Chapter 4: What the Lawyer Already Knew
Daniel was still on Emma's phone when Margaret walked into the study and closed the door behind her.
Emma stood in the hallway.
She could hear two conversations happening at once — Daniel's voice through the study wall, and Margaret's, lower, from somewhere behind the closed door.
Two calls.
Two directions.
She went back to the kitchen.
Olivia had put her shoe back on.
She was sitting straight now, backpack on her lap.
"I want to go," Olivia said.
"I don't want to be late."
"You won't be late."
"The other kids will already be there."
"I know." Emma crouched in front of her.
"Five more minutes.
Then we go.
I promise."
Olivia nodded once, very seriously, the way she did when she was working hard not to cry.
The study door opened.
Daniel came out.
He handed Emma her phone without speaking and walked past her to the kitchen sink.
He turned on the tap and stood there with his hands under the water.
Emma followed him.
"What did he say?"
"The competency challenge is real.
She's already spoken to Dr.
Harwell."
"Who is Dr.
Harwell?"
"A psychiatrist.
He's testified in three estate cases in this county.
Always for the same side." He turned off the tap.
"Always for whoever hired him first."
"Can he be countered?"
"With another assessment, yes.
But it takes time.
And while the challenge is pending, any transfer I made could be frozen." He dried his hands.
He didn't look at Olivia.
"Including the school placement."
Emma kept her voice level.
"How long would a freeze last?"
"Weeks.
Possibly months."
"And the mansion?
The shares?"
"Everything.
Until the court rules."
Olivia slid off her chair.
"Mama.
You said five minutes."
Emma looked at her.
Then at Daniel.
"Is your lawyer filing a response today?"
"He's drafting it now.
But Emma—" He stopped.
"Say it."
"He also told me something else." Daniel set the folded towel on the counter.
He still wasn't looking at Olivia.
"About the original transfers.
There's a clause I didn't know was in the documents.
A reversionary clause.
If Olivia's parentage is ever successfully disputed — legally disputed — the transfers revert."
The kitchen was very quiet.
"Her parentage," Emma said.
"Yes."
"You are her father.
You signed the documents.
You told your mother yourself this morning."
"I know what I told her."
"Then what is there to dispute?"
He finally looked at Olivia.
She was standing by the door with her backpack, watching him with her mother's eyes and his mouth and a patience that belonged to neither of them.
"A DNA challenge," he said.
"Filed through the court.
It would run alongside the competency challenge.
Both at once."
Emma understood then.
Not one attack.
Two.
Simultaneous.
Designed to stall everything long enough for Margaret to move the assets herself.
"She planned this," Emma said.
"Before this morning.
Before the folder.
She already had this ready."
"I think so."
"How long?"
"I don't know."
"Daniel." She stepped closer.
"How long has she known about the documents?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"Three weeks.
My lawyer — he has a junior associate.
Young.
She called the office to confirm a filing date and left a message with the wrong person."
"She has someone inside your lawyer's office."
He nodded.
Emma picked up her car keys from the counter.
"We are taking Olivia to school," she said.
"Right now.
Today.
Because if we don't take her today, Margaret wins the first round before the court even opens.
And I am not giving her that."
"Emma—"
"Get your jacket."
He got his jacket.
They walked out through the side door.
The SUV was still in the driveway.
Margaret's car was parked behind it, blocking them in.
Emma looked at the blocked driveway.
Then at Daniel.
He took out his phone and called the gate.
"Open the south entrance.
We're taking the other car."
They walked to the garage.
Emma buckled Olivia in.
Daniel started the engine.
As they pulled out, Emma looked back at the house.
Margaret was standing at the upstairs window.
Watching them go.
May you like
She wasn't on her phone anymore.
She was writing something down.
