Chapter 7: The Truth About My Unborn Child
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
The police sirens grew louder in the distance, but I barely heard them.
All I heard was Mark’s voice.
“That child is the reason I married you.””
My hand instinctively moved to my stomach.
My daughter.
The tiny life I had protected for seven months.
The baby whose shoes he kicked into a gutter.
“What does that mean?”” I whispered.
Mark looked at me with a strange mixture of anger and satisfaction.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
But Mark laughed.
“Of course you’d say that.””
I looked between them.
“What is he talking about?””
Nobody answered.
And that silence broke something inside me.
“No.””
My voice became louder.
“No more secrets.””
I looked at Daniel.
“No more protecting me.””
Then I looked at Mark.
“No more lies.””
The police cars entered the parking lot.
Two officers stepped out, but they stopped when they saw the crowd.
One of them approached carefully.
“What happened here?””
Nobody spoke.
Then the woman who recorded Mark earlier stepped forward.
“He assaulted his pregnant wife.””
Mark immediately changed.
The cold expression disappeared.
The charming businessman returned.
“Officer, this is a misunderstanding.””
I almost laughed.
A misunderstanding.
That was his favorite phrase.
The officer looked at me.
“Ma’am?””
I touched my cheek.
My fingers trembled.
“He hit me.””
The officer looked at Mark.
“Sir?””
Mark sighed dramatically.
“My wife is emotional. She’s pregnant. We had an argument.””
Daniel’s expression turned furious.
“She has bruising on her wrist.””
The officer looked down.
“Sir, please step back.””
Mark’s eyes narrowed.
For the first time, he realized his reputation couldn’t save him.
Not here.
Not anymore.
As the officer questioned everyone, Daniel pulled me aside.
“Emily.””
I looked at him.
“Tell me about the baby.””
His face tightened.
“I wanted to tell you.””
“When?””
He looked away.
“That’s not an answer.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Before Mark, your parents had another business partner.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with my daughter?””
“The Carter family trust.””
I stared at him.
“What trust?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then Claire answered.
“Your parents created a protection fund.””
I turned toward her.
“A protection fund?””
She nodded.
“For their children.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
“Because they knew someone might come after their assets.””
Daniel continued quietly.
“When your parents died, the trust was divided.””
I listened.
“One part belonged to you.””
“And the other?””
“Me.””
I looked at him.
“So why would Mark care about my baby?””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Because the trust had a condition.””
“What condition?””
He took a breath.
“The inheritance could only be transferred after you had a child.””
The world seemed to stop.
I stared at him.
“No.””
Mark had been watching from a distance.
Now he smiled.
“You finally understand.””
I turned toward him.
“You married me because of an inheritance?””
Mark didn’t answer immediately.
That was worse.
Then he said:
“I married you because I knew what you were worth.””
The words cut deeper than I expected.
“You never loved me.””
Mark looked almost offended.
“Love doesn’t build empires.””
I felt sick.
The man I shared a home with.
The man who touched my stomach and called our daughter his miracle.
Had been waiting for a payout.
Daniel stepped between us.
“You’re done.””
Mark laughed.
“Am I?””
He looked at me.
“You think your brother is different?””
I froze.
“What?””
Mark nodded toward Daniel.
“Ask him why he never told you about the trust.””
Daniel looked away.
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel?””
My brother didn’t speak.
That was enough.
I stepped back.
“You knew.””
“I found out after our parents died.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice broke.
“You were making choices for me.””
Daniel looked devastated.
“I was scared.””
“For what?””
His eyes met mine.
“Because the same people who killed our parents were still watching you.””
A cold wave moved through me.
“Who?””
Before Daniel could answer, an officer approached.
“Mrs. Carter?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
“We need to ask you something.””
The officer held a phone.
“Someone sent us a video.””
My heart stopped.
“What video?””
He looked at the screen.
“It shows your husband meeting someone two weeks before your appointment today.””
I stared.
“Who?””
The officer turned the phone toward me.
The image loaded.
And I saw Mark.
Standing beside someone I recognized.
May you like
Someone I never expected.
My own doctor.
