Chapter 2 - The Missing Admission
Adrian thought he had misheard her.
"Canceled what?"
Claire pressed both hands around her belly. "My pre-registration. My private room. The birth plan. Everything."
Evelyn lifted her chin. "I corrected an irresponsible arrangement."
Adrian stared at her. "You called my wife's hospital?"
"The hospital called me."
"Why would they call you?"
Claire answered. "Because somehow she's listed as my emergency medical contact."
Adrian's mouth went dry.
He called Dr. Patel directly. The obstetrician answered after two rings.
"Adrian? You're back?"
"Why was Claire's hospital registration canceled?"
A pause.
"It wasn't canceled by my office. We received an electronic request from Claire's patient portal three days ago."
Claire shook her head. "I didn't send anything."
"The request changed her delivery preference, removed you as medical proxy, and named Evelyn Vale as the primary contact."
Adrian looked at his mother.
Evelyn did not blink.
Dr. Patel continued. "I called Claire yesterday, but a woman answered and said Claire was sleeping. She told me Claire wanted no further calls unless there was an emergency."
"That was not me," Claire whispered.
Adrian's voice went flat. "Doctor, can you lock the account?"
"Already doing it. And I want Claire evaluated tonight if she's having contractions."
Evelyn stepped forward. "She doesn't need to be rushed to a hospital because she got emotional."
Adrian ended the call.
"You don't get another opinion in this room."
Evelyn's eyes flashed. "I kept this family together before you knew how to tie your shoes."
"And now you're leaving."
He called the head of security and told him to send a car and two guards to the east entrance.
Evelyn laughed once. "Security? For your mother?"
"For Claire."
Claire looked at him sharply.
He saw the same question in her face: Would he still mean it tomorrow?
He hated that she had to ask.
Evelyn gathered her shoes, but before she left, she stopped beside the door.
"Ask her about the papers in the nursery desk," she said.
Claire went pale.
Adrian caught it.
Evelyn smiled without warmth. "She hasn't told you everything either."
The guards arrived.
Evelyn walked out between them as if she were leaving a charity luncheon.
Adrian waited until the front door shut.
Then he turned to Claire.
"What papers?"
May you like
Claire's eyes filled.
"The ones with my signature on them," she said. "Except I never signed them.
