Chapter 5 - The Night Bianca Chose the Wrong Child
The following morning, Evan arrived at the mansion’s breakfast room expecting Nora to sign.
Instead, he found Bianca standing beside the window with the agreement still sealed on the table.
“She didn’t come?” he asked.
“She sent a message to Alan.”
“What message?”
“That she needs forty-eight hours.”
Evan poured coffee.
“She has until noon.”
“Then what?”
“Then we file the petition.”
Bianca watched him.
“You said the emergency order was already approved.”
“It will be once I sign the final affidavit.”
“Do it now.”
Evan put down the coffee pot.
“You’re in a hurry.”
“Nora entered the house without permission last night.”
“It was still legally her residence.”
“Not after today.”
Evan studied Bianca.
For eight months, she had encouraged every resentment he had tried to ignore.
She listened when he complained that Arthur treated him like an employee. She reminded him that Nora’s family name appeared on every loan agreement, every trust document and every article praising Harrow Development.
She told him he deserved to stand alone.
At first, he had admired her ambition.
Now there was something unsettling in it.
“What happens to Sophie under the order?” he asked.
“She stays with us.”
“The documents list your town house.”
“Only temporarily.”
“Why?”
“Because Nora could claim this property is controlled by the Bennett trust. My house gives us neutral jurisdiction.”
“That wasn’t what Alan told me.”
Bianca crossed the room.
“Alan is cautious. Cautious men lose.”
“He is the company’s attorney.”
“He is loyal to Arthur.”
“He has worked for me for nine years.”
“He worked for Bennett companies before that.”
Evan looked toward the sealed agreement.
“Did you draft the emergency order?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
Bianca’s gaze hardened.
“You asked me to help you protect your company.”
“I asked you to organize documents.”
“And I did.”
“You hired private security.”
“You approved the invoice.”
“You arranged the custody petition.”
“You signed it.”
Evan’s phone rang.
The screen displayed Nora’s name.
Bianca reached for it.
Evan moved the phone away.
“Why are you afraid of me speaking to my wife?”
“I’m afraid she will manipulate you again.”
“She is Sophie’s mother.”
“She is also Arthur Bennett’s daughter. Never forget which role matters more to her.”
Evan answered.
“What?”
Nora’s voice came through the speaker.
“I want to pick Sophie up for lunch.”
“That isn’t possible.”
“Why?”
“We have plans.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“She is my daughter.”
“And you abandoned the residence.”
“You told me to leave.”
“You chose to.”
Evan heard his own words and recognized Bianca’s phrasing.
Nora became quiet.
Then she asked, “Is Sophie listening?”
Evan glanced toward the doorway.
Sophie stood there wearing a red sweater and holding her stuffed rabbit.
He had not heard her enter.
“Yes,” he said.
Nora’s voice softened.
“May I speak to her?”
Evan hesitated.
Bianca shook her head.
Sophie watched him.
He extended the phone.
She ran forward.
“Mommy?”
“Hello, sweetheart.”
“Are you coming home?”
“Not today.”
Sophie’s face fell.
“But I am going to see you soon.”
“Daddy said you don’t live here anymore.”
“I love you wherever I live.”
“Can I come to your hotel?”
Bianca stepped closer.
Evan turned away from her.
“We’ll arrange something,” Nora said.
“When?”
“Very soon.”
A chime sounded at the front door.
Three private security officers entered with Alan Voss.
The attorney’s face was tense.
“Evan, we need to speak privately.”
Bianca took Sophie’s hand.
“Come upstairs with me.”
Sophie pulled away.
“No.”
“Sophie.”
“I want Daddy.”
Evan placed the phone on the table.
“What is happening?” he asked Alan.
Alan held up a document.
“The emergency removal order was submitted with my electronic signature.”
“You prepared it.”
“No, I did not.”
Bianca moved toward the door.
Alan blocked her path.
“The order instructs security to remove Nora and Sophie from all Bennett-funded properties.”
Evan stared at him.
“That isn’t what I authorized.”
“You approved the final submission.”
“I was told it removed Nora.”
“You signed without reading.”
Bianca’s voice turned cold.
“The order is already active.”
Alan faced her.
“How did you access my signature?”
“I didn’t.”
“The authorization came from your office computer.”
“You cannot prove I was using it.”
Sophie looked from one adult to another.
“Am I being sent away?”
Evan turned toward her.
“No.”
Bianca spoke at the same time.
“Only for a few days.”
The room went silent.
Evan looked at Bianca.
“What did you say?”
She reached for Sophie again.
“We have to follow the order now. Reversing it would make you look unstable.”
“You told me she would stay with us.”
“She will, after Nora signs.”
Sophie backed away.
“I don’t want to go.”
Evan saw fear in his daughter’s face.
For one moment, he almost stopped everything.
Almost.
Then Bianca leaned close and whispered, “If you refuse now, Arthur takes the company by New Year’s.”
Evan closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he looked toward the security officers.
“Give us until tonight.”
Alan stepped forward.
“Evan, do not do this.”
“It is temporary.”
“You do not know what you signed.”
“I’ll fix it after Nora agrees.”
Sophie ran from the room.
Evan heard her footsteps racing up the stairs.
He could have followed.
May you like
Instead, he picked up the pen Bianca placed beside the affidavit.
And signed the final page.
