Chapter 3 - The Child in the Contract
I was rushed into the maternity unit at St. Catherine’s Hospital while police detained Daniel outside the mansion.
My ankle was fractured, my body temperature was dangerously low, and my baby’s heart rate kept falling during contractions.
The obstetrician told me an emergency delivery might become necessary.
I signed the papers with a shaking hand.
Not because I was frightened of the surgery.
I was frightened of what Daniel had already signed in my name.
Henry arrived at the hospital under police protection. His injuries were serious, but he refused medication until he had spoken to me.
“My mother’s trust,” I said. “Why would Daniel inherit anything after the baby was born?”
“He would not inherit the mansion directly.”
Henry lowered his voice.
“Your mother placed the house inside a family trust. You are the beneficiary. Your first child becomes the secondary beneficiary at birth.”
“And Daniel?”
“As the child’s legal father, he could control the trust if you were declared mentally incompetent or died.”
The forged psychiatric evaluation suddenly made sense.
Daniel did not need me to sign away the mansion.
He needed doctors and judges to believe I could no longer protect my child’s property.
“Why were you in my basement?”
Henry looked toward the hospital door.
“Daniel summoned me to the mansion. He claimed you wanted to change the trust before the baby arrived.”
“I never called you.”
“I realized that after I saw the forged documents. Vanessa took my phone. Daniel locked me inside the archive while they searched for the original trust.”
“Why did he tell me you were dead?”
“To prevent you from contacting me.”
I thought of Vanessa in my robe and the strange shape beneath it.
“Is she pregnant?”
Henry’s mouth tightened.
“No.”
Before he could explain, a nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
“Mrs. Claire Lawson?”
“Yes.”
“Your husband has requested temporary medical authority because of your emotional condition.”
I took the document.
My signature had already been placed at the bottom.
The nurse’s face changed when she saw my expression.
“You did not sign this?”
“No.”
Henry pressed the call button for hospital security.
The nurse stepped backward.
“I was told it came from your attorney.”
“Who gave it to you?”
Before she could answer, the lights flickered.
My fetal monitor went dark.
The hallway outside erupted in confused voices as emergency power failed across the maternity floor.
Henry reached beneath his blanket and pulled the alarm cord beside his bed.
A shadow moved behind the glass panel in the door.
The handle turned.
Daniel entered wearing a stolen hospital coat.
His eyes moved from me to the monitor, then to the medical authority form in my hand.
“You should have signed the divorce papers,” he said.
I reached for the emergency button beside my bed.
Daniel locked the door.
May you like
Then he removed a syringe from his pocket.
Continue to the next part: Trapped during a hospital blackout, Claire discovers Daniel’s plan requires the baby to survive even if she does not.
