Chapter 2
Weston laughed.
Not loudly.
Just enough to make Ashley smile.
"Your grandfather?" he asked. "What is he going to do? Pay your parking ticket?"
Ashley crossed her arms over the ivory maternity coat.
"I almost feel sorry for her," she said. "She's hallucinating from the pain medication."
I didn't answer.
Instead, I looked through the incubator glass at Sawyer.
One tiny hand flexed beneath the transparent blanket.
His fingers were no bigger than paper clips.
Quinn slept beside him, her chest rising in tiny, determined breaths.
I had almost lost both of them.
No one—not even Weston—would ever threaten them again.
Three minutes later, every elevator leading to the neonatal intensive care unit locked simultaneously.
A soft electronic tone echoed through the corridor.
The nurses exchanged confused glances.
Then every security guard on the floor straightened at once.
Someone important had arrived.
Very important.
The automatic doors slid open.
Not one man walked in.
Not two.
Almost twenty people entered together.
Hospital administrators.
Legal counsel.
Private security officers.
The Chief Medical Officer.
The Chief Nursing Executive.
Everyone formed two respectful lines without saying a word.
At their center rolled an elderly man with silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and a polished black cane resting across his lap.
Arthur Blackwood.
My grandfather.
Chairman of Blackwood Health Systems.
Owner of seventy-two hospitals across the country.
The same hospital Weston believed was just another private medical center.
The moment he saw me sitting beside the incubators...
His face softened.
Then he noticed the divorce papers.
Then Ashley.
Then my coat.
Finally...
Weston.
His expression turned to stone.
"Jade."
His voice was gentle now.
"My darling."
I stood carefully despite the pain from my surgery.
He embraced me as carefully as though I might break.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner."
I shook my head.
"They're alive."
He looked toward the twins.
"That's all that matters."
For one brief second...
The ruthless billionaire everyone feared disappeared.
Only a great-grandfather remained.
Then Arthur turned around.
The warmth vanished instantly.
His eyes landed on Weston.
"You."
Weston forced an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is a family matter."
Arthur stared at him for several seconds.
"So I've been told."
He nodded once toward the head of hospital security.
"Remove them."
Weston blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"You heard me."
Ashley stepped forward.
"You can't just throw us out."
Arthur didn't even acknowledge her.
The security chief calmly approached.
"Mr. Weston Carter."
"Ms. Ashley Monroe."
"Your visitor privileges have been permanently revoked."
Weston laughed again.
"This is ridiculous."
"My wife is a patient here."
Arthur answered quietly.
"Not anymore."
Everyone frowned.
The Chief Medical Officer cleared his throat.
"Effective immediately..."
"...Mrs. Jade Carter has been transferred to the Blackwood Executive Family Care Program."
"Access is restricted."
"Only individuals personally approved by Chairman Blackwood may enter."
Weston's smile disappeared.
"What is this?"
He looked at me.
"Jade..."
"You never told me—"
"I never lied," I answered.
"You simply never asked."
Arthur slowly opened the divorce folder Weston had forced onto my lap.
He read each page.
Every account.
Every financial clause.
Every demand.
When he reached the section stating I waived all claims to marital property...
He smiled.
A very dangerous smile.
"Interesting."
Weston frowned.
"What?"
Arthur looked toward one of his attorneys.
"Michael."
"Yes, sir."
"Have we completed the forensic review of Jade's personal assets?"
The attorney opened a tablet.
"Yes."
"And?"
"The assets were never marital property."
Weston frowned.
"What assets?"
May you like
Arthur looked directly into his eyes.
"The assets your wife inherited."
