Chapter 7 - THE MEDICAL REPORT THEY WERE BUILDING
Grace stopped being calm.
Not publicly.
Not dramatically.
But Ethan saw it.
Her hand never left her stomach.
The specialist had not yet received records.
The request was intercepted because Grace's obstetrician called for confirmation.
One good system.
One alert person.
Enough.
Declan arranged independent cybersecurity help.
Maya Hart, Grace's divorce attorney, obtained an emergency order preventing release of medical information.
Ethan asked:
“Can I help?”
Grace looked at him.
“Not by taking over.”
He nodded.
That answer would have offended him a month earlier.
Now he asked:
“What do you want me to do?”
“Find out how they knew which test I had scheduled next week.”
Ethan did.
The answer led back to Vanessa.
She had access to Ethan's private family calendar because Grace's appointments sometimes appeared there.
Why?
Because during pregnancy Grace had tried to include him.
He rarely attended.
But the calendar remained shared.
Vanessa's executive permissions let her see it.
Another betrayal made possible by Ethan's carelessness.
He sat alone afterward and stared at the invitations he'd declined.
Twelve-week screening.
Anatomy consultation.
Hospital tour.
Grace had added him every time.
He had attended one.
One.
Then Vanessa finally called.
From Nassau.
She asked for immunity.
Not from law enforcement.
From Grace.
Grace almost laughed.
“You don't negotiate emotional immunity.”
Vanessa cried.
She admitted Rachel used her.
But not from the beginning.
Her mother asked her to join Calloway Transport to gather information.
The affair with Ethan?
Vanessa claimed it was real.
Unplanned.
Grace believed her.
That somehow hurt Ethan more.
Because nobody had forced him.
Then Vanessa said:
“Mom wants the medical clause because she thinks the baby has Richard's heart condition.”
“What heart condition?” Grace asked.
Richard had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Genetic.
Hidden from public filings.
Ethan had tested negative years ago.
But Richard's other child had not.
Ethan froze.
“What other child?”
Vanessa went silent.
Then:
“Your sister.”
Ethan laughed.
“I don't have a sister.”
“Yes, you do.”
Richard had fathered a daughter before Ethan's parents married.
Her name:
Charlotte Pierce.
Grace slowly looked toward Declan.
Pierce.
Declan's face went still.
May you like
“Charlotte is my sister-in-law.”
And suddenly Pierce Global's interest in Calloway looked more personal than anyone had admitted.
