Chapter 7 - HEIR PREPARATION
The heir-preparation account paid for private nurses, nursery construction at Eleanor’s estate, a legal guardian consultant, and a residential apartment in another state.
The apartment lease began one month after my expected delivery date.
Tenant name:
Clara Vance.
I had never seen it.
Sebastian stared at the lease.
“Why would she rent you an apartment?”
Rachel read the attached notes.
“Postpartum separation residence.”
The words made my chest tighten.
A planned nanny contract listed Eleanor as primary household authority.
Another document described Sebastian as nonresident father due to executive travel.
My role was described as temporary maternal caregiver during recovery.
Temporary.
I had carried the child for eight months.
Eleanor’s paperwork reduced me to a recovery period.
The records still did not show the full legal mechanism.
They showed expectation.
Guest Patricia requested immunity from civil claims in exchange for cooperation.
Rachel refused to promise anything.
The prosecutor offered only that truthful assistance would be considered.
Patricia admitted the women had been told I suffered from prenatal obsession and might refuse to release the child to “proper family care.”
“Release him?” I asked.
She lowered her eyes.
“Eleanor said the Vance heir would live at the estate.”
“Did Sebastian agree?”
“She said he would understand after the birth.”
The guest who joked that Sebastian would divorce me claimed she believed the separation was already arranged.
Eleanor had told them I accepted a generous settlement.
No settlement existed.
Patricia had stolen the folder because it contained a page she feared could implicate her.
She now produced it.
The page listed witnesses who would sign statements after the luncheon.
Patricia.
Two trustees.
Three charitable-board members.
Each statement had already been drafted.
Clara crawled beneath the banquet table after refusing nourishment.
Clara expressed hostility toward the unborn child’s family.
Clara begged to be removed from marital expectations.
Clara’s husband became violent under her influence.
Only the final signatures were missing.
Patricia said the women were supposed to sign after I left the room.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Sebastian came home.”
The answer revealed no courage.
Only interruption.
My obstetrician, Dr. Hannah Lee, reviewed the heir-preparation medical files.
A private nurse had requested my delivery schedule, anesthesia plan, and likelihood of surgical birth.
“Who authorized release?” I asked.
Dr. Lee’s office had received a consent form bearing my signature.
Another forgery.
The requesting company, New Dawn Maternal Care, had been created six months earlier.
Its director was Eleanor’s cousin.
The proposed care plan recommended that immediately after delivery, my son be placed in the estate nursery while I recovered elsewhere.
The stated reason was risk of maternal exhaustion.
The recommendation predated any evaluation of me.
Then Dr. Lee noticed something more alarming.
A request had been submitted to add Eleanor as emergency medical proxy during labor.
The form had not yet been approved.
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My due date was five weeks away.
Eleanor was running out of time.
