Chapter 2 - THE HEARTBEAT BEHIND THE WALL
The examination room filled with controlled urgency.
A fetal monitor was placed around Emily’s stomach.
Cold gel touched her skin.
A nurse searched for the baby’s heartbeat.
For three seconds, there was only static.
Emily gripped the edge of the bed.
Then a rapid rhythm filled the room.
Strong.
Steady.
Alive.
Emily closed her eyes.
The doctor watched the monitor carefully.
“Your son is showing signs of stress.”
“Is he safe?”
“For now.”
“We need to keep you under observation.”
Raymond stood beside the door.
His hands remained clasped behind his back.
Only Emily noticed how tightly his fingers were locked together.
The doctor examined the bruising beneath her ribs.
“The kick did not directly strike the uterus.”
“That is good.”
“But you are having contractions.”
Emily looked at the monitor.
“I thought those were from stress.”
“They may be.”
“They may also become early labor.”
Raymond’s jaw tightened.
“Do whatever is necessary.”
The doctor nodded.
“We will.”
Outside the room, Preston demanded to be allowed inside.
Security refused.
His voice carried through the wall.
“I am the father.”
“I have legal rights.”
Emily stared toward the door.
The baby shifted again.
A nurse lowered the volume of the hallway intercom.
Raymond sat beside Emily.
“You should have called me sooner.”
“I did not know what Preston was doing.”
“You knew enough to be afraid.”
Emily looked down.
“I kept hoping I was wrong.”
“About the affair?”
“About all of it.”
She opened her handbag.
Inside was a folder containing insurance statements, bank notices, and medical correspondence.
She handed it to Raymond.
“Preston changed my obstetrician without telling me.”
Raymond opened the folder.
“He moved my appointment from Saint Claire Women’s Clinic to a private physician attached to Whitmore Health Management.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Why did you come here today?”
“I received a message from the old clinic.”
“A nurse said my records had been requested twice.”
“Both requests carried my signature.”
“I signed neither one.”
Raymond studied the documents.
One page authorized the release of Emily’s full prenatal history.
Another gave Preston permission to make emergency medical decisions.
Her signature appeared at the bottom.
It looked perfect.
It was forged.
Raymond’s expression became colder.
“Did you confront him?”
“No.”
“I scheduled this appointment instead.”
“I wanted to ask why my records were being moved.”
A knock sounded.
The security supervisor entered.
“We reviewed the hallway recording.”
“The assault is clear.”
“There is something else.”
He placed a tablet on the bed.
The video showed Vanessa kicking Emily.
Then it showed Preston reaching inside Emily’s handbag while she held the railing.
He removed a small envelope.
Emily recognized it immediately.
“My new power-of-attorney form.”
Raymond looked at her.
“What did it say?”
“It revoked every medical authority Preston had.”
The security supervisor continued.
“We found the envelope in Mr. Whitmore’s jacket.”
“It was torn in half.”
Preston had known why Emily came to the hospital.
May you like
He knew she intended to remove his control.
And Vanessa’s kick had created the distraction he needed.
