Chapter 4 - The Legal Cage
Liam sprinted back to his car, his tires screeching loudly as he tore out of the mansion's driveway.
He dialed the chief of police on his car's hands-free system, demanding an immediate interception at the private airfield.
"You cannot let that woman put my daughter on a plane," Liam shouted desperately into the microphone.
He arrived at the private aviation terminal just as Claire was aggressively pulling a crying Chloe toward the boarding stairs.
Liam jumped out of his moving vehicle and ran across the tarmac, ripping his daughter away from the cruel woman's grasp.
"If you ever touch my child again, I will destroy you," Liam growled, pulling Chloe safely behind his back.
Claire simply smoothed the wrinkles from her designer coat and offered him a chilling, victorious smile.
"You are acting incredibly irrational, Liam, which is exactly why I had to step in and take control of the family," Claire said calmly.
She reached into her designer handbag and pulled out a thick stack of official legal documents bearing a judge's seal.
"While you were busy running errands this morning, I had a private emergency hearing with a superior court judge," she explained.
Claire handed the papers to Liam, watching his face closely to enjoy his impending devastation.
The documents were a completely ironclad medical and legal Power of Attorney.
Because Liam had previously signed standard pre-wedding estate planning forms, Claire's lawyers had manipulated a loophole.
The judge had officially declared Eleanor mentally incompetent and appointed Claire as her sole legal guardian.
"If you try to cancel the wedding or throw me out, I will have your grandmother permanently committed to a state asylum today," Claire threatened.
Liam stared at the legal documents, realizing he was completely trapped in a flawless legal cage.
He could not use the toxic drug report without risking Claire retaliating against his helpless grandmother first.
He took his daughter's hand and walked slowly back to his car, forcing himself to remain calm.
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"We are going home to plan a beautiful wedding," Liam said loudly for the airport staff to hear.
But as he looked into his rearview mirror, he secretly sent a text message to the most ruthless private investigator in the country.
