Chapter 4 - Why I Was in the Hospital
I entered St. Catherine’s Medical Center after experiencing painful contractions during a board reception.
Doctors determined I was dehydrated and under excessive stress.
The baby remained stable, but they admitted me overnight for monitoring.
Julian stayed beside me until four in the afternoon.
Then an emergency call arrived from Vance Global.
A major acquisition was collapsing, and the board demanded his presence.
“I’m not leaving you alone,” he said.
“I’m surrounded by nurses.”
“I can join remotely.”
“Go save your company.”
He kissed my forehead.
“I’ll be back before dinner.”
Someone informed Victoria the moment he left.
She arrived less than thirty minutes later.
No flowers.
No concern.
Only a black leather folder.
Inside were documents transferring control of the baby’s proposed trust to her.
“I’m not signing.”
“You haven’t read them.”
“I read the earlier version.”
“This one is nonnegotiable.”
“There is no trust until Julian and I create one.”
Victoria closed the folder.
Then she said something that revealed how far her thinking had deteriorated.
“There doesn’t need to be a trust if there is no heir.”
I stared at her.
“What did you say?”
She moved closer to the bed.
“You have made Julian weak. You have turned him against his family. Now you expect us to place the future of the Vance name inside your hands.”
I reached for my phone.
May you like
She took it first.
Then she leaned over me.
