“Because the loan was secured against the equity of the Alexandria property, and because he defaulted on the very first payment, they filed an expedited foreclosure notice,” Naomi said. “They claim they have a valid signature. Your signature.”

I clenched my jaw, the pain in my incision flaring as my muscles tensed. “I never signed a thing.”

“I know,” Naomi said. “But we have to prove that in a federal court to halt the sale. I’ve already filed an emergency injunction, but the judge wants to see evidence of the forgery before he signs it.”

“Where is Grant now?”

“He’s still in the hospital lobby,” Naomi said, her voice dropping. “The military police escorted him out of your labor room, but they can’t arrest him on civilian fraud charges without a local warrant. And he brought his own lawyer.”

“Why is he still here?”

“He’s trying to get to the nursery, Tessa,” Naomi said.

My heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“He knows the trust is locked tightly under your family’s name,” Naomi explained. “But if he can establish joint physical custody of Evelyn right now, he can use her as leverage. He wants to force you to pay off his two-million-dollar debt in exchange for him relinquishing custody.”