My Husband Abused Me While Pregnant, But My Powerful Father Stepped In — Part 2 of 3

Within hours of Grace's departure, the Harrison family's world began to unravel. William was not just a protective father; he was a billionaire tycoon with the power to crush empires. By the next morning, the bank that held the Harrison family's primary business loans suddenly called in their debts. Stock prices for their family enterprise plummeted as major investors withdrew, citing sudden ethical concerns.

Daniel woke to a barrage of frantic phone calls. His father-in-law, a man he had mocked as a distant and absent figure, had become a hurricane. He paced the study, his phone pressed to his ear, listening to his CFO list the mounting losses. The numbers were staggering. In a single night, they had lost more than they had made in the last decade.

Elizabeth sat in the corner, her usual poise cracking as she watched her son's face contort with rage. She had never seen him like this. But she was not afraid. She was calculating, already planning their next move.

Desperate Measures

Daniel and Elizabeth were in a panic. They quickly realized that Grace was not the penniless orphan they had assumed she was. She was the sole heiress to the Vance conglomerate. The name Vance carried weight in boardrooms across the country. Desperation turned into venomous rage. Instead of apologizing, Daniel decided to fight dirty.

That afternoon, Daniel and Elizabeth arrived at William's private estate, accompanied by a team of high-priced, ruthless lawyers. They demanded to see Grace, who was resting in the library. She had been sitting by the window, watching the rain streak down the glass, when she heard the commotion. Her heart lurched when she saw Daniel's car through the gate.

"You can't just hide her away!"

Daniel shouted as he was escorted into the study.

"She is my wife, and she is carrying my child. I have legal rights!"

Grace stood in the doorway, her hand on her belly, watching the scene unfold. William sat behind his desk, unmoved, his fingers steepled. Elizabeth stepped forward, her face twisted in a smug grin. She tossed a thick folder onto the mahogany desk.

"We've filed for emergency custody,"

Elizabeth declared coldly.

"And we have medical reports suggesting Grace is mentally unstable. If you don't call off your financial dogs, we will take that baby the moment it is born, and you will never see it again."

Grace felt a wave of icy terror wash over her. She looked at her father, her eyes wide with fear. The thought of losing her child to these monsters was too much to bear. She took a step forward, but William raised a hand, stopping her. He did not look at her. He kept his eyes fixed on Elizabeth, and a faint, dangerous smile played on his lips.

"Is that your final play?"

William asked quietly, his eyes turning to Daniel.

"It is,"

Daniel sneered, believing he had the upper hand.

"Sign the financial release, or we ruin her reputation and take the child."

Grace felt the room spin. She grabbed the back of a chair to steady herself. She could not lose her baby. She would rather die. But her father remained calm, almost bored, as if he had been expecting this exact move. He reached for his teacup and took a slow sip.

At that moment, the door opened, and William's chief of security walked in, holding a small black flash drive. The room fell silent. Daniel's lawyers exchanged nervous glances. Elizabeth's smug grin faltered. William set down his cup and gestured for the drive.