Chapter 6 - THE BABY HE NEVER KNEW
Vincent stared at the photograph as though the world had stopped.
"Pregnant?"
Vanessa said nothing.
He looked up.
"Claire was pregnant?"
She nodded.
For several seconds, he couldn't breathe.
Then he remembered the hospital.
My bruised arms.
The way I struggled to stand.
The pain in my face.
And the way he'd checked his watch.
I'll come back at eight.
He covered his mouth.
"Where is she?"
Vanessa's expression tightened.
"Vincent, you need to calm down."
He stood.
"Get out."
"But—"
"Now."
She left.
For the first time in years, Vincent Moretti sat alone without reaching for his phone to arrange another meeting.
He remembered how much I'd wanted children.
The tiny knitted sweater I bought on our second anniversary.
The baby-name list I'd hidden inside a cookbook.
The way I'd stopped mentioning motherhood after he postponed it for the fourth time.
Then his corporate attorney called.
"Vincent, Claire's lawyer has contacted us regarding the divorce."
His chest tightened.
"Divorce?"
"Yes."
He closed his eyes.
"And there's something else you need to know."
"What?"
"Claire's attorney has authorized us to confirm that she experienced a pregnancy loss after the accident."
Vincent stopped breathing.
For a moment, he heard nothing.
Then he whispered, "No."
The attorney continued carefully.
"She was approximately eight weeks pregnant."
Vincent dropped into his chair.
Eight weeks.
Our baby had existed for eight weeks.
And he'd never known.
He began crying.
Not the controlled grief of a businessman receiving bad news.
The broken sobs of a man realizing he'd abandoned his wife during the worst moment of her life.
He remembered asking Vanessa whether I'd called.
Her answer.
His approval.
You followed my instructions.
He covered his face.
"Oh, Claire."
Then the attorney said something that made him look up.
"Vincent, investigators have requested the company's communication records from the morning of the accident."
His expression changed.
"Why?"
"They believe the emergency call may have been deliberately concealed."
Vincent swallowed.
"Vanessa said Claire was emotional."
The attorney paused.
"There's an archived recording."
"What recording?"
"Your assistant's office phone system automatically recorded external calls."
Vincent felt his stomach drop.
The attorney continued.
"Claire's call was preserved."
Then he played it.
My frightened voice filled Vincent's office.
"Please, Vanessa. Tell him I've been in an accident. I'm bleeding. I'm in an ambulance."
Vanessa answered coldly.
"You'll have to handle this yourself."
A click.
Silence.
Vincent stared at the wall.
But the recording continued.
Vanessa hadn't disconnected the internal recording system.
A second voice spoke.
A man's voice.
"Was that Claire?"
Vanessa replied:
"Yes. The accident happened."
Then the man laughed softly.
"Good. Make sure Vincent doesn't find out until it's too late."
Vincent recognized the voice immediately.
May you like
His uncle.
Anthony Moretti.
