Chapter 5 - THE FIRST VISIT
Julian arrived at Mount Sinai shortly after midnight.
He had changed out of his tuxedo.
The wedding reception was still happening without him.
Chloe had remained at the Waldorf, smiling for guests and explaining that her husband had been called away by an overseas crisis.
Julian did not know whether that lie had been hers or his.
He only knew he had told his driver one address.
Mount Sinai.
Hospital security recognized him immediately.
That created a problem.
A billionaire entering a maternity ward after midnight was not subtle.
Julian requested privacy.
The charge nurse was unimpressed.
“Patient privacy applies to billionaires too.”
“I’m not asking you to violate it.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking you to tell Elena Sterling that Julian Sterling is downstairs.”
The nurse raised one eyebrow.
“Different last name now.”
Julian felt the correction like a slap.
“Tell Elena that Julian is here.”
Twenty minutes later, Amelia appeared.
She crossed the lobby wearing jeans, a cashmere sweater, and enough hostility to stop traffic.
“You have nerve.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
“I need to speak to Elena.”
“You needed to speak to her six months ago.”
“Amelia.”
“You don’t get to use my name like we’re family.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Is the baby mine?”
Amelia stared at him.
“That is between you and Elena.”
“So you know.”
“I know you’re standing in a hospital lobby less than twelve hours after marrying the woman you cheated with.”
“I did not sleep with Chloe while Elena and I were together.”
Amelia laughed.
“Congratulations on locating the narrowest possible definition of betrayal.”
Julian glanced toward the elevators.
“I’m not leaving without speaking to her.”
Amelia stepped closer.
“You will if she asks you to.”
A voice behind them interrupted.
“I did.”
Julian turned.
Elena stood near the elevators.
She wore a pale blue hospital robe under a long cardigan.
Her face was exhausted.
Her hair had been tied loosely behind her head.
She had never looked more beautiful to him.
Julian hated himself for noticing.
Elena folded her arms.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I needed to see you.”
“You saw me in court for four months.”
“I need to see him.”
“No.”
Julian flinched.
“Elena.”
“You got married today.”
“I’m aware.”
“Go to your wife.”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I chose not to answer.”
His voice hardened instinctively.
“If that child is mine, you cannot keep him from me.”
Amelia immediately moved forward.
Elena raised a hand.
“I’ve got it.”
Then she looked Julian directly in the eyes.
“Do not threaten me in the maternity ward twelve hours after I delivered your son.”
Silence.
Julian stopped breathing.
Elena realized what she had said one second too late.
Amelia closed her eyes.
Julian stared at her.
“My son.”
Elena’s face became unreadable.
“Yes.”
The word barely left her mouth.
Julian looked toward the elevator.
Then back at Elena.
“You’re certain?”
“I had a prenatal paternity test.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“For months.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
Elena’s eyes flashed.
“You told six strangers in a mediation room that I was infertile, vindictive, unstable, and trying to drain the Sterling fortune.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“You let your lawyers place my medical history on a projector.”
“Elena.”
“You allowed Chloe to sit outside that room feeding documents to your legal team.”
“I didn’t know you were pregnant.”
“Neither did I.”
“When did you find out?”
“The morning after the divorce became final.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Something inside him seemed to collapse.
“You found out the next day.”
“Yes.”
“And you never called me.”
Elena looked at him for a long time.
“Would you have believed me?”
Julian opened his mouth.
No answer came.
Elena nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
He looked smaller then.
Not physically.
Julian Sterling was still tall, tailored, controlled, and powerful enough to move markets with a phone call.
But for the first time, Elena saw him confronted by something money could not repair instantly.
Regret.
“I want to meet him.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“Not tonight.”
“When?”
“When my attorney and I decide how we’re going to handle this.”
“He’s my child.”
“He’s also twelve hours old.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
Elena did not move.
“You will not turn his birth into another acquisition.”
That stopped him.
Elena returned to the elevator.
Before the doors closed, Julian spoke.
“What’s his name?”
Elena looked at him.
“Alexander.”
May you like
Julian went completely still.
It had been his grandfather’s name.
