Chapter 5 - The Child They Tried to Take
The ambulance doors closed before Adrian reached them.
Sophia lay on the stretcher, gripping Maya’s hand while paramedics attached monitors to her body.
Adrian struck the door.
“I’m her husband.”
Sophia looked through the narrow window.
“No.”
The paramedic hesitated.
Maya spoke firmly.
“She has refused his presence. He cannot enter.”
Adrian’s face twisted.
“Sophia, listen to me.”
The ambulance pulled away.
Through the rear window, Sophia saw the Bennett estate shrinking into darkness.
Police vehicles arrived at the gates.
Reporters crowded the driveway.
Vanessa was being questioned beside her father.
Gabriel stood alone beneath the lights, holding the hospital document that suggested he had a sister.
Then the estate disappeared from view.
At St. Matthew’s Hospital, doctors rushed Sophia into an examination room.
The contractions were real, but the baby was still six weeks premature.
Her new physician, Dr. Naomi Chen, reviewed the altered medical records.
“You were given medication yesterday?” she asked.
“A vitamin injection.”
Sophia remembered the nurse Adrian had sent to the estate.
Dr. Chen’s expression hardened.
“That was not a vitamin.”
Maya stood beside the bed.
“What was it?”
“A low dose of a labor-inducing drug.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
Someone had begun the process before the party.
“Can you stop it?”
“We’ll try. The baby’s heart rate is stable, but you need complete rest.”
Sophia placed both hands over her stomach.
“Please save him.”
“We will do everything possible.”
Outside the room, arguments echoed through the corridor.
Adrian had arrived with Charles and several lawyers.
Maya stepped outside.
Sophia heard her voice rise.
“She has explicitly refused contact.”
“She is distressed,” Adrian replied. “She doesn’t understand the situation.”
“She understands that you attempted to have her declared unstable.”
“That petition was never filed.”
“You created fabricated medical testimony.”
“My attorneys prepared possibilities.”
Maya laughed without humor.
“Your possibilities almost killed her.”
A nurse closed the door.
Sophia stared at the ceiling.
She wanted to cry, but fear had dried every tear.
An hour later, the contractions slowed.
Dr. Chen confirmed that the baby remained safe for the moment.
“You’ll stay under observation,” she said. “No visitors unless you approve them.”
Sophia gave permission for Maya and Julian.
She did not permit Adrian, Charles, or Eleanor.
At three in the morning, Julian entered carrying a small bag.
“I brought your clothes and phone.”
“Where is Adrian?”
“With his lawyers.”
“And Vanessa?”
“The police took her for questioning. Marcus claims her account was hacked.”
Sophia knew that meant Cross Capital would fight.
“What about Gabriel?”
Julian sat beside the bed.
“He disappeared.”
“Of course.”
“He left this for you.”
Julian handed her a sealed envelope.
Sophia almost laughed at the sight of another one.
Inside was a short note.
The evidence against Adrian protects you for now. But someone inside the Bennett family altered the clinic records before Vanessa authorized the payment.
Do not trust the obvious villain.
Sophia read it twice.
“What does he mean?”
Julian shook his head.
“He didn’t explain.”
“Eleanor knew about his sister.”
Julian looked toward the door.
“I saw her face.”
“Could his sister still be alive?”
“If she is, Father may know.”
Sophia remembered the female infant listed in the hospital record.
“Why would someone transfer a newborn?”
“To hide her.”
“From whom?”
Julian did not answer.
The door opened.
Eleanor entered despite the restriction.
A nurse followed.
“I told her she cannot be here,” the nurse said.
Eleanor looked at Sophia.
“I need five minutes.”
“Leave,” Julian said.
Eleanor ignored him.
Sophia raised one hand.
“Let her speak.”
The nurse left reluctantly.
Eleanor remained near the door.
Without the ballroom lights and perfect posture, she looked older.
“Gabriel’s mother gave birth to twins,” she said.
Julian stood.
“You knew.”
“I knew there were two babies.”
“What happened to the girl?” Sophia asked.
Eleanor’s eyes moved toward her stomach.
“She was taken from the hospital before Charles arrived.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Sophia did not believe her.
Eleanor continued.
“Gabriel’s mother believed someone wanted both children dead. She arranged for the girl to be transferred under another name.”
“Why didn’t she take Gabriel too?”
“She tried. Charles found him first.”
Julian stared at his mother.
“Father knew Gabriel was alive?”
“Yes.”
“And he abandoned him?”
Eleanor’s expression became bitter.
“Your father abandoned many things to protect the company.”
Sophia held up Gabriel’s note.
“He says someone inside the family altered my medical records before Vanessa paid the clinic.”
Eleanor looked at the paper.
“Then he is telling the truth.”
Julian stepped closer to her.
“What do you know?”
Eleanor’s voice dropped.
“Adrian was not the first person who wanted Sophia’s child.”
Silence filled the room.
Sophia felt the baby move.
“Who else?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“The person who created the succession agreement.”
“Charles?”
“No.”
Eleanor’s lips trembled.
“Charles’s father.”
Julian frowned.
“Grandfather died eleven years ago.”
Eleanor nodded.
“But the private trust he created is still active.”
“What does the trust want with my son?” Sophia asked.
Eleanor looked toward the dark window.
“To continue the Bennett bloodline.”
“He’s a baby, not a corporate asset.”
“To that trust, there is no difference.”
Sophia felt anger replace fear.
“Then I’ll destroy it.”
Eleanor turned back to her.
“You don’t understand. The trust controls hospitals, judges, private investigators, and half the board.”
“Who manages it?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“A trustee whose identity has never been revealed.”
Julian’s voice became cold.
“You expect us to believe you don’t know?”
“I know only the title used in the documents.”
“What title?”
Eleanor looked directly at Sophia.
“The Guardian.”
The lights in the hospital room suddenly went out.
The heart monitor continued beeping.
Sophia heard the door open.
A shadow moved inside.
Julian turned.
“Who’s there?”
Something struck him.
He collapsed beside the bed.
Sophia screamed.
A gloved hand reached through the darkness and disconnected the fetal monitor.
May you like
Then a voice whispered near her ear.
“Your son belongs to the family.”
