Chapter 11 - The Birth Event
Emily wanted to believe the phrase meant nothing.
She failed.
Birth event.
Rachel’s kidnappers asking about the baby.
Eight million dollars transferred to Aurora Medical Holdings.
Daniel immediately searched the company.
Aurora appeared legitimate.
Private healthcare investment.
Maternity clinics.
Genetic research.
Hospitals.
Then he found a subsidiary.
St. Matthew’s Medical Center.
The same hospital where Emily had met Thomas Vale.
The coincidence was too precise.
They went home.
Together.
Whatever distance had opened between them after Victoria revealed the photograph was gone now.
They had bigger problems.
Daniel locked the doors.
Changed security codes.
Called a private protection team he trusted.
Then they listened to Thomas’s recorder.
The first twenty minutes contained nothing.
Static.
Footsteps.
A restaurant conversation too distant to understand.
Then Thomas’s voice.
“If you’re hearing this, Daniel, I probably ran out of time.”
Daniel stopped the recording.
Emily took his hand.
He pressed play again.
“I was wrong about your father. I was wrong about you. I don’t know whether forgiveness matters after everything I said, but I need you to understand why I did it.”
Thomas explained the false evidence.
The manipulated data.
Victoria’s transfers.
Then his voice changed.
“The woman behind Halcyon is Evelyn Harper.”
Emily felt herself go cold.
“I first met Evelyn through Victoria. By then, Victoria believed she was a partner. She wasn’t. None of us were.”
A sound interrupted the recording.
Thomas waited.
Then continued.
“Evelyn knows things about the Carter family that even Richard never knew. She also knows something about her brother Michael’s daughter.”
Emily stopped breathing.
Daniel looked at her.
Thomas continued.
“Emily Harper is not involved. If she comes near you, protect her.”
Emily closed her eyes.
The next sentence was worse.
“Evelyn has been watching Emily since she was a child.”
Daniel stood.
“What the hell?”
The recording crackled.
“Michael discovered what Evelyn was doing and tried to stop her. That is why he died.”
Emily put both hands over her mouth.
Thomas continued.
“I don’t know why Evelyn is interested in Emily. Michael’s files refer to something called the inheritance sequence. I think it is connected to the Harper family trust.”
Emily looked at Daniel.
“I don’t have a family trust.”
Thomas’s final words came slowly.
“If Emily is pregnant when you hear this, do not let Aurora Medical Holdings near the child.”
The recording ended.
Silence filled the room.
Daniel immediately called their obstetrician.
Dr. Melissa Grant had cared for Emily since the beginning of pregnancy.
Her clinic was independent.
Or so they thought.
Daniel searched corporate ownership.
Two years earlier, the practice had been purchased by a regional healthcare group.
That group was majority-owned by Aurora.
Emily felt nauseated.
“My doctor works for them.”
“We change doctors.”
“My records are already there.”
Daniel called Dr. Grant.
No answer.
He called the emergency line.
Another physician answered.
Daniel asked where Dr. Grant was.
There was hesitation.
“She resigned this morning.”
Emily stared at him.
“Why?”
The physician did not know.
Daniel ended the call.
Ten minutes later, Emily received an email.
From Dr. Grant.
No subject.
One sentence.
DO NOT GIVE BIRTH AT ST. MATTHEW’S.
Attached was a laboratory report.
Emily opened it.
It contained genetic testing results.
Her name.
Daniel’s name.
And a third section.
FETAL MARKER MATCH: H-17.
Daniel read it twice.
“What is H-17?”
Emily shook her head.
At the bottom of the report was another line.
ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMED FOR SUCCESSION PROTOCOL.
Neither knew what it meant.
Then someone rang the doorbell.
Security called Daniel.
“Your sister is outside.”
Victoria stood beneath the porch light.
Alone.
No makeup.
No black dress.
No arrogance.
She looked terrified.
Daniel opened the door but did not let her enter.
“What do you want?”
Victoria looked past him at Emily.
“They know about the baby.”
Daniel’s expression went cold.
“You know?”
Victoria nodded.
“Daniel, please.”
“What is the succession protocol?”
Victoria’s face went white.
May you like
Emily saw the answer before she spoke.
Victoria knew exactly what it was.
