Chapter 8 - The Family Ambush
By dawn, the company bank had frozen the wire.
Peter was not answering calls.
Margaret had stopped responding to Detective Ruiz.
Daniel changed every password he could think of and hired a forensic accountant recommended by the company’s attorney.
Emily wanted sleep.
Instead, her phone filled with messages from relatives.
Aunt Carol: I can’t believe you hit Margaret.
Cousin Jill: Whatever happened, she is still Daniel’s mother.
Uncle Ray: This family needs privacy, not police.
Emily showed Daniel.
His jaw clenched.
“She’s telling everyone.”
“She’s telling them her version.”
Daniel took Emily’s phone and typed one sentence into the family group chat.
Emily is recovering from an assault. Do not contact her about my mother again.
Then he muted the conversation.
At noon, someone pounded on the front door.
Daniel checked the camera.
Margaret stood on the porch with Aunt Carol, Uncle Ray, two cousins, and the family pastor.
Emily stared at the screen.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Daniel opened the door but kept the security chain latched.
“Leave.”
Margaret began crying instantly.
“My own son won’t even let me inside.”
Aunt Carol shook her head. “Daniel, this has gone too far.”
“No, it went too far when my pregnant wife was hit.”
Margaret held up her bruised cheek.
“She struck me.”
“After you slammed her head into a table.”
Gasps sounded behind Margaret.
She looked furious for half a second, then wounded again.
“That is her story.”
“No,” Daniel said. “It’s on audio.”
The porch went silent.
Margaret’s eyes flickered.
Emily stepped into view behind Daniel.
Margaret’s expression sharpened.
“There she is. The woman who destroyed my son.”
Emily did not answer.
Margaret pointed at her. “Ask her why she has access to company money. Ask her why Daniel changed his father’s trust. Ask her what she plans to take when that baby is born.”
Daniel opened the door wider.
“Stop using my child as an excuse for what you did.”
Margaret looked at him with sudden calm.
“You still don’t understand, do you?”
She reached into her purse and held up a folded document.
“You signed this.”
Daniel frowned.
“What is it?”
“A power of attorney.”
His face changed.
May you like
Margaret smiled.
“You gave me authority over the company yourself.”
