Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO STOLE THEIR GOODBYE
Dr. Margaret Sullivan arrived within forty minutes.
She examined Anna in Dominic's bedroom because he refused to let her return to the servants’ quarters.
Dehydration.
Bruising.
Anemia.
Dangerously elevated stress.
But the baby's heartbeat remained strong.
Dominic stood near the window while the fetal monitor filled the room with rapid rhythmic beats.
He could not stop listening.
His son.
Every beat felt like an accusation.
Anna watched him.
“You can sit down.”
Dominic almost laughed.
It was exactly like her.
She was the one lying bruised in bed, yet she worried about him.
He sat.
Dr. Sullivan looked between them.
“Anna needs rest, nutrition and considerably less stress.”
Dominic asked:
“Hospital?”
“Not necessary unless symptoms worsen.”
Then Dr. Sullivan became quiet.
“There is another issue.”
Anna looked away.
Dominic noticed.
“What?”
Dr. Sullivan asked Anna:
“May I tell him?”
Anna hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Someone canceled three of Anna’s prenatal appointments.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“Appointments were booked under a private account associated with your family office. Each was canceled by someone identifying herself as Mrs. Rainer’s assistant.”
Evelyn.
Dominic's hands closed.
Dr. Sullivan continued.
“Anna has missed important monitoring.”
“Why?”
Anna answered softly.
“Your mother said the doctors were too expensive.”
Dominic stared.
Rainer Maritime spent more on flowers at corporate galas than Anna's entire pregnancy care would cost.
“She told you that?”
“Yes.”
Dominic stood.
Anna immediately tensed.
He noticed.
The movement stopped him cold.
She thought his anger might become dangerous to her.
“I'm not angry with you.”
“I know.”
But her body did not know.
That mattered.
Dominic sat again.
“What else happened?”
Anna remained silent.
“Please.”
Finally:
“She took my phone.”
“When?”
“Five months ago.”
“Why?”
“She said employees weren't allowed personal phones.”
Dominic knew that was false.
Every member of household staff had one.
“She read my mail.”
“What mail?”
“I wrote to you.”
His heart stopped.
“How many?”
Anna thought.
“Twenty-three letters.”
Dominic stared.
“I never received one.”
“I know that now.”
“What did they say?”
Her eyes filled.
“At first, I was angry.”
“You had every right.”
“Then I started begging.”
His face changed.
“I told you about the baby moving. I sent ultrasound copies. I asked whether you wanted to choose his name.”
Dominic looked away.
Anna continued:
“When you never answered, I stopped asking you to love me.”
That hurt.
“I only asked you to please love him.”
Dominic covered his mouth.
Twenty-three letters.
Twenty-three chances to learn his son lived.
Twenty-three opportunities stolen.
“Where are they?”
“I don't know.”
Dominic did.
His mother kept everything.
Evelyn believed information was leverage.
He left Anna with Dr. Sullivan and walked downstairs.
Evelyn was waiting in the library.
“You embarrassed me in front of the staff.”
Dominic shut the door.
“You canceled her medical appointments.”
“She didn't require a private obstetrician.”
“You confiscated her phone.”
“She was an employee.”
“You intercepted twenty-three letters.”
Silence.
There.
Confirmation.
Dominic approached.
“Where are they?”
“I destroyed them.”
He knew she was lying.
“Mother.”
“Dominic.”
“Where are the letters?”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“You are behaving emotionally.”
“My child was hidden from me.”
“You needed time.”
“For what?”
“To understand what she was.”
He stared.
“And what is she?”
“A waitress who saw an opportunity.”
“She was studying nursing.”
“She quit.”
“You forced her out.”
“I offered reality.”
Evelyn stood.
“You were negotiating a three-billion-dollar acquisition. You were being considered for the Maritime Council. Your engagement to Camille Ashford was about to be announced.”
Dominic froze.
“What engagement?”
Evelyn stopped.
Too late.
He had never proposed to Camille.
They had dated briefly years earlier.
Nothing more.
“You told Anna I was engaged?”
Evelyn said nothing.
“How many lies?”
“I protected the family.”
Dominic laughed.
It contained no humor.
“Where are the letters?”
Evelyn looked toward the fireplace.
Small mistake.
Dominic followed her gaze.
A portrait of his late father hung above it.
Dominic crossed the room.
Removed it.
Behind it was a wall safe.
Evelyn's composure cracked.
“Don't.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because some truths cannot be put back.”
He entered the code.
His father's birthday.
Incorrect.
Mother's birthday.
Incorrect.
Then Dominic remembered something.
Evelyn worshipped lineage.
He entered the date Rainer Maritime was founded.
Click.
The safe opened.
Inside were folders.
Anna Bennett.
Dominic pulled it out.
Twenty-three letters.
Unopened by him.
Opened by Evelyn.
Ultrasound photographs.
Medical bills.
Copies of text messages.
And a document bearing Dominic's electronic signature.
He read it.
His blood went cold.
It authorized a private settlement with Anna following a “nonviable pregnancy.”
His signature was forged.
But there was something worse.
Attached was a transfer record.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Recipient:
BENNETT, ANNA M.
Dominic whispered:
“She never received this.”
Evelyn remained silent.
“Where did the money go?”
No answer.
Dominic turned another page.
The receiving account belonged to a company called White Harbor Consulting LLC.
He recognized the authorized representative.
Camille Ashford.
His former girlfriend.
Dominic looked up.
May you like
His mother was no longer the only person who had lied.
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