Chapter 4 - Sign for the Child
Clara pounded on the bedroom door until her hands hurt.
Victoria arrived nearly twenty minutes later.
“What are you doing?” Clara demanded.
“Protecting you from making a reckless decision.”
“The notice is fake.”
Victoria’s expression did not change.
“Grief can create denial.”
“Arthur’s middle name is wrong.”
“A clerical error.”
“The Army would not make that mistake.”
“Government offices make mistakes every day.”
“Open the door.”
“You need to calm down.”
“I will break a window.”
“You are on the second floor.”
“I will scream until someone hears me.”
“The nearest neighboring property is over a mile away.”
Clara stepped back from the door.
Victoria’s voice softened.
“Listen to me. Arthur is gone. Whether you accept it today or next week will not change that.”
“You are lying.”
“I am trying to help you.”
“Then give me access to a phone.”
“After we settle the legal arrangements.”
Clara looked down at the death notice.
“What legal arrangements?”
“There are provisions in the Harrington trust concerning the death of an heir before the birth of his child.”
“Arthur wasn’t an heir. He already owned his shares.”
“Which will pass to the baby.”
“Then the baby will own them.”
“A child cannot manage a corporate estate.”
“Neither can an unborn baby sign custody papers.”
Victoria was silent.
Clara felt fear gather in the pit of her stomach.
“What do you want me to sign?”
“Temporary guardianship documents.”
“No.”
“You have not seen them.”
“I don’t need to.”
“You are grieving and financially inexperienced.”
“I managed my own design company before I married Arthur.”
“A charming little business is not the same as controlling billions of dollars in assets.”
“Arthur trusted me.”
“Arthur was blinded by affection.”
Clara approached the door.
“And you hated him for choosing me.”
“I never hated Arthur.”
“You hated anyone you couldn’t control.”
A long silence followed.
When Victoria spoke again, the warmth had disappeared from her voice.
“You will sign the documents.”
“No.”
“You will transfer temporary guardianship of the child to me after birth. You will also authorize the trust’s voting rights to remain under my control.”
“No.”
“In return, you will receive a generous allowance and a property of your choosing.”
“You are trying to buy my baby.”
“I am trying to protect the Harrington legacy from an emotionally unstable widow.”
“I am not a widow.”
Victoria exhaled slowly.
“You will be more comfortable once you accept reality.”
The sound of her heels faded down the hallway.
Clara searched the bedroom.
Arthur had always insisted on emergency preparations. He had stored a spare phone in a lockbox inside the dressing room, along with copies of identification documents and cash.
Clara entered the code.
The box was empty.
Victoria had found it.
For the next two days, Clara remained confined to the bedroom.
Meals appeared outside the door.
Victoria visited with documents and increasingly severe warnings.
Clara refused to sign.
On the third morning, the door opened.
Victoria stood beside a private physician named Dr. Mercer.
Clara had met him once at a Harrington charity gala.
He did not work at her usual hospital.
“I am not allowing him to examine me,” Clara said.
Victoria entered.
“You have barely eaten.”
“Because you locked me in this room.”
Dr. Mercer placed a medical bag on the table.
“I only want to check the baby’s heartbeat.”
“My doctor can do that.”
“Your doctor is unavailable,” Victoria said.
“Everyone seems to become unavailable when you are involved.”
Dr. Mercer avoided her gaze.
Clara understood that he was frightened of Victoria or indebted to her.
Perhaps both.
She stepped away from him.
“Leave.”
Victoria picked up the folder from the table.
“Sign the temporary guardianship authorization, and you may return to your own home.”
“That document would give you control of my child.”
“It would give the child stability.”
“It would give you the trust shares.”
“You are in no condition to make financial decisions.”
“I am in this condition because you imprisoned me.”
Victoria’s smile was thin.
“No one will believe that.”
Clara looked toward Dr. Mercer.
He lowered his eyes.
Victoria continued.
“You are a grieving pregnant woman who became confused after learning of her husband’s death. I brought a doctor to help you. I kept you from driving in a distressed condition. Everything I have done can be explained as concern.”
Clara’s heart pounded.
Victoria had constructed a story that would make cruelty look like care.
“You planned this before the notice arrived,” Clara said.
Victoria did not answer.
“You knew Arthur refused to give you control of the trust. You needed him gone.”
“I did not harm my son.”
“But you saw an opportunity when he stopped calling.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Sign the papers, Clara.”
“No.”
The baby shifted beneath Clara’s hand.
She took strength from the movement.
“You may control the doors, the phones and everyone who works for you. You will never control my child.”
Victoria closed the folder.
May you like
Her eyes became empty.
“We will see.”
