Chapter 9 - THE PROMISE I COULDN'T BUY
I looked at Eva.
Her tiny face was peaceful.
One small hand rested against Claire's sweater.
“What condition?” I asked.
Claire took a careful breath.
“The doctors noticed an irregular heartbeat. They've referred her to a pediatric cardiologist.”
My stomach tightened.
“Is it serious?”
“We don't know yet.”
I stared at my daughter.
Six days after her birth, I'd worried about company shares and stolen money.
Claire had been worrying about whether our baby needed heart treatment.
The shame felt endless.
“When is the appointment?”
“Thursday.”
I swallowed.
“Can I come?”
Claire looked at me.
For several seconds, she didn't answer.
Then she said, “I'll ask the care team what arrangements are appropriate.”
I nodded.
“Okay.”
She seemed surprised.
Maybe she'd expected me to argue.
Maybe the old Adrian would have.
But I was beginning to understand that showing up wasn't the same as taking control.
I looked down at Ethan.
He made a tiny sound.
My chest tightened.
“Claire, I'm sorry.”
She didn't look away.
“Which part?”
The question stopped me.
I could have said all of it.
The affair.
The lies.
The Miami trip.
The missed calls.
But those words felt too small.
I took a breath.
“For making you feel alone while you were carrying our children.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
I continued.
“For choosing Sienna when you needed me. For treating your concerns like interruptions. For leaving you to face the birth without me.”
My voice broke.
“And for believing money would make up for everything.”
Claire looked down.
I wanted to reach for her.
I didn't.
Finally, she whispered:
“I needed my husband.”
Tears rolled down my face.
“I know.”
“No,” she said softly. “You didn't.”
I closed my eyes.
She was right.
Then she continued.
“Adrian, I don't know whether I can ever trust you again.”
I nodded.
“You don't have to decide that now.”
Her expression changed.
I looked at Eva.
“But I want to become a father they can depend on. Even if you never want me back.”
For the first time, Claire's face softened slightly.
Not forgiveness.
Not love.
But something less guarded.
The visit ended forty minutes later.
I handed Ethan back carefully.
Then watched Claire settle both babies into their bassinets.
As I prepared to leave, she spoke.
“Adrian?”
I turned.
“Yes?”
“Eva likes being held against someone's chest.”
I swallowed.
“Thank you.”
“And Ethan hates sudden noises.”
I smiled through my tears.
“I'll remember.”
She nodded.
Then I left.
That evening, Daniel called.
“Sir, the forensic audit has uncovered another discrepancy.”
I sat down.
“What?”
“It's connected to the medical research division.”
My stomach tightened.
“Which project?”
“Project Aurora.”
I frowned.
That was our neonatal technology initiative.
Claire had been especially interested in it because of our fertility journey.
“What about it?”
Daniel hesitated.
“The research data may have been manipulated.”
My heart began pounding.
“By whom?”
“Jonathan Pierce.”
I stared at the wall.
Then Daniel continued.
“Sir, Claire was reviewing Project Aurora before she went into labor.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“Because she believed the foundation's grants were being redirected.”
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Then came the sentence that made my blood run cold.
“Adrian, the clinic that treated Eva uses equipment developed through Project Aurora.”
