Chapter 2: What They Were Planning
Emma played the video three times.
Her mother's voice was calm.
Casual.
Like she was discussing a grocery list.
"Once Emma signs those papers, Ruby won't be a problem anymore."
Then her father's voice.
"She'll sign.
She always does what we ask in the end."
Laughter.
Actual laughter.
Emma set the phone face-down on the hospital blanket.
Ruby was sleeping six inches away.
Her daughter's cheek was still swollen.
A bruise had darkened along her jaw since they arrived.
Emma stood up and walked to the window so Ruby wouldn't hear what came next.
She called Mark.
He picked up on the first ring.
"What papers?" she said.
Silence.
"Mark."
"Emma, I didn't know how far it had gone.
I swear."
"What.
Papers."
He exhaled.
"Your father had a document drawn up.
Something about Ruby's guardianship.
Diane told Vanessa that if you signed it, they could step in legally whenever they wanted.
Take Ruby for extended periods.
Make decisions without you."
Emma's hand tightened on the phone.
"They were going to tell you it was just a formality," Mark said.
"A family arrangement.
They planned to present it at dinner.
Tonight."
"Before Ruby touched the cake."
"Yes."
Emma looked back at her daughter.
"They needed me agreeable," she said quietly.
Mark didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
Then Emma heard something that stopped her cold.
A voice in the background of Mark's call.
Her father's voice.
"Tell her to think carefully before she does anything she can't undo."
Mark hadn't hung up in time.
---
What Richard said next is the part no one expected.
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