Chapter 3
The next morning, the maternity suite was quiet.
Golden sunlight spilled across the floor.
Marlo slept peacefully in the hospital bassinet, her tiny fingers wrapped around the edge of her striped blanket.
For the first time since giving birth, Sable had slept for more than an hour.
Not because her heart hurt less.
Because she had finally stopped waiting for Weston to become someone he wasn't.
The thick navy estate folder remained on the bedside table.
She hadn't touched it again after Josephine left.
She didn't need to.
One truth was enough.
Her uncle hadn't left her money.
He had left her independence.
Odette walked in carrying coffee and a paper bag from the hospital café.
"I brought breakfast."
Sable smiled faintly.
"I forgot what hungry feels like."
"You just gave birth."
Odette laughed.
"You're allowed."
As Sable reached for the sandwich, someone knocked.
Three soft knocks.
Both sisters looked toward the door.
Weston.
He stood in the hallway wearing the same tailored navy suit beneath his expensive gray cashmere overcoat.
His hair was perfectly styled.
But the confidence he had worn yesterday...
Was gone.
His eyes immediately found Marlo.
For the first time, he actually looked at his daughter.
Then he noticed the thick legal folder resting beside Sable's bed.
His expression changed.
"What is that?"
Odette answered before Sable could.
"None of your business."
Weston stepped inside anyway.
"I need to talk to Sable."
"You had your chance yesterday."
Odette crossed her arms.
"You can leave."
Sable gently touched her sister's arm.
"It's okay."
Odette hesitated.
"You sure?"
Sable nodded.
"I don't have anything left to fear."
Odette moved toward the window but never took her eyes off Weston.
Weston looked exhausted.
"I shouldn't have left."
"No."
Sable replied calmly.
"You shouldn't have."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I panicked."
She said nothing.
"I've had lawyers calling me all night."
That caught Sable's attention.
"Lawyers?"
Weston nodded.
"Someone from Callaway Holdings requested copies of every agreement I've signed over the past six years."
Odette exchanged a glance with Sable but remained silent.
"I don't know what's going on."
Weston admitted.
"But I think someone is trying to push me out."
Sable looked at him quietly.
"Maybe."
He took another step closer.
"I came because..."
His eyes shifted toward the bassinet.
"I want to meet my daughter."
The room became still.
Sable followed his gaze to Marlo.
The little girl stretched in her sleep, completely unaware of the adults deciding her future.
Yesterday, Weston had refused to acknowledge she existed.
Today...
He wanted to hold her.
"What changed?"
Sable asked.
Weston hesitated.
"I had time to think."
"No."
She shook her head gently.
"You had time to calculate."
His jaw tightened.
"That's not fair."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Neither was abandoning your newborn."
Weston lowered his voice.
"I made a mistake."
"You made several."
"I can fix this."
Sable almost smiled.
"You think signing a piece of paper fixes what happened yesterday?"
"No."
"It starts."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then quietly asked,
"If I had no family money..."
"If there were no lawyers..."
"If no one from Callaway Holdings had contacted you..."
"Would you be standing here?"
Weston opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
That silence answered everything.
Odette laughed bitterly.
"Exactly."
Weston ignored her.
"Sable..."
"I do love you."
She nodded slowly.
"I think you loved the version of me that made your life easier."
He looked stunned.
"I supported your career."
"I moved cities for you."
"I defended you at every family dinner."
"I celebrated every promotion."
She paused.
"And yesterday..."
"When our daughter needed her father for the first time..."
"You talked about inheritance before you even touched her."
Weston closed his eyes.
"I know."
"No."
Sable whispered.
"You remember."
"Knowing would've stopped you."
A soft knock interrupted them.
Nurse Emily entered carrying discharge paperwork.
She immediately sensed the tension.
"I can come back."
"It's alright."
Sable smiled politely.
Emily placed the paperwork on the bedside table.
Then looked at Weston.
"Oh."
"I'm glad you're here."
Weston looked relieved.
Finally...
Someone wasn't judging him.
The nurse continued.
"I'll need your signature on the birth acknowledgment if Mrs. Callaway still wishes to complete it today."
Weston reached for the clipboard immediately.
"I'll sign."
Before the pen touched the paper...
Sable gently placed her hand over the document.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
Weston frowned.
"What?"
"You said yesterday you weren't signing anything for this baby."
"I changed my mind."
"I know."
She held his gaze.
"But yesterday was the day your daughter needed your name."
She slowly moved the paperwork back toward herself.
"Today..."
"She only needs mine."
The room fell silent.
Weston's face went pale.
"You can't mean that."
"I do."
She signed the form herself.
The scratch of the pen across the paper sounded louder than any argument.
Nurse Emily accepted the completed paperwork with a quiet nod.
"I'll process this immediately."
As she walked out, Weston stared at the signature.
For the first time, he understood something irreversible had happened.
He hadn't just refused to sign a document.
He had surrendered the privilege of being the father Marlo deserved.
Before he could speak again, Sable's phone rang.
The screen displayed a familiar name.
Josephine Nadeir.
Sable answered on speaker.
"Good morning, Josephine."
The attorney's calm voice filled the room.
"Good morning, Mrs. Callaway."
"I've just left an emergency meeting with the Board of Callaway Holdings."
Weston's expression tightened.
Josephine continued.
"They've unanimously requested your presence this afternoon."
Sable frowned.
"My presence?"
"Yes."
"There has been a significant change in corporate leadership..."
She paused.
May you like
"...and it directly involves your husband."
Weston felt his stomach drop.
