Chapter 6 - GRANT'S REAL BUSINESS
Grant Hayes described himself as a family-services consultant.
In reality, he ran a small referral and case-management company called Pathway Family Solutions.
It connected wealthy families to:
private schools,
therapists,
residential programs,
specialized tutors,
and guardianship services.
Some legitimate.
Some overpriced.
Grant’s company earned referral fees.
Then investigators found something worse.
He had represented to several service providers that Emily was:
traumatized,
behaviorally unstable,
unsafe with Michael,
and likely to need residential placement.
Before she ever arrived at his house.
The narrative had been built in advance.
Then a financial forecast:
CLIENT: E.C.
ESTIMATED 3-YEAR SERVICE VALUE: $610,000.
Michael stared.
“My daughter was a client?”
Lewis nodded.
“On paper.”
Then Rebecca’s role became clearer.
She genuinely believed Michael was not good enough.
That was important.
She resented him after Lauren’s death.
Lauren had once complained to Rebecca about Michael during the worst months of divorce.
Normal marriage anger.
Rebecca preserved every complaint.
Then Lauren and Michael reconciled as co-parents.
Rebecca did not emotionally update.
To her:
Michael remained the man Lauren once cried about.
Grant took that resentment and monetized it.
Rebecca did not begin with fraud.
May you like
She began with certainty.
Grant gave certainty a spreadsheet.
