.
Purchased.
Positioned.
And I had mistaken the whole thing for fate.
Michael closed the whole thing for fate.
Michael closed the register.
“There's one more problem.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Daniel has filed an emergency petition claiming register.
“There's one more problem.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Daniel has filed an emergency petition claiming that your father transferred his controlling shares that your father transferred his controlling shares to him before he died.””
“That isn't true.””
“No. But to him before he died.””
“That isn't true.””
“No. But if he can produce what appears if he can produce what appears to be an original signed agreement, it could create a legal dispute to be an original signed agreement, it could create a legal dispute.””
Rebecca's face went pale.
“That's impossible.””
Michael turned toward her.
“Why.””
Rebecca's face went pale.
“That's impossible.””
Michael turned toward her.
“Why?””
She looked at me.
Then she said something I wasn't prepared to hear.
“Because I destroyed?””
She looked at me.
Then she said something I wasn't prepared to hear.
“Because I destroyed the original document six years ago.””
My heart stopped.
“What document?””
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“The the original document six years ago.””
My heart stopped.
“What document?””
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“The document Daniel is now claiming exists.””
And suddenly I understood.
Someone document Daniel is now claiming exists.””
And suddenly I understood.
Someone had to explain why a destroyed document had apparently reappeared.
Someone had to explain how Daniel had to explain why a destroyed document had apparently reappeared.
Someone had to explain how Daniel had obtained my father's signature.
And someone had to explain why Rebecca had kept this secret for had obtained my father's signature.
And someone had to explain why Rebecca had kept this secret for six years.
But before I could ask, Michael's assistant entered the room.
“Mr. six years.
But before I could ask, Michael's assistant entered the room.
“Mr. Harrington, I'm sorry to interrupt.””
“What is it?””
She handed him a tablet.
“There's Harrington, I'm sorry to interrupt.””
“What is it?””
She handed him a tablet.
“There's been a development in the court filing.””
Michael read the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”” I asked.
He been a development in the court filing.””
Michael read the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”” I asked.
He turned the tablet toward me.
Daniel had submitted turned the tablet toward me.
Daniel had submitted an emergency application.
And attached to it was a document bearing an emergency application.
And attached to it was a document bearing my father's signature.
But the signature wasn't the part that made me gasp.
At the bottom of my father's signature.
But the signature wasn't the part that made me gasp.
At the bottom of the page was a witness's name.
*Margaret Reed.*
My mother's.
the page was a witness's name.
May you like
*Margaret Reed.*
My mother's.
