Chapter 2 - THE PAPERS ON THE BED
Lucas came home Thursday night instead of Friday.
He entered the bedroom angry.
Not at Emma.
Not yet at anyone.
At confusion.
“Why is security saying you tried to leave through the service elevator?”
Emma stared at him.
“That’s your first question?”
He looked tired.
Dark suit.
White shirt.
Tie removed.
“Emma.”
She pulled the blanket higher.
“Where’s my phone?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your mother has it.”
His face changed.
“She told me you dropped it.”
Emma laughed.
Then winced.
Lucas stepped closer.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Emma.”
He reached for the blanket.
She grabbed it.
“Don’t.”
He froze.
Why?
That was in his face.
Then he pulled the blanket away.
Her white silk nightdress had ridden above her knees.
Bruises covered both legs.
Some purple.
Some yellowing.
One ankle swollen badly.
Lucas stopped breathing.
“What happened to you?!”
Emma began crying before she could stop herself.
“Please… protect my baby.”
Lucas dropped to his knees beside the bed.
“Who did this?”
The bedroom door opened.
Margaret entered.
Elegant beige suit.
Pearls.
Behind her came Richard Hale carrying a thick legal folder.
Richard crossed the room and slammed it onto the bed.
Margaret said:
“Good. You finally found out.”
Emma recoiled.
Lucas stood slowly.
“Found out what?”
Margaret pointed at Emma’s stomach.
“If something happens to her, the baby stays with our family.”
Emma started sobbing.
“Lucas… they said YOU agreed!”
His face changed.
Richard opened the folder.
“Lucas, this is a continuity package. Nothing more.”
Lucas snatched it.
Pages.
Medical authority.
Emergency guardianship.
Prenatal trust acknowledgment.
Then his signature.
His hands began shaking.
“I never signed this.”
Richard’s smug expression disappeared.
Margaret froze.
Lucas looked up.
Then slammed the papers against Richard’s chest.
“You forged my name?!”
Richard stumbled backward.
Margaret rushed forward.
“Lucas, listen to me—”
He stepped directly between her and Emma.
Margaret tried to move around him.
Lucas blocked her.
Emma clutched her stomach behind him.
Lucas pointed at his mother.
“Try taking my wife or my child.”
Margaret’s face went pale.
Richard gripped the papers.
Then he said the sentence that stopped Lucas cold.
“I didn’t forge anything.”
Lucas turned.
May you like
Richard lifted the folder.
“You authorized me to sign for you three months ago.”
