Chapter 3 - The Date
“Tell me what October third means.”
Ethan said nothing.
We had moved into Margaret’s living room because Dr. Patel refused to let me stand.
I sat on the sofa wrapped in Daniel’s jacket.
My wet dress clung to my skin.
Daniel stood near the fireplace.
Margaret paced.
“This is ridiculous.”
“No,” I said.
My own voice surprised me.
“What’s ridiculous is that everyone here seems to know something about my life except me.”
I looked at Ethan.
“What happens October third?”
“Nothing.”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“Rachel.”
His attorney was already searching.
“Working on it.”
Samantha suddenly said, “I’m not staying for this.”
Margaret snapped, “Sit down.”
That stopped me.
Not Ethan.
Not Daniel.
Margaret.
Samantha obeyed.
I noticed Daniel notice it too.
Rachel spoke.
“Found something.”
She turned the tablet.
“The Mercer Family Preservation Trust.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“My father created it.”
Rachel continued.
“Claire’s mother’s share transfers completely to Claire at age thirty-five unless Claire has a biological child before that date.”
My hand moved to my belly.
“I turn thirty-five October third.”
Rachel nodded.
“If a biological child is born before then, a second-generation clause activates.”
Daniel finished for her.
“Control over the assets is divided between Claire and the child’s legal guardian until the child turns twenty-one.”
I stared at Ethan.
“My child’s legal guardian.”
“As long as Claire is alive,” Rachel said, “Claire controls her own interest.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“But if she becomes incapacitated or dies before the child reaches adulthood…”
Rachel looked at me.
“The surviving parent can petition for management authority.”
The words landed one at a time.
I suddenly remembered every conversation Ethan had started about my pregnancy.
The insurance policy.
The trust.
The birth certificate.
Power of attorney.
Things I thought responsible married couples discussed.
“You wanted her born before October third.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Claire, no.”
“Did you?”
“It’s our baby. Of course I wanted her born healthy.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Samantha spoke.
“Ethan didn’t plan this.”
I looked at her.
“You know enough to answer?”
She went quiet.
Daniel turned toward Margaret.
“And you?”
Margaret folded her arms.
“This family has sacrificed enough because of Claire’s inheritance.”
I almost laughed.
“My inheritance?”
“You think Ethan hasn’t suffered?”
“Suffered?”
“He built a company while your money sat locked away in trusts.”
Daniel’s expression became dangerous.
“Her money.”
Margaret pointed at him.
“You always hated Ethan.”
“No. I distrusted him.”
“Because he didn’t bow to you.”
“Because three months after marrying Claire, he asked me how difficult it would be to dissolve her trust.”
I turned toward Ethan.
“You asked him that?”
“It was a business question.”
“We had been married three months.”
“I was trying to plan our future.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You were planning yours.”
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
Another message.
There’s more.
This time, a video file.
I pressed PLAY.
The footage was grainy.
It looked like a security camera inside an office.
Ethan stood beside a conference table.
Samantha sat across from him.
Margaret’s voice came from off camera.
“If the baby comes before October, we have options.”
My skin went numb.
Ethan’s recorded voice answered.
“And if Claire refuses the scheduled delivery?”
Margaret replied.
“Then we give her a reason to stop thinking clearly.”
The video ended.
Nobody moved.
I looked at Margaret.
She didn’t look shocked.
She looked angry.
“Where did you get that?”
Daniel said quietly, “Interesting question.”
I stared at Ethan.
“What did she mean?”
“Claire—”
“What reason?”
He stepped closer.
“I never agreed with her.”
“But you were there.”
“I told her it was insane.”
“After the video ended?”
He froze.
Daniel noticed.
“Rachel.”
She nodded.
“We’ll get the full file.”
My breathing became shallow.
Dr. Patel crouched in front of me.
“Claire, look at me.”
“I’m okay.”
“No. You’re panicking. Slow breaths.”
A pain tightened low across my stomach.
I grabbed the sofa.
Dr. Patel’s eyes sharpened.
“Is that a contraction?”
“I don’t know.”
Another pain came.
Harder.
Daniel moved instantly.
“We’re going.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“She’s being dramatic.”
Daniel turned on her.
“She is seven months pregnant.”
“She’s always used that pregnancy to get attention.”
Something inside me snapped.
I stood.
My knees shook.
“This baby is the only person in this house who has never asked me for anything.”
Margaret stared at me.
“And you still tried to use her.”
Ethan reached for my arm.
I pulled away.
“Don’t.”
His face cracked.
“Claire, please.”
“No.”
I pointed toward Samantha.
“You brought your mistress to your mother’s house.”
“She’s not—”
“Stop lying.”
His silence confirmed everything.
Dr. Patel touched my stomach gently.
Then her face changed.
“Claire, we need a hospital now.”
“What?”
She looked at Daniel.
“Her abdomen is tightening regularly.”
A third contraction hit me.
I doubled over.
Ethan rushed forward.
Daniel blocked him.
Dr. Patel said, “We may be dealing with preterm labor.”
My terror became instant and absolute.
“My baby?”
“We need to move.”
Daniel lifted me carefully.
As he carried me toward the front door, my phone vibrated against my hand.
One more message.
I opened it.
A single photograph.
A bottle of pills beside my prenatal vitamins.
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