Chapter 7 - The Eight-Hundred-Million-Dollar Baby

My unborn child had become the center of a financial scheme before anyone outside my closest circle knew the pregnancy existed.

I sat in Rebecca's office, staring at the trust documents.

Eight hundred million dollars.

I couldn't comprehend it.

Vincent's family had wealth, but most of it was tied up in companies, properties, and investment holdings.

Sofia had structured part of her estate to protect future generations.

Now that protection had apparently become the reason someone wanted to manipulate my marriage.

Rebecca examined the document.

"Claire, the trust doesn't simply hand control to the first person who claims paternity."

I exhaled.

"Good."

"There are verification requirements, independent trustees, and legal safeguards."

"Then why would Adrian try?"

"Because he may have believed he could influence the people responsible for administering the trust."

I stared at the paperwork.

"Through forged records?"

"Potentially. We need evidence."

I nodded.

My hand rested over my stomach.

For the first time, I understood why Sofia wanted me to know about the trust.

Not because she expected me to become wealthy.

Because she wanted our child protected.

Rebecca looked at me.

"Does Vincent know you're pregnant?"

"No."

"Do you want to tell him?"

I swallowed.

"Eventually. Through a safe and appropriate process."

She nodded.

"We can discuss the timing and legal arrangements."

I looked away.

I wasn't hiding the pregnancy to punish Vincent.

I simply wasn't ready to let him pull me back into the chaos of his life.

I'd lost one baby.

I needed peace.

I needed stability.

And I needed time to believe this child might be okay.

That evening, Maya accompanied me to another prenatal appointment.

Everything looked reassuring for the stage of pregnancy.

I watched the tiny movement on the ultrasound screen.

Tears slid down my cheeks.

"Hi, sweetheart," I whispered.

Maya squeezed my hand.

Afterward, we stopped for soup at a small restaurant near the hospital.

For twenty minutes, I almost felt normal.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

Congratulations, Doctor.

My stomach tightened.

Another message appeared.

How far along are you?

I froze.

Maya noticed.

"Claire?"

I showed her the screen.

Her expression changed immediately.

"Someone knows."

My heartbeat accelerated.

Only a few people knew about the pregnancy.

Maya.

My obstetric clinician.

Rebecca.

And me.

I looked toward the restaurant window.

Outside, snow drifted beneath the streetlights.

A black sedan was parked across the street.

For a moment, I couldn't move.

Then Maya reached for her phone.

"We're reporting this."

I nodded.

I wasn't going to handle threatening messages alone.

Investigators reviewed the texts and the possible surveillance.

Rebecca helped me document everything.

The next morning, Vincent called.

His voice sounded frightened.

"Claire, please tell me you're safe."

I felt cold.

"Why?"

"Adrian's people accessed confidential medical records."

I stopped breathing.

"What records?"

"Your hospital's employee health files."

My stomach tightened.

"That's illegal."

"I know."

"How did you find out?"

"One of our auditors traced payments to a private data contractor."

I stared.

Then Vincent whispered, "Claire, is there something you're not telling me?"

My hand moved toward my stomach.

For a long moment, I couldn't speak.

He continued.

"Because Adrian left a message on my phone."

"What message?"

Vincent's voice broke.

"He said the child I should be worried about isn't Vanessa's."

My blood ran cold.

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Then he whispered the words I'd been dreading.

"Claire, are you pregnant?"