Chapter 3 - The Trap is Sprung
By noon the following day, news of the scandal had exploded across every major financial and news outlet in the country.
“Tech Mogul Grant Ashford Arrested for Brutal Assault on Pregnant Wife at Baby Shower.” “Ashford MedTech Stock Plummets 40% Following CEO Arrest.” “Leaked Video Shows Wealthy Parents Applauding Domestic Violence.”
Inside room 402 of St. Jude’s Hospital, my father had set up a mobile command center. Laptops, financial ledgers, and secure servers covered the long table beside my bed.
Arthur Bennett sat across from my father, reviewing court motions. “Grant’s legal defense team just filed an emergency motion for bail, claiming he is vital to the operations of Ashford MedTech and that the video footage was illegally obtained without his consent.”
I sat up against my pillows, taking a sip of ice water. “The security system was paid for with my personal funds, registered in my name, and located on property where I was a legal co-owner. The video is 100% admissible.”
“More importantly,” my father added, opening a red folder, “the federal prosecutors have just taken an interest in Grant’s financial activities over the last eighteen months.”
I looked at my father. “The offshore shell accounts?”
“Exactly,” my father nodded. “While Grant was telling you that Ashford MedTech was suffering from supply chain losses, he was systematically embezzling company capital into a Panama-based entity called Sterling Holdings—ironically named after our family to make it look like I was the one withdrawing the funds.”
“How much did he steal?” I asked, my jaw tightening.
“Twelve point four million dollars,” Arthur answered plainly. “He was planning to bleed the company dry, file for bankruptcy, leave you with the corporate debt, and flee to Switzerland with Kelsey as soon as your baby was born.”
Suddenly, the heavy door of my room rattled, and a commotion broke out in the hallway outside.
“You can’t keep me out! I am his mother!” Evelyn Ashford’s voice shrieked through the door. “I have a right to see that ungrateful girl!”
Detective Reed opened the door, stepping back as two hospital security guards escorted Evelyn into the room.
She looked entirely unhinged. Her expensive hair was disheveled, her makeup was smudged, and she was wearing the same clothes she had been arrested in the night before, having been released on temporary signature bond while Grant remained locked in a cell.
“You evil, scheming little monster!” Evelyn spat, glaring at me with raw hatred. “Look at what you’ve done to my family! Grant is sitting in a cold cell with common criminals! The press is swarming our house! Our name is ruined!”
“You ruined your own name, Evelyn,” I replied coldly from my bed. “The moment you clapped while your son punched an eight-month-pregnant woman, you showed the world exactly what kind of monster you are.”
Evelyn rushed toward the edge of my bed, but my father stood up, his tall frame towering over her.
“Step back, Evelyn,” my father warned in a dangerous, quiet tone. “One more step, and I will have the deputies arrest you for witness intimidation.”
Evelyn stopped, her hands trembling with rage. She pulled a folded legal document from her purse and threw it onto my blanket.
“Sign it,” she demanded, her voice cracking. “It’s a joint release form. Drop the criminal charges against Grant and transfer your corporate shares back to the family trust. If you do that, we won't reveal what we know about you.”
I looked at the folded paper, then up at her. “Reveal what?”
Evelyn sneered, regaining a tiny shred of her smug arrogance. “We know you used an anonymous donor for your pregnancy, Clara! We know Grant isn't the biological father! The media will destroy you when they find out you brought a bastard child into the Ashford family line!”
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The sound echoed clearly off the hospital walls.
“Evelyn,” I said, looking her dead in the eye. “Grant signed three legal medical consent forms for the IVF procedure, explicitly acknowledging his sterility and consenting to the donor process under state law. Legally and morally, he is recognized as the legal father with zero biological claim—which means he owes full, mandatory child support, while possessing zero rights to custody due to his felony assault conviction.”
Evelyn’s eyes went wide as the legal reality finally crashed down upon her.
“And as for Kelsey’s baby?” I continued, leaning forward. “Dr. Vance pulled the comparative blood work from Grant’s routine medical file this morning. Kelsey’s baby isn't Grant’s either. The biological father is Grant’s own personal trainer, Marcus.”
May you like
Evelyn’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. She stumbled backward, clutching her throat as if she couldn't catch her breath.
“Get out of my room, Evelyn,” I commanded softly. “And tell Grant that I’ll see him in federal court.”
