Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED NO HEIRS
Emma hung up and immediately locked herself in Hannah’s apartment.
Her hands would not stop shaking.
Margaret knew.
How?
Only her doctor knew.
Her attorney knew because Emma had disclosed the pregnancy for legal protection.
Hannah knew.
No one else.
Unless someone had accessed her medical information.
Emma called her OB’s office.
The receptionist checked.
“No, Mrs. Moretti. No one else is authorized.”
“Has anyone requested my records?”
A pause.
“Actually…”
Emma closed her eyes.
“Who?”
“A representative from Moretti Family Insurance.”
Her stomach dropped.
Dominic’s family insurance administrator.
“When?”
“Yesterday morning.”
Before she left.
“Did you release anything?”
“No. They requested confirmation of eligibility, not records.”
“Could they see diagnostic billing codes?”
Another pause.
“Possibly.”
That was enough.
Pregnancy confirmation was coded.
Emma sat down.
Margaret knew.
Why did Gabriel warn her?
At the hospital, Dominic ordered a private toxicology review of his old medical records.
Then he called Gabriel.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Finally, a text arrived.
Do not call me.
Dominic typed back.
You knew my mother poisoned me.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Another message.
I found out recently.
Where are you?
No response.
Dominic stared at the screen.
Then another text appeared.
Protect Emma.
He almost laughed at the cruelty of it.
Protect Emma.
From whom?
His mother?
His family?
Himself?
He drove to the Lake Forest estate and entered his mother’s private office.
For years, Emma handled most household administration.
But Margaret kept a locked cabinet.
Dominic broke it open.
Inside were medical documents.
His.
His father’s.
Margaret’s.
Then a file marked EMMA.
Dominic stopped.
He opened it.
Five years of medical summaries.
Routine appointments.
Bloodwork.
Gynecological records.
Fertility testing.
He went cold.
Emma had never told him she underwent fertility testing.
Neither had he asked.
The file contained notes.
Low probability of conception.
Hormonal intervention recommended.
Then handwritten comments in Margaret’s script.
No treatment.
Do not authorize.
Dominic stared.
His mother had denied Emma fertility treatment through the family insurance plan.
Without telling either of them.
He turned the page.
There were pharmacy records.
One prescription caught his attention.
A medication Emma had taken for migraines two years earlier.
A note beside it:
Continue. May reduce conception probability.
Dominic stopped breathing.
His mother had been interfering with Emma’s fertility.
Not just neglecting it.
Actively.
He grabbed the file and drove to the hospital.
Margaret saw his face and knew.
“You went through my office.”
“You drugged my wife.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“I protected her.”
“From pregnancy?”
“From becoming trapped.”
Dominic laughed in disbelief.
“She was already married to me.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“A child would have made leaving impossible.”
Dominic stared.
“You wanted her to leave?”
“No.”
Margaret’s tone became colder.
“I wanted her useful.”
The word nearly broke him.
Useful.
Emma had spent five years taking care of Margaret.
Remembering birthdays.
Managing specialists.
Sitting beside her after chemotherapy.
Useful.
“You hated her.”
“I did not.”
“You treated her like staff.”
“She was excellent at running the household.”
“She was my wife.”
“And you never loved her.”
Dominic went silent.
Margaret’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you?”
He could not answer quickly enough.
That delay said everything.
Or would have, once.
Now Dominic knew the answer.
He loved Emma.
He had probably loved her for years.
He had simply been too emotionally cowardly to participate in his own marriage.
Margaret saw something in his face.
“Oh.”
Dominic turned away.
“Stay away from her.”
“Dominic.”
“If you contact her, I will make sure you never see me again.”
Margaret stared.
“You would choose Emma over your mother?”
He looked back.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised both of them.
That evening, Emma packed again.
Hannah watched.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere Margaret can’t find me.”
“You don’t know that she’s dangerous.”
“She sabotaged Dominic’s hearing.”
Hannah froze.
Emma had just received Dominic’s message.
He had finally told her.
Not asking her to return.
Not begging.
Just:
My mother caused my hearing loss. I found records showing she interfered with your fertility care. I’m sorry. You were never safe in that house. I won’t ask where you are. I only need you to know.
Emma read it three times.
Then a fourth.
She hated that part of her still responded to his words.
Hannah touched her arm.
“Are you going to tell him about the baby?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
Emma looked down at her stomach.
“Yes.”
“But not now.”
Before Hannah could answer, the apartment buzzer sounded.
Neither woman moved.
Again.
Then Emma’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered silently.
A woman spoke.
“Mrs. Moretti?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Dr. Elaine Porter.”
Emma frowned.
“I treated Dominic three years ago.”
Emma sat down.
Dr. Porter continued.
“There is something you need to know before Margaret finds you.”
Emma’s grip tightened.
“What?”
“The medication Margaret gave Dominic was not meant to damage his hearing.”
Emma closed her eyes.
“What was it meant to do?”
May you like
Dr. Porter’s answer came slowly.
“To make him sterile.”
