Chapter 7 - The Brother at the DoorThe medical team stabilized Hannah after several terrifying minutes.
Her heart rhythm returned to normal, but she remained unconscious.
The doctor warned Jack that the next twelve hours were critical.
“The baby still has a heartbeat,” she said. “But Hannah’s body is under severe stress.”
Jack stood outside the ICU with Ryan.
The shattered phone was sealed inside an evidence bag.
“Daniel sent the message,” Jack said.
“It came from his number,” Ryan replied. “That does not automatically prove he typed it.”
“You think someone framed him?”
“No. I think Daniel is responsible. But suspicion is not enough. We need evidence that survives his lawyers.”
Jack slammed his fist against the wall.
A nurse glanced toward them.
Ryan stepped closer.
“If you confront him without a plan, he will destroy records and disappear.”
“He threatened my child.”
“He also manipulated you for six months. Do not let him control your next decision.”
Jack stared through the ICU window.
“What do we have?”
Ryan told him about the shell companies, the driver, the false security team and the recording Hannah had sent before going to the hospital.
“She contacted you?”
“This afternoon.”
Jack closed his eyes.
Hannah had trusted Ryan before she trusted him.
He could not blame her.
Ryan played the recording.
Daniel’s voice came through clearly.
Some inheritances create enemies before a child is even born.
Jack listened twice.
Then he asked the question he had been avoiding.
“Why would my brother care about the baby?”
Ryan explained the family trust.
Jack had known the terms, but he had never considered how his child would affect Daniel’s control.
“If your child is legally recognized,” Ryan said, “the remaining trust shares pass to that child. Daniel loses any chance of controlling the company.”
Jack’s jaw tightened.
“He destroyed my marriage over shares.”
“Not only shares. Power.”
Footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor.
Daniel appeared carrying a concerned expression and an expensive coat folded over one arm.
“Jack.”
Ryan quietly stopped the recording.
Daniel approached.
“I came as soon as I heard.”
Jack looked at his brother.
Every instinct demanded that he grab Daniel and force the truth from him.
Instead, he remembered Ryan’s warning.
He lowered his eyes and allowed grief to replace anger.
“The doctors don’t know if she’ll survive.”
Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
Jack almost recoiled.
Instead, he let Daniel keep his hand there.
“The baby is mine,” Jack said.
Daniel’s fingers tightened slightly.
“How far along?”
“Sixteen weeks.”
“I had no idea.”
Jack raised his head.
For one brief moment, their eyes met.
Daniel’s face remained controlled.
But Jack finally saw what had always been there.
Calculation.
Not concern.
“Neither did I,” Jack replied.
Daniel looked through the glass at Hannah.
“Did she say anything before she lost consciousness?”
“No.”
“Was her phone recovered?”
Ryan answered before Jack could.
“The police are still searching.”
Daniel nodded.
A fraction too quickly.
Jack forced himself to ask, “Can you handle the board meeting tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“I can’t leave the hospital.”
“Stay with her. I’ll take care of everything.”
Jack almost laughed at the familiarity of the promise.
Daniel had been taking care of everything for months.
That was the problem.
After Daniel left, Ryan spoke quietly.
“He believes the phone is still missing.”
“Good.”
“We can use that.”
Jack looked toward Hannah.
“What do you need me to do?”
May you like
Ryan handed him a clean phone.
“Make your brother believe the baby will survive—and that Hannah woke up long enough to identify him.”
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