Chapter 4 - THE CHILD CLAIRE HID
Ethan returned to the hospital before sunrise.
Claire knew something had changed the moment he entered her room.
He did not sit down.
He placed Grant’s phone on the table beside her bed.
The photograph of the little girl filled the screen.
Claire stopped breathing.
Ethan watched recognition spread across her face.
“Who is she?”
Claire reached toward the phone.
“Where did you get this?”
“Grant Keller had it.”
Her hand dropped.
Ethan’s voice trembled with fury.
“Who is she, Claire?”
Claire looked toward the officers outside.
“Close the door.”
Ethan did not move.
“Tell me.”
“She’s our daughter.”
The words struck harder than any physical blow.
Ethan gripped the back of a chair.
“We don’t have a daughter.”
“Yes, we do.”
“You were not pregnant when you disappeared.”
“I was six weeks pregnant.”
“You never told me.”
“I planned to tell you on our anniversary.”
“That was the night you vanished.”
Claire nodded.
Ethan turned away from her.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
“How old is she?”
“Seventeen months.”
“What is her name?”
“Sophie.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Claire began to cry.
“I wanted you to know.”
“Then why didn’t I?”
“Because Eleanor found the pregnancy test before I could tell you.”
Ethan faced her again.
“She threatened my mother.”
“Your mother died years ago.”
“That’s what I believed.”
Claire wiped her tears.
“My mother was living under another name in Baltimore.”
“Eleanor knew where she was.”
“She said she would kill her if I contacted you.”
“Why would she care about a baby?”
“Because Sophie changes the trust.”
Ethan remembered the documents from the metal case.
His grandfather’s estate had been divided through a complicated succession agreement.
If Ethan died without a child, Eleanor gained temporary control of his voting shares.
If Ethan had a legal heir, control passed to a protected trust.
Claire continued.
“Eleanor needed you childless.”
“She also needed me discredited.”
“So she made it look like I stole money.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“She transferred eight million dollars through an account opened in my name.”
Ethan sat down slowly.
“Where is Sophie?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
Claire hesitated.
Ethan’s pain turned to anger.
“She is my daughter.”
“And Eleanor is still free.”
“I deserve to know where she is.”
“You deserve to meet her.”
“But not until I know Eleanor cannot reach her.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“Grant already has a photograph.”
Claire looked at the screen again.
Fear drained the color from her face.
“That picture was taken yesterday.”
“How can you tell?”
“The blanket.”
Claire pointed to a small embroidered rabbit in the corner.
“Sophie only uses that blanket at one place.”
“Where?”
“My mother’s house.”
Ethan stood.
Claire grabbed his wrist.
“Do not call her.”
“Eleanor may be tracing every number connected to us.”
Detective Ruiz entered without knocking.
“We found Eleanor’s vehicle near the airport.”
“Was she inside?”
“No.”
The detective placed a printed highway image on the table.
The photograph showed Eleanor entering another vehicle.
A man sat behind the wheel.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
It was Julian Hawthorne.
His older cousin.
The man currently serving as acting chief executive of Hawthorne Holdings.
Claire stared at the image.
“He knows where my mother lives.”
Ethan looked toward Detective Ruiz.
“We need to get to Baltimore.”
Claire tried to rise from the bed.
Pain forced her back.
Ethan leaned over her.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“My daughter is there.”
“You nearly died last night.”
“And Sophie could die today.”
A nurse rushed in after hearing the monitor alarm.
Claire ignored her.
She held Ethan’s gaze.
May you like
“Eleanor did not take me eighteen months ago because I knew too much.”
“She took me because I was carrying the one person who could take everything from her.”
