Chapter 2: What the Document Already Knew
Daniel knelt beside Clara, his hands shaking as he checked her pulse.
She was breathing, but barely.
Her lips were cracked.
The glass of water on the nightstand was empty and had been for hours.
"She just needed rest," Evelyn said from the doorway, her voice perfectly calm.
"You're making a scene over nothing."
Daniel looked up slowly.
"She collapsed, Mother."
"Weak women collapse.
That's not my fault."
Marissa stepped forward, her voice breaking.
"Mr.
Carter — she hasn't eaten since yesterday morning.
Mrs.
Evelyn told the kitchen staff that Clara had requested no meals.
She told them Clara wanted to lose the baby weight."
The room went silent.
Daniel stood up.
"She gave birth six days ago."
Evelyn's expression didn't change.
"A wife should maintain herself."
Then Victor moved — not toward Daniel, but toward the bassinet.
Toward Noah.
Daniel's bodyguard caught his arm before he took a second step.
"Why do you keep going for my son?" Daniel's voice dropped to something quiet and dangerous.
"What does any of this have to do with Noah?"
Victor said nothing.
But his eyes moved — just for a second — to Evelyn.
And Evelyn finally looked away.
That was when Daniel noticed the folded document on the side table.
The one with his father's law firm letterhead.
The one dated three days before Noah was born.
He reached for it.
May you like
"Daniel—" Evelyn's voice cracked for the first time.
"That is not what you think."
