Chapter 1 - The Last Normal Morning
Clara woke before Daniel and stood at the bedroom window, one hand supporting the curve of her stomach.
Their daughter kicked whenever sunlight reached the room.
“There you are,” Clara whispered.
Daniel stirred behind her.
“Talking to me or the baby?”
“The baby. She listens better.”
Daniel smiled and joined her by the window. He placed his hand over Clara’s stomach, and the baby kicked again.
They had already chosen a name: Sophie.
The pregnancy had not been easy, but every examination had shown that both Clara and Sophie were healthy. Dr. Crane, a respected private physician and longtime friend of Clara’s family, had supervised most of her care.
Daniel had never trusted him completely.
Crane spoke to Helena more than he spoke to Clara. He often lowered his voice when discussing test results, as though Clara were a child unable to understand her own body.
That morning, Helena called during breakfast.
“I have arranged a small family dinner tonight,” she said. “Marcus will be there, and Dr. Crane wants to check Clara’s blood pressure.”
Clara looked tired the moment she heard her mother’s voice.
“We saw the doctor two days ago,” Daniel said.
Helena ignored him.
“It is important that Clara come.”
After the call ended, Daniel reached across the table.
“We don’t have to go.”
Clara looked down at the untouched toast on her plate.
“My mother has been strange since my grandfather died. She keeps talking about family responsibility and protecting the Vale name.”
Clara’s grandfather had left behind a large estate. According to the will, Clara would receive control of a family trust on her thirtieth birthday, which was only five weeks away.
Marcus had challenged the arrangement, claiming that the estate should remain under his management. Helena had supported him.
Clara had refused to surrender her inheritance.
May you like
“I’ll go,” she said. “But this is the last time I let them pressure me.”
Neither she nor Daniel understood how final that decision might become.
