Chapter 7 - The Search Warrant.
At 6:12 the next morning, investigators entered Holloway Medical Supply.
By 6:30, every employee's access badge had been disabled.
By 7:05, Grant was standing outside his own office while agents photographed the contents of his desk.
He tried calling Vanessa fourteen times.
She never answered.
His attorney arrived shortly after eight.
"Do not speak to anyone."
Grant glared at him.
"They're taking my servers."
"Let them."
"They're taking everything."
"Grant."
The attorney lowered his voice.
"If Peter Lang gave them what I think he gave them, your priority is no longer the company."
Grant stared.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you should start thinking about your personal exposure."
Grant's face tightened.
"I didn't manufacture anything."
"You approved the vendor."
"Emma approved vendors too."
"Do not say her name."
Grant blinked.
"Why?"
"Because investigators already know someone used her credentials while she was unconscious."
Grant's mouth went dry.
The attorney continued.
"Trying to blame your hospitalized wife would be catastrophic."
Grant looked away.
Employees were watching him from across the hallway.
The admiration he once demanded from them had disappeared.
In its place was suspicion.
At Beacon Crest, Emma learned about the search from Daniel.
She barely reacted.
Elise had remained stable overnight.
That was enough.
Noah was slightly stronger.
Doctors believed he might soon tolerate less breathing support.
Emma spent the morning reading children's stories softly beside their incubators.
They could not understand the words.
She read anyway.
Around noon, Charles entered with an unfamiliar woman.
"This is Rebecca Hale."
Emma recognized the name.
Rebecca was one of the most respected family-law attorneys in the state.
Emma smiled tiredly.
"Grandfather doesn't believe in subtlety."
Rebecca smiled.
"Apparently not."
They moved to a quiet room.
Rebecca opened Grant's divorce filing.
"He filed the signed agreement this morning."
Emma was surprised.
"While investigators were searching his company?"
"Apparently, he wanted to secure the marital settlement before anything else changed."
Charles shook his head.
"Greed is remarkably consistent."
Rebecca continued.
"We will challenge several provisions."
Emma looked at her.
"I still want the divorce finalized."
"It can be."
"What about custody?"
Rebecca paused.
"Grant requested joint legal custody."
Emma stared.
"He called them burdens."
"I know."
"He has visited once."
"I know."
"Why would he want custody?"
Rebecca's expression was grim.
"Because requesting custody can affect financial negotiations."
Emma went completely still.
"He wants to use the babies as leverage."
"It appears possible."
Charles swore under his breath.
Emma stood.
The incision hurt less than before.
Her anger hurt more.
"Then we fight."
Rebecca nodded.
"We document everything."
Rachel, the NICU nurse, agreed to provide a formal statement about Grant's comments.
Hospital records showed his single visit.
Security footage showed Vanessa entering in Emma's coat.
Visitor logs showed Grant leaving after less than thirty minutes.
The divorce papers showed he had offered minimal support.
His own words completed the picture.
That afternoon, Rebecca received another piece of evidence.
Grant had canceled Emma's health insurance coverage the morning he filed for divorce.
Emma stared at the cancellation date.
Her emergency delivery had occurred three days earlier.
"He canceled my insurance while I was still recovering?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Beacon Crest continued treatment regardless."
Charles's face turned cold.
"He knew she was hospitalized."
"Yes."
Emma looked toward the NICU corridor.
"And he knew the twins were here."
"Yes."
Emma exhaled slowly.
She had wondered whether some small part of Grant still cared.
The question was disappearing.
That evening, Grant finally appeared at Beacon Crest again.
He arrived with flowers.
A camera crew waited across the street.
Grant had notified them himself.
His attorney had warned him against it.
Grant ignored the advice.
He walked through the lobby carrying roses and a stuffed bear.
"Mr. Holloway," a reporter called.
"Are you here to see your children?"
Grant turned toward the cameras.
"My children have always been my priority."
Upstairs, Emma watched the live feed on Daniel's phone.
Her face showed no emotion.
Rachel stood beside her.
"He's never brought anything before."
Emma nodded.
"I know."
Security called.
"Mr. Holloway is requesting NICU access."
Emma looked toward Noah and Elise.
Then at Rebecca.
"Can I refuse?"
"For now, yes."
Emma picked up the hospital phone.
"Tell Grant he can meet with his attorney."
She paused.
"But he isn't turning my children's NICU into a press conference."
Downstairs, security delivered the message.
The cameras caught Grant's expression changing.
He turned back toward reporters.
"My wife is emotional."
Upstairs, Emma heard him.
Something inside her became perfectly still.
Grant continued.
"She's been through a difficult delivery."
Rebecca reached for the remote.
Emma stopped her.
"No."
Grant looked directly into the camera.
"I hope soon she'll understand that children deserve both parents."
Emma watched every word.
Then Grant made his mistake.
"I've always wanted what is best for Noah and Ella."
Emma slowly looked at Rebecca.
Rebecca had already noticed.
So had Rachel.
Grant had forgotten his own daughter's name again.
Elise.
May you like
Not Ella.
And this time, the entire country heard him do it.
