Chapter 11 - The Man Who Watched My Unborn Child
Someone had been collecting information about my baby.
Before Vincent knew.
Before the divorce papers.
Before Christmas Eve.
I sat in Detective Mitchell's office trying to comprehend the violation.
"How could Adrian access my prenatal records?"
Mitchell folded her hands.
"We're investigating the full chain of access. Some information appears to have been obtained through unauthorized use of medical systems."
My stomach tightened.
"Who gave him access?"
"We've identified a contractor and an administrative employee whose credentials were misused. We're determining who was responsible for each access."
I looked down.
I had spent years treating frightened patients.
Explaining test results.
Protecting private medical information.
And now my own records had been taken and used to threaten me.
"What did Adrian want?"
Mitchell opened a folder.
"The trust documents appear to be the central motive."
I nodded.
"The eight hundred million dollars."
"Yes."
Then she continued.
"Adrian's communications suggest he believed your pregnancy would prevent Vanessa's child from becoming the first eligible beneficiary."
My blood ran cold.
"So he knew I was pregnant before Vincent did?"
"That's what the recovered records indicate."
I closed my eyes.
For several moments, I couldn't speak.
Then I looked at Mitchell.
"Did Vanessa know?"
She hesitated.
"Her attorney has indicated she's willing to cooperate."
I stared.
"Cooperate?"
"Yes."
I leaned back.
For weeks, I'd imagined confronting Vanessa.
Demanding answers.
Asking how she could betray another woman so completely.
But now I felt something different.
I wanted the truth.
Not another scene.
Not another argument.
Just facts.
That afternoon, Vanessa provided a statement through her attorney.
She admitted having relationships with Vincent and Adrian.
She admitted accepting money from Adrian.
She admitted helping him obtain information about Vincent's private financial accounts.
But she denied knowingly sending me a contaminated supplement.
According to her statement, Adrian told her the gift basket contained nothing dangerous.
She said she became suspicious afterward.
I didn't know whether to believe her.
The investigators would have to determine what the evidence showed.
Then Mitchell shared one part of Vanessa's statement that stunned me.
"Vanessa says she tried to warn Sofia Moretti."
I stared.
"What?"
"She claims she told Sofia that Adrian was manipulating Vincent's company accounts."
My heart tightened.
"Why would she do that?"
"Because she was frightened of Adrian."
I swallowed.
Vanessa had helped deceive my husband.
She had knowingly participated in a scheme involving financial information.
But that didn't mean every accusation against her was true.
I knew how important those distinctions were.
Then Mitchell continued.
"Vanessa says Adrian threatened to destroy her career if she backed out."
I looked toward the window.
For a moment, I remembered Vanessa gripping my wrist in the emergency department.
Begging me to save her baby.
I'd been devastated by her relationship with Vincent.
But I'd still treated her.
Because she was my patient.
Because her child deserved care.
And because being hurt didn't give me permission to become cruel.
That evening, Rebecca called.
"Claire, there's been another development."
My heart tightened.
"What?"
"Investigators found the original documents Adrian intended to use to challenge the family trust."
I sat upright.
"And?"
"They include proposed changes to the beneficiary records."
I stared.
"Proposed?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Nothing was legally finalized."
Relief washed through me.
Then she continued.
"But there's something unusual."
"What?"
"One document includes a contingency plan if you and Vincent divorced."
I felt cold.
"Why would Adrian care about our divorce?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"Because he believed he could manipulate custody or guardianship arrangements to influence the trust."
I covered my stomach.
My baby wasn't even born.
And someone had already treated the child like an asset.
I whispered, "This is insane."
Rebecca's voice softened.
"I know."
Then she added the detail that made my hands tremble.
"Claire, Adrian's plan depended on Vincent believing you were unfit to raise your child."
I closed my eyes.
"And he was collecting information to support that lie."
For the first time, I understood why I'd received anonymous messages about my pregnancy.
They hadn't merely been threats.
They had been part of a plan to make me afraid, unstable, and easier to discredit.
May you like
But Adrian had made one mistake.
He'd underestimated how much a mother would fight for her child's future.
