“Yes.”
“She always liked me.”
My stomach twisted.
“She did.”
He smiled.
“Smart woman.”
I almost laughed.
My mother never trusted Daniel completely.
Once, after our engagement, she told me something.
“Pay attention to how a man behaves when nobody can give him what he wants.”
I had ignored it.
Daniel had been charming then.
Attentive.
Patient.
Generous.
But maybe he had only been getting what he wanted.
Me.
My name.
My family.
My company.
At six eight, someone knocked.
Daniel looked toward the door.
A nurse entered.
Behind her stood a woman in a hospital administrator badge.
And a man in plain clothes.
My heart jumped.
The administrator smiled.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bennett.”
“Good morning.”
“We need to discuss a routine consent update before your procedure.”
Daniel looked annoyed.
“What update?”
The man in plain clothes glanced at him.
“Mr. Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“Could I ask you to step outside for a moment?”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“Administrative issue.”
“I’m her husband.”
The man smiled politely.
“Yes.”
“And this will only take a moment.”
Daniel looked at me.
Something flashed behind his eyes.
Suspicion.
Then he forced a smile.
“Fine.”
He left with the man.
The moment the door closed, the administrator locked it.
My whole body sagged.
She came toward me.
“Mrs. Bennett, my name is Karen Shaw.”
I nodded.
“We know about the recording.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Is my baby safe?”
“Yes.”
“Is Dr. Hale coming near me?”
“No.”
That answer nearly broke me.
“Thank God.”
She sat beside me.
“A different medical team has already been assigned.”
I covered my face.
Then she continued.
“Law enforcement has detained your husband for questioning.”
My hands dropped.
“Detained?”
“Yes.”
“Is he arrested?”
“Not yet.”
“What about Marcus?”
“They’re speaking with him separately.”
My mouth went dry.
“Did he agree?”
“To your husband’s proposal?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know.”
She answered carefully.
“But the hospital is treating the situation as extremely serious.”
I nodded.
Then someone knocked.
Karen opened the door.
Laura walked in.
Ethan was behind her.
The moment I saw my brother, I started crying.
He crossed the room in three steps.
Then he wrapped his arms around me.
“What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about staying alive.”
His voice broke.
“I almost drove through the hospital doors.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
“Laura stopped me.”
“She threatened me.”
1 thought on “The night before I gave birth, I overheard my husband secretly offer the doctor $500,000 to make sure I died during delivery so he could start a new life with his five-month-pregnant mistress. I pretended to be asleep—but by the next day, his plan had completely backfired.”