Chapter 10 - THE BABY THEY NEVER WANTED
Nathaniel stared at Clare.
“Is it true?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
He stopped breathing.
For weeks, she'd been trying to find the right moment.
The right words.
The right way to tell him that the life growing inside her had changed everything.
But she hadn't wanted the Ashcroft family to know.
Not yet.
Not while they were investigating her mother's death.
Not while Victoria was threatening her.
Nathaniel stepped closer.
“How far along?”
“Seventeen weeks.”
He covered his mouth.
For a moment, the entire room disappeared.
He imagined tiny hands.
A heartbeat.
A child with Clare's serious brown eyes.
Then Eleanor's voice cut through the silence.
“This changes nothing.”
Nathaniel turned.
His expression hardened.
“It changes everything.”
Douglas stepped forward.
“You cannot seriously intend to bring a child into this mess.”
Nathaniel stared at him.
“It's my child.”
“And the merger?”
“I don't care about the merger.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You're throwing away billions for a woman who worked her way into your life.”
Clare stepped forward.
“I didn't know who Nathaniel was when we met.”
Victoria's smile hardened.
“Then you were more useful than I imagined.”
Nathaniel moved between them.
“Don't speak to her again.”
Douglas's voice rose.
“Enough!”
Everyone turned.
For the first time, the powerful patriarch looked frightened.
Not angry.
Frightened.
Clare noticed.
“What are you afraid of?”
Douglas stared at her.
Then at Nathaniel.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward the family's chief legal officer.
“Bring the trust documents.”
Nathaniel frowned.
“What trust documents?”
The attorney hesitated.
“Mr. Ashcroft…”
“Now,” Douglas snapped.
Minutes later, a thick folder appeared.
Nathaniel opened it.
His grandfather had established a family trust decades earlier.
Under one provision, the birth of a direct descendant could affect succession rights and the transfer of certain assets.
Nathaniel stared at the pages.
Then looked up.
“My child changes control of the trust?”
The attorney nodded.
“Potentially, yes.”
Clare's stomach tightened.
Victoria's face turned white.
She had expected to marry Nathaniel.
Expected to secure her family's position.
Expected to inherit influence through him.
Now Clare's unborn baby threatened that entire plan.
Eleanor spoke softly.
“This pregnancy creates serious complications.”
Nathaniel looked at her.
“No. It creates a child.”
Then he closed the folder.
“And none of you will use my child as leverage.”
He took Clare's hand.
They left the estate.
For the first time, Nathaniel walked away without looking back.
But two days later, Clare received a call from her obstetrician.
Her voice was urgent.
“Clare, I need you to come in.”
Clare's heart tightened.
“Is something wrong?”
The doctor hesitated.
“Someone has attempted to access and alter your medical records.”
Clare stopped breathing.
“Who?”
The doctor lowered her voice.
“The request came from a company controlled by Victoria Bowmont.”
May you like
Then she added:
“And Clare, someone has scheduled a procedure you never consented to.”
