Chapter 7 - The Legal Loophole
I stared at the certified marriage license in Melissa’s manicured hand, my mind struggling to process the massive lie.
For six years, I had believed I was Garrett's wife, bound to him by law and by the beautiful child we shared.
But it was all a masterfully crafted illusion to drain my father's massive wealth.
"You are a fool, Claire," Melissa mocked, placing the devastating document back into her expensive purse.
"You are nothing but a legally unrecognized mistress."
She expected me to break down, to cry, to crumble under the sheer weight of the humiliation.
Instead, a slow, triumphant smile spread across my face.
"You really are incredibly stupid," I whispered, stepping closer to her.
Melissa frowned, clearly confused by my sudden burst of confidence.
"If my marriage to Garrett is legally void, then he was never legally established as Ethan's guardian," I explained, the beautiful truth setting me completely free.
"Under state law, an unwed mother retains absolute, sole custody and decision-making power over her child."
Melissa’s arrogant smirk vanished instantly as the legal reality crashed down on her.
Garrett had absolutely no right to hold my son's remains hostage anymore.
I turned around and walked confidently onto the elevator, leaving the panicked corporate spy completely speechless.
I rushed back to the penthouse and handed my father the lifted fingerprint to access the safe.
"Dad, call the hospital right now," I ordered happily. "Garrett's legal hold is completely invalid."
My father made the call, and within ten minutes, Ethan's release forms were finally signed in my name.
We had won my beautiful boy back.
But the celebration was violently cut short when the penthouse doors burst wide open.
Garrett stormed into the room, flanked by three heavily armed, terrifying mercenaries.
His face was contorted in a mask of absolute, unhinged madness.
"If I cannot legally take the boy, I will take the billionaire instead," Garrett roared.
Before I could even scream for our private security, the mercenaries violently grabbed my father.
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They dragged him out of the penthouse and into the private elevator, leaving me completely alone in the silent room.
Garrett had just kidnapped my father.
