Chapter 17 - THE EARLY CONTRACTION
At thirty-four weeks, Claire woke at 3:11 a.m. with a tightening across her abdomen.
She waited.
Eight minutes later, it happened again.
Then seven.
She called her doctor.
Within twenty minutes, Marcus was driving her to the hospital.
Richard followed in another vehicle.
Claire tried not to think about Plan B.
She tried not to imagine Daniel’s prepared documents.
She tried not to remember Feldman’s office.
But hospitals now carried an entirely different meaning.
Security met her at a private entrance.
Her identity was verified twice.
No unexpected visitors were permitted.
Her chart contained a legal alert.
The nurses knew exactly who could enter.
Claire finally relaxed enough to breathe.
The contractions slowed after medication and fluids.
The baby remained stable.
The doctor believed stress and dehydration had contributed.
Claire would likely not deliver that night.
At 6:40 a.m., she was resting when a nurse entered with an envelope.
Claire immediately sat up.
“Who sent that?”
The nurse looked confused.
“It was delivered downstairs.”
Claire did not touch it.
Security was called.
Marcus inspected the envelope.
No dangerous substance.
No electronics.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Daniel.
He had sent it through his attorney before his communications privileges became more restricted.
Claire recognized the handwriting.
Rachel advised her not to read it.
Claire read it anyway.
Daniel did not apologize.
He explained.
He wrote that Richard had always humiliated him.
He wrote that Claire had never understood what it was like to stand beside enormous wealth and know none of it truly belonged to him.
He wrote that Vanessa had been a mistake.
Thomas had been a mistake.
The surveillance had been necessary.
Dr. Feldman had been misunderstood.
Then came the sentence that finally ended something inside Claire.
I only wanted what should have been ours.
Claire stared at it.
Ours.
Not theirs.
Not their daughter’s.
His.
Daniel still believed marriage had entitled him to her family’s power.
He still believed his betrayal could be explained as ambition.
Claire folded the letter.
“Get Rachel.”
When Rachel arrived, Claire handed it over.
“I want this preserved.”
“Of course.”
“And I want him to receive one response.”
Rachel waited.
Claire spoke slowly.
“Tell him there is no ours anymore.”
Rachel nodded.
“Anything else?”
Claire placed her hand on her stomach.
“Yes.”
“Tell him our daughter is safe.”
May you like
She looked toward the hospital window.
“And tell him that is the last private information about her he will receive from me without a court order.”
