"What?"
"Don't waste energy trying to understand what kind of man does that."
Rebecca continued.
"The account was not frozen."
"Why?"
"Because Ethan doesn't control it."
Of course.
The household account received distributions from my trust.
Ethan had user access.
Not ownership.
Not authority.
I almost laughed.
"He really doesn't know anything."
"No," Rebecca said.
"And that has become useful."
The next morning, Ethan learned just how useful.
At 8:12, Mercer Holdings suspended him from all executive duties pending investigation.
At 8:19, his company email access was terminated.
At 8:24, his building credentials were deactivated.
At 8:31, Rebecca received the first call from his attorney.
At 8:46, Vanessa called Ethan.
I knew because she called me three minutes later.
I didn't answer.
At 9:03, Dad walked into my hospital room carrying coffee.
"How are my grandsons?"
"Expensive."
He laughed.
It was the first laugh I had heard from him since the delivery.
Noah needed another feeding.
Caleb had finally gained a little weight.
Luke had discovered that screaming produced immediate attention.
Dad looked delighted by all of it.
Then he handed me his phone.
"Rebecca says you should see this."
It was an email from Ethan.
Subject:
URGENT MISUNDERSTANDING.
I read the first paragraph.
He claimed the divorce had been "emotionally mishandled."
He claimed Vanessa's presence at the hospital had been "misinterpreted."
He claimed the suspicious vendor payments were legitimate consulting expenses.
Then came the part that almost impressed me.
He asked to meet privately.
Without attorneys.
I handed the phone back.
"No."
Dad nodded.
"That's what Rebecca said you'd say."
My phone rang.
Ethan.
