“What?” he frowned.
Lauren scoffed. “London? With what money? You can’t even afford—”
“Money,” I interrupted quietly, “is no longer your concern.”
Outside the glass doors, a black Mercedes SUV pulled up smoothly.
A driver stepped out, opened the rear door, and gave a respectful nod.
“Ms. Hayes, everything is ready.”
Ethan stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the floor.
“What the hell is this?” he demanded. “Where did you get this kind of money?”
I looked at him—really looked at him—for the first time in a long time.
And all I felt…
was distance.
“I told you,” I said softly. “That’s not your concern anymore.”
I picked up Chloe.
Aiden grabbed my hand tightly.
I turned back once—just once.
“From this moment on,” I said, “you’ll never have to worry about us interfering with your life again.”
And then I walked out.
As we drove toward the airport, my phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel Reed, my attorney:
“They’ve arrived at the clinic. Everything is in place.”
I didn’t reply.
I just looked out the window as the city blurred past… shrinking behind me.
Meanwhile, across town…
Ethan and his entire family were entering the private maternity clinic like they owned it.
To them, this wasn’t just a checkup.
It was a coronation.
Vanessa sat in the waiting room, glowing with confidence, dressed in something far too expensive for someone who claimed to be “fragile.”
Ethan’s mother clutched her hand like she had already been crowned queen.
“My grandson will be perfect,” she said proudly.
Lauren handed over a gift box wrapped in silver.
“Premium supplements,” she said. “Only the best for the heir.”
They laughed.
Celebrated.
Planned a future built on something they thought was unshakable.
No one mentioned me.
Or my children.
We had already been erased.
“Ms. Vanessa?” a nurse called. “The doctor is ready.”
Ethan stood immediately.
“I’m coming in,” he said. “That’s my son.”
The ultrasound room was cool and dim.
The monitor flickered to life.
A grainy image appeared.
Vanessa smiled.
Ethan leaned forward, pride radiating off him.
“Everything looks good, right?” he asked. “That’s my boy.”
Continued on next page:
ADVERTISEMENT
