Chapter 1 - THE PETITION FILED BEFORE HER ANSWER.
Elena’s words stopped the hotel corridor colder than the air-conditioning.
“Adrian… you disappeared after I told you about the baby.”
Vanessa locked both hands around his arm.
“Whose baby is she carrying?”
Adrian stared at Elena’s housekeeping cart instead of either woman.
“She is trying to ruin us.”
Elena placed one hand over her belly.
“I work twelve floors beneath your penthouse. I do not have the money to manufacture a scandal.”
A floor supervisor approached, ready to order Elena back to work. Vanessa stopped him and demanded the corridor camera be preserved.
Adrian’s phone vibrated in his hand. Elena saw the sender and went pale.
“Open it.”
The message confirmed that an emergency custody petition had been accepted in Cook County. It described Elena as financially unstable and named Adrian as the unborn child’s protective guardian.
The filing date was three weeks earlier.
Vanessa slowly released his arm.
“You planned to take her baby before asking whether it was yours?”
May you like
Elena answered for him.
“He already knows it is.”
