"This is utterly insane, Hank. You've completely lost your mind," she declared, her voice a mixture of indignation and disbelief, each word laced with urgency.
Hank stepped forward, his imposing figure blocking the doorway like a fortress. "I said you're not going anywhere, so sit your ass back down. Now," he asserted, his tone cutting through the air with unwavering authority.
"Do you really believe you can speak to me like this and walk away unscathed?" she retorted, eyes blazing with defiance, her heart racing.
With a swift motion, Hank seized the files from Mouse, who stood nervously in the shadows, and slammed the door shut behind him with a resounding thud. "I'm not asking again," he growled, jaw set, his intensity palpable. "You have two options: sit down willingly, or I'll make sure you do." The room pulsed with tension, the air thick with unspoken challenges and the weight of their escalating confrontation.
Throwing her hands up in frustration, she sank back into the plush cushions of the sofa, her legs crossing defensively beneath her. "So, what new conspiracy theories have you dreamt up about me and Mark this time? We're tired of trying to convince you."
The older man leaned forward, his brow furrowed with determination as he opened a thick folder adorned with various documents. He cleared his throat and began reading in a measured tone. "I had my tech guy look into the nanny I hired for Dani."
"Fantastic. And what's your point?" she replied, forcing a sarcastic smile despite the growing tension in the room.
He pressed on, undistracted by her tone. "She's just a college student, you know. Most like her juggle part-time or full-time jobs to cover their expenses and tuition bills. But this particular nanny, Cam, she's something else. She receives a wire transfer of $50,000 every two weeks—almost as if it's a regular paycheck. Those funds come directly from you and Mark, and they started flowing right after I hired her to care for Dani."
He slammed the papers down on the coffee table with a sharp thud, the sound reverberating through the otherwise quiet room. The weight of his accusations loomed large between them, a silent demand for an explanation that she struggled to provide. "Explain that."
Amelia maintained her composure as the papers were forcefully slammed onto the desk, the sound cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife. She held her chin up, meeting Hank's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"I do know Cam; she's an employee of mine," she asserted, her voice steady. "She's capable of much more than just babysitting Dani for you. I cover her expenses because of the work she does for me. That's hardly a crime."
Hank scoffed, disbelief flashing across his face. "If you think I'm buying that, you're delusional."
"Like I've always told you, believe what you want," she replied calmly, a hint of defiance shining through her stoic expression.
He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Wanna know what else my tech guy uncovered? He dug into her phone records along with yours and Mark's. There are countless calls and texts exchanged between Cam and Mark. In one message, Mark warned her that if y'all go down, she goes down with y'all." He placed the new papers in front of her with a decisive thud. "Care to elaborate?"
Amelia's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady. "I put her in charge of a significant business deal, and he warned her that if she messes it up, we're all finished."
"Amelia, do I look remotely stupid to you?" Hank shot back, his frustration boiling over. "Cut the lies and the bullshit."
"I'm being utterly honest! I can't change your mind if you refuse to hear me out."
"Let's delve into my favorite part of the messages between Cam and Mark, shall we? Did you know your husband has been cheating on you with her? It seems he has a preference for the younger crowd."
"Wonderful, now I'm aware that my husband is a deceitful scoundrel. What do you want from me, a celebration of his betrayal?"
"It sounds like he's infatuated with Cam. He's grown tired of you and craves something—how did he put it?—'young and fresh.'"
"Just shut up!"
"What's wrong, Amelia? Can't bear to face the truth?" He leaned in, his gaze piercing. "Did you know this all along?"
"Why on earth would I want to know something like that?" she snapped, incredulous. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, as if to shield herself from the implications lurking in the air.
"With Mark tangled up in his endless deceptions and you wrapped up in your little world, it would be all too easy for either of you to distract me and slip away to approach Dani. And judging by your expression, this isn't the first time he's betrayed your trust. Just how many other affairs has he had?"
Her response came quick, a fervent denial, "He's never had any other affairs." Her voice trembled slightly, outraged and defensive, cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and hurt.
"And I suppose I'm the King of England, then?" he retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm, a hint of challenge sparking in his eyes as he leaned in closer. "What about you?" he asked, his voice laced with a challenge.
Amelia shot him a piercing glare, indignation flashing in her eyes. "What about me?" she retorted, crossing her arms defensively.
"Don't play innocent, Amelia. We both know that's far from the truth. How many affairs have you had on the side?" His tone was accusatory, almost mocking.
"That's none of your business!" she snapped, her voice rising with anger.
"According to these messages, it seems otherwise," he said, pulling out some new papers from the folder. "You have a taste for them, young and fresh, don't you? Tell me, do you watch Mark and Cam together? Do you and Mark take turns? Or is it more fun when you all join in at once? And when Mark and Cam are busy, how do you get your fix?"
"Enough!" Her voice trembled with fury as she stood up, but he moved quickly, stepping in front of the door to block her escape.
"I'm just getting started," he replied, a smirk creeping onto his face.
He turned slightly and called out, "Antonio!"
From the hallway, his senior detective appeared, a look of curiosity on his face. "What's up, Hank?"
"Listen, you and Jay need to pick up Cam and bring her back here. I need to have a word with her." The urgency in his voice was unmistakable, and he knew the confrontation was far from over.
"You got it."
Antonio and Jay left to go get Cam. Hank closed the door and looked back at Amelia.
"I don't know what kind of witch hunt you're on, Hank, but it's not going to work. Mark and I have decided to step back. Our only concern now is what's best for Dani, and we both agree that staying with you is what she needs. Why don't you believe me?" Amelia said firmly.
"Because I'm not foolish like you and your husband think I am. I had your financial records checked, and I found something concerning. You bought one-way airline tickets with your credit card. What are you and Mark planning?" Hank replied sharply.
"A trip, if you must know," Amelia said, trying to keep her frustration in check.
"A trip? With one-way tickets to a country where you can't be extradited? That sounds suspicious. Plus, I noticed the tickets are for two adults and one child. The adult tickets are for you and Mark, and the child's ticket is for Dani. Are you trying to take her out of the country? How were you intending to do that without a passport?" Hank challenged, his gaze steely and unwavering.
"You set us up, Hank. I know you did," Amelia said, her voice firm. "You're capable of anything."
"Why would I bother framing you?" Hank shot back, arms crossed in defiance. "I have bigger issues to worry about."
"We just wanted to see Dani," Amelia persisted, frustration evident in her tone.
"I told you she's not going anywhere near you or your perverted ass husband. I won't let her."
Amelia's glare intensified. "She's your granddaughter, not just your daughter. We have equal rights to her, just like Mark and I do. What would your son, Justin, think of this?"
The mention of Justin hit Hank hard. It was a sensitive subject, and he felt a surge of anger.
"Let's get one thing straight." His voice dropped to a deadly, vicious tone. "Don't you ever bring my son into this or mention him to me. He is not, nor will he ever be, your concern. If you mention him to me again, we'll have bigger problems than custody. Dani became my daughter when I adopted her."
Amelia pressed on, undeterred. "You didn't tell her the truth about her parents, did you? She has no idea what happened to them. You can't call yourself a father while lying to her."
Hank clenched his fists, fighting back his rage. This confrontation was far from over, and he knew the battle ahead would be intense.