Chapter 5: The Missing Calls
For several seconds after the call ended, I stayed completely still.
The phone remained pressed against my ear.
Even though there was no one there anymore.
Even though the line had already gone silent.
Because my mind was trying to understand a sentence that refused to make sense.
Someone made sure Garrett never saw them.
I looked at the call history.
Eighteen attempts.
Eighteen times my name appeared on Garrett's phone.
Eighteen times our son's life was reaching for his father.
Unless...
Unless someone had stopped those calls from reaching him.
I immediately called my father.
He answered on the first ring.
"Claire?"
My voice shook.
"Get everyone you trust. Now."
There was a pause.
"What happened?"
"I think Ethan's death wasn't just about Garrett."
The silence on the other end lasted only two seconds.
Then William's voice changed.
"Where are you?"
"Home."
"I'm coming."
Twenty minutes later, my father arrived with James and two security specialists.
I hated that I needed protection in my own house.
I hated that the world had become something I didn't recognize.
This was where Ethan learned to ride his bicycle.
Where he planted flowers with me.
Where he drew dinosaurs on the driveway with chalk.
Now every shadow felt suspicious.
James looked at my phone.
"You need to tell us exactly what she said."
I repeated every word.
He listened carefully.
Then he asked:
"Did she say Melissa knew?"
"No."
"Did she say Garrett knew?"
"No."
"Then we start with the phone."
William's security team checked the device.
Ten minutes later, one of them looked up.
"Mr. Sterling."
"What?"
"There was a forwarding application installed."
My stomach dropped.
"On my phone?"
"No."
He looked at me.
"On Garrett's."
James frowned.
"A call redirect?"
The technician nodded.
"Not exactly."
He pulled up the data.
"This was more sophisticated."
"Someone created a filter."
"What kind?"
He hesitated.
"Only your number."
My blood went cold.
Only mine.
Only the mother of his child.
Only the person calling because Ethan was dying.
"Can you find who installed it?"
The technician looked uncertain.
"Maybe."
"Do it."
While they worked, I remembered something.
Something small.
Something I had ignored.
A month before Ethan got sick, Garrett told me he needed my help with his phone.
"Can you enter the password?"
I laughed.
"You don't know your own password?"
He smiled.
"It's been a long day."
I unlocked it.
I didn't think anything of it.
Because I trusted him.
But what if...
What if someone had access long before that night?
The technician suddenly spoke.
"I found the timestamp."
Everyone turned.
"When?"
He looked at the screen.
"Six weeks ago."
James frowned.
"Who had access to the phone six weeks ago?"
I answered before thinking.
"Melissa."
Everyone looked at me.
I swallowed.
"Garrett said she was helping with a business presentation."
The room went quiet.
Because the easiest answer had appeared.
But something still felt wrong.
Too easy.
An hour later, Olivia called again.
This time, William's team traced the number.
She answered.
"Claire?"
"I'm here."
"Did you get my message?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Her breathing was nervous.
"You need to understand something."
"What?"
"Melissa wasn't trying to steal Garrett."
I froze.
"Then what was she doing?"
A pause.
"She was using him."
The words landed slowly.
"Using him for what?"
Olivia lowered her voice.
"Money."
"How much?"
"Millions."
James immediately started typing.
"Keep talking."
I didn't interrupt.
"Olivia, tell me everything."
She took a shaky breath.
"Melissa approached Garrett eighteen months ago."
"She knew exactly who he was."
"What do you mean?"
"She researched him."
"She knew about Sterling Global."
"She knew about you."
My hands tightened.
"And Ethan?"
Silence.
Then:
"She knew about him too."
I couldn't breathe.
"What are you saying?"
"She knew your son was sick."
The room disappeared.
I only heard my own heartbeat.
"How?"
Olivia whispered:
"Because she was the one who found his medical records."
William stepped forward.
"Claire, put her on speaker."
I did.
Olivia continued.
"Melissa wasn't alone."
"Who was with her?"
Another pause.
Then:
"Someone from inside Sterling Global."
My father went completely still.
"Impossible."
Olivia's voice shook.
"It's true."
"Someone helped her access private information."
"Someone helped her move money."
"Someone helped her disappear."
James looked at William.
"Who has that level of access?"
My father didn't answer.
Because there were very few people.
Then Olivia said something else.
Something that changed the entire investigation.
"Garrett wasn't supposed to be at the hotel that night."
I closed my eyes.
"What?"
"Melissa arranged the meeting."
"She told him it was about a business emergency."
"She knew Ethan was sick."
"She knew you would call."
A cold silence filled the room.
"Why?"
I whispered.
Olivia answered:
"Because she wanted proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That Garrett would choose her over you."
My heart shattered all over again.
Not because it was surprising.
Because some part of me already knew.
Then Olivia added:
"But there was one thing she didn't expect."
"What?"
"Your father."
I looked at William.
He stared at the floor.
"Why?"
Olivia's voice became softer.
"Because Melissa wasn't just trying to destroy your marriage."
"She was trying to take control of Sterling Global."
Everyone froze.
My father's company.
His legacy.
The empire he built.
Suddenly this wasn't only about betrayal.
It was about power.
A message arrived on Olivia's phone.
We heard her gasp.
"What happened?"
No answer.
"Olivia?"
The line remained open.
Then we heard a sound.
A door opening.
A man's voice.
"Who are you talking to?"
Olivia whispered:
"No..."
Then the call ended.
William immediately reacted.
"Trace it."
The technician looked up.
His face was pale.
"Already trying."
"Result?"
A pause.
"She wasn't in Boston."
"Where was she?"
He looked at the screen.
"She was inside Sterling Global headquarters."
Everyone looked at my father.
Because the person who knew enough to destroy us...
May you like
Was not outside the family.
They were already inside.
