Chapter 7: The Child He Used as Leverage
The hospital doors opened before the ambulance had fully stopped.
“Thirty-one weeks,” the paramedic called.
“Contractions three minutes apart.”
Grace gripped Eleanor’s hand.
“She is too early.”
Dr.
Bennett met them in the corridor.
“Look at me, Grace.
We are going to help both of you.”
Eleanor ran beside the bed.
“I’m staying.”
A nurse blocked Ethan at the doors.
“I’m her husband,” he said.
Grace lifted her head.
“Not in this room.”
“You cannot keep me from my child.”
“You questioned whether she was yours in front of a boardroom.”
“I was angry.”
“And I was your wife.”
The doors closed between them.
Hours passed beneath bright lights and quiet instructions.
Eleanor wiped Grace’s face while Dr.
Bennett watched the monitors.
“I can’t do this,” Grace whispered.
Eleanor tightened her hand around Grace’s.
“Yes, you can.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know my son made you feel alone.
I also know you are not alone now.”
Grace began to cry.
“I wanted him to be the man he promised our daughter he would be.”
“I wanted that too,” Eleanor said.
“We were both loving a promise instead of the man standing in front of us.”
Dr.
Bennett stepped closer.
“Grace, your daughter needs one more push.”
A thin cry filled the room moments later.
Grace covered her mouth.
“Is she breathing?”
The nurse lifted the tiny baby for one brief second.
“She is, but the neonatal team needs to help her.”
“Please don’t take her without telling me where.”
“I’ll go with her,” Eleanor said.
“You will know every step.”
Before leaving, she bent and pressed her cheek against Grace’s.
“She has your fight.”
Later, Declan stood outside Grace’s room holding two cups of untouched coffee.
He did not enter until she nodded.
“How is she?” he asked.
“Small.
Angry.
Perfect.”
“That sounds like someone I know.”
Grace almost smiled.
“Did Martin save the files?”
“Most of them.
Vanessa tried to erase the transfers, but the deletion created a fresh access log.”
“Where is Ethan?”
“In the family waiting room.
He says he has information.”
Ethan entered under the watch of hospital security.
His shirt was wrinkled, and the confidence had left his face.
“Vanessa has passports and two million dollars in a resort account,” he said.
“She is leaving by private boat at dawn.”
“Then call the authorities,” Grace replied.
“She says she will surrender the token if you sign over temporary control.”
“You still want my shares?”
“I want the evidence she can use against me.”
Grace stared at him.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The truth.
Even now, this is about saving yourself.”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“If I fall, the company falls.
Our daughter inherits nothing.”
“Our daughter will inherit my name before she inherits your excuses.”
He leaned toward the bed.
“Vanessa also has Martin.
He agreed to meet her at the marina.”
Declan put down the coffee.
“Martin would not help her.”
Ethan held up a message: BRING THE ORIGINAL DRIVE.
COME ALONE.
Grace reached for her phone.
“Call him.”
Martin answered on the first ring.
“I’m already at the marina,” he whispered.
“Vanessa thinks I brought the drive.”
“Get out of there,” Grace said.
“I can’t.
She offered me five hundred thousand dollars, and I made her repeat it while my phone recorded.”
A car door slammed through the speaker.
Martin’s breathing stopped.
Then Vanessa’s voice came through, close and cold.
May you like
“Who are you talking to?”
The call ended.
