Chapter 14 - THE LAST CHOICE BEFORE THE BABY CAME
Rebecca went into labor three weeks early.
For several hours, every family conflict became irrelevant.
Mark drove her to the hospital despite their separation.
Diane arrived.
Claire brought Lily.
Evan came separately.
A healthy boy was born shortly after midnight.
Rebecca named him Noah Arthur Mercer.
Evan stood outside the maternity room looking through the glass.
Claire watched his face.
This was the moment she had feared.
The Mercer grandson.
The child Evan had once treated as a solution before he even existed.
Lily walked beside him.
“Is he the heir?”
Evan closed his eyes briefly.
Claire stayed silent.
Nobody would answer for him anymore.
Evan crouched to Lily’s height.
“No.”
She frowned.
“Then who is?”
He looked through the glass.
“Nobody.”
Lily waited.
Evan continued.
“The company isn’t a crown. Grandpa should’ve taught me that better, and I should’ve figured it out anyway.”
Lily hugged her rabbit.
“Does Noah get my room?”
“No.”
“Does he get more because he’s a boy?”
“No.”
“How do I know?”
Again the question.
Again Evan could not demand trust.
“You watch what I do.”
Lily considered that.
Then walked to Claire.
Later Rebecca let Lily hold Noah.
Evan stood several feet away.
He did not call the baby an heir.
Did not mention the Mercer name.
Did not take photographs for the company newsletter.
It was only one night.
Claire knew better than to treat restraint as transformation.
The next morning her attorney called.
The temporary separation agreement was ready.
Claire could return to the family home with Lily while Evan moved into a nearby apartment during the next phase.
Signing it would make the separation real in a way therapy had not.
Evan knew.
May you like
He did not ask Claire to stop.
She signed.
