Chapter 2 - THE FILE WITH MY NAME ON IT
I didn't go home.
I went back into the hospital.
Grace was sitting beside Noah's bed when I entered the pediatric ward.
He was asleep.
A monitor displayed his heartbeat in green waves.
The sight nearly broke me.
Grace looked up.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I know.”
She looked toward Noah.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I don't want a fight.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then go.”
I pulled a chair beside the bed.
“I want to know my son.”
She looked at me for a long time.
Finally, she whispered:
“Your son?”
I flinched.
“Yes.”
“You're very sure.”
“He has my eyes.”
“That isn't proof.”
“Then give me proof.”
Her face tightened.
“I can arrange a DNA test.”
“Tonight.”
She nodded.
“Fine.”
It was the first thing we agreed on in three years.
The other two children were asleep in a small family room.
Their names were Emma and Lily.
Noah had always been the quiet one.
Grace told me that.
“Emma talks for everyone.”
“And Lily?”
“She watches.”
I smiled despite myself.
“That sounds familiar.”
Grace looked at me.
“You used to watch everything too.”
“I don't remember.”
“You stopped watching me.”
The words landed softly.
But they hurt.
I looked down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She stared at Noah.
“Because when I found out I was pregnant, I called you.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“I called your office.”
“When?”
“Three years ago. November 14th.”
I remembered that date.
Or thought I did.
I'd been in London.
My assistant had told me Grace had called.
I remembered refusing the call.
I had been angry.
I'd thought she was calling to negotiate the divorce.
“You never answered.”
“I didn't know.”
“You never asked why I called.”
“I thought…”
“That I wanted money?”
I said nothing.
She smiled bitterly.
“You always assumed the worst about me when it was convenient.”
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
The word was simple.
Brutal.
I looked at Noah.
“What happened after I didn't answer?”
Grace folded her hands.
“I found out I was pregnant with triplets.”
My chest tightened.
“Triplets?”
She nodded.
“I had complications. I was terrified. And then your mother came to see me.”
I froze.
“What did she say?”
Grace looked at me.
“She told me you didn't want children.”
“That isn't true.”
“She had a letter.”
“What letter?”
“A handwritten note.”
“From me?”
Grace nodded.
“It said you wanted the divorce finalized immediately and didn't want me contacting you again.”
I stood.
“I never wrote that.”
“I know that now.”
“Then why did you believe it?”
“Because I was pregnant, alone, sick, and your mother had attorneys surrounding me.”
I couldn't speak.
Grace continued.
“She offered me money.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred thousand dollars.”
My jaw tightened.
“And?”
“I refused.”
“Then what?”
“She threatened to take the children.”
I stared at her.
“My mother couldn't do that.”
“She said your family would accuse me of being unstable.”
I remembered something.
Three years earlier, my mother had told me Grace was emotionally unstable.
She had said Grace was “obsessed with controlling the divorce.”
I had believed her.
My stomach turned.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“I did.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“You just didn't hear me.”
The room went silent except for Noah's monitor.
Then the door opened.
My attorney, Daniel Reeves, walked in.
I hadn't called him.
He looked at Grace.
Then at me.
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
He placed a folder on the table.
“Your divorce settlement.”
I opened it.
Inside was a document I had never seen.
A handwritten amendment.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
I stared at it.
“That isn't mine.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
I looked up.
“How?”
“Because I have your original signature on more than two hundred corporate documents.”
He pointed to the page.
“This signature was copied.”
My hands went cold.
“Who made it?”
“We don't know.”
Grace looked at him.
“Tell him.”
Daniel hesitated.
“Your mother requested the amendment.”
I stared at the document.
“What did it say?”
Daniel answered quietly.
“If Grace became pregnant, she would have no claim to any assets and would be required to surrender custody of any children unless you personally acknowledged them.”
I felt sick.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel shook his head.
“The document was never filed.”
“Why?”
“Because someone intercepted it before it reached the court.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at Grace.
“She did.”
I turned toward her.
Grace nodded.
“I stole it.”
“You stole my legal document?”
“I stole evidence.”
I sat down.
For three years, I had believed my ex-wife had walked away from me.
Now I was beginning to understand.
She had been running.
Not from me.
From my family.
And my mother had been chasing her.
My phone rang.
Eleanor.
I answered.
“Mom.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“I know you're with Grace.”
“How?”
“You're my son.”
“Did you forge my signature?”
Silence.
Then she said:
“Come home, Ryan.”
“Answer me.”
“I did what I believed was necessary.”
My hands curled into fists.
“You stole my children.”
“No.”
She paused.
“I protected you from them.”
“What does that mean?”
“You don't know what Grace is capable of.”
I looked at Noah sleeping.
“Then tell me.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
The call ended.
Grace whispered:
“Don't go.”
I looked at her.
“I have to.”
“No, Ryan.”
She shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“My mother-in-law isn't the person you need to be afraid of.”
I stared at her.
“Then who?”
May you like
Grace's face went pale.
“The person who helped her.”
