Chapter 4 — The Child They Chose to Kill

Evelyn looked from Serena's jeweled earrings to Noah's clean hands.

"Say it again."

Serena's smile sharpened. "Noah was never dying. I wanted to know which child Julian would choose. He chose mine."

Evelyn kept her face still. Beneath the blanket, her thumb pressed twice against her smart ring.

A faint vibration confirmed that the ring was recording and transmitting.

"You bribed a doctor to take blood from a pregnant woman for a child who didn't need it."

"Dr. Reed was paid to follow instructions. Julian signed the form. If anyone asks, it was a medical emergency and you agreed before the sedative made you confused."

"I said no."

"And who will believe you? Julian will protect the mother of his son. He always does."

Noah tugged at Serena's hand. "Mom, can we go?"

The child's presence cut through Evelyn's rage. He was not responsible for what his mother had done.

"Take him outside," Evelyn said. "Whatever happens next, he shouldn't hear it."

Serena rolled her eyes, but opened the door and motioned to a waiting nanny. Once Noah was gone, she leaned close to the bed.

"You lost four children for Julian. I gave him one. That's why I'll always win."

Evelyn's grief broke open.

She reached for Serena, but pain tore through her abdomen before she could leave the bed. Serena caught her wrist and shoved it down.

The door flew open.

Julian crossed the room, pulled Serena away, and placed himself between them.

"What the hell are you doing, Evelyn?"

"Ask her."

"She just had surgery."

"Noah has three scratches and a perfect blood count," Evelyn said. "Serena staged the emergency. Reed drugged me after I refused. Your signature let them do it."

Julian looked at Serena.

For one breath, Evelyn saw that he already knew.

Serena's mouth trembled. "I misunderstood what the doctor said. There was blood everywhere, and I panicked."

"You walked into this room and admitted it."

"She's grieving. She probably heard what she expected to hear."

Julian rubbed a hand over his face. "I spoke with Serena this morning. She knows she made a terrible mistake."

"A mistake?"

"Noah had been hit by a car. She was terrified."

"You knew before you came in here."

He did not deny it.

Evelyn stared at the man who had once knelt beside her after their first loss and cried into her palm.

"You knew she lied, and you still brought her to my room."

"The baby is gone," Julian said, lowering his voice as if calmness could make the words merciful. "Nothing we do now can change that. Destroying Serena won't bring it back."

"You mean destroying Serena would inconvenience you."

His expression hardened. "I mean you need to stop escalating this."

"You put your hand around my throat. You signed a document after I refused treatment. You watched a stranger drug me. And now you're asking me to be reasonable."

"I was trying to save my son."

"No. You were trying to prove that every life in this room mattered more than mine."

The door opened again. Rachel Monroe entered first, carrying a leather portfolio. Adrian followed with two hospital security officers and the chief nursing administrator.

Julian stepped forward. "Who let you in?"

"Evelyn did," Rachel said. "You were removed as her medical proxy yesterday."

Adrian took one look at Evelyn's bruised throat and went motionless.

"Did he do that?"

"I can answer for myself," Evelyn said. "Yes."

Adrian turned toward Julian, but Evelyn caught his sleeve.

"Don't give him a way to call this a fight between two men."

The fury in Adrian's eyes did not fade, but he stepped back.

Rachel addressed the administrator. "My client is requesting immediate preservation of all security footage, medication logs, access records, consent forms, and communications involving Dr. Mason Reed. No record is to be altered or deleted."

The administrator glanced at Julian. "Dr. Reed does not have privileges at this hospital. We are already investigating how he entered a restricted floor."

For the first time, Serena looked frightened.

"This is ridiculous. I never told him to break any rules."

"Good," Evelyn said. "Then you won't mind giving the police your phone."

Serena moved it behind her back.

Julian looked at Evelyn as if she had become a stranger. "Police? You're going to have Noah's mother arrested over a misunderstanding?"

"I'm going to find out who drugged me and why my child died."

"Evelyn, think about what this will do to all of us."

"I have."

She turned to Rachel. "File for an emergency protective order. Include Julian, Serena, Dr. Reed, and every security employee who kept me in that house. Notify Crosswell's board that no document bearing my signature is valid unless your office verifies it."

"Already drafted," Rachel said.

Evelyn looked at Julian. "You told me to choose between being your wife and keeping my shares. I choose myself."

Serena scoffed. "And where exactly will you go?"

Adrian set a garment bag on the chair beside the bed.

"The Hartwell reception."

Julian's attention snapped to him. "Arthur Hart's reception?"

"The invitation is in Evelyn's name," Adrian said.

"She's in no condition to attend."

"Her doctor will decide that," Rachel replied. "Not you."

Two hours later, Evelyn left through a private exit with written discharge instructions, copies of her preliminary records, and a police report number.

She dressed in a hotel suite while a physician checked her blood pressure and Adrian paced beyond the bedroom door.

The black gown was simple, long-sleeved, and severe. It concealed the bruises on her arms. It could not conceal the mark on her throat, so Evelyn did not try.

At seven thirty, she stood before the mirror.

She looked pale. She looked exhausted.

She also looked like Evelyn Hart.

Adrian appeared behind her. "You don't have to do this tonight."

"Yes, I do. Julian spent eight years believing I would endure one more humiliation. Tonight he learns there isn't one left in me."

She took the invitation from the table.

"Let's go meet my grandfather."