CHAP 4 — The Call in Our Bedroom
Dominic was not at a hotel when Dr. Reed called.
He was in our bed.
I learned that later from Paige’s statement and the security footage Sophia recovered from the mansion’s interior system.
Victoria had told him I “ran away after a minor accident.” Paige came over with champagne because Dominic said he was finally done letting his “fragile wife” poison the house.
They drank in the bedroom I had decorated.
The bedroom my holding company owned.
The bedroom where I had once prayed over negative pregnancy tests while Dominic slept beside me like my heartbreak bored him.
At 9:42 p.m., Dr. Reed called.
Dominic answered on speaker because arrogance loves an audience.
“This better be important,” he said.
Dr. Reed’s voice was cold.
“This is Dr. Alexander Reed from St. Catherine’s Hospital. I am calling regarding Audrey Vance. She authorized me to disclose the following information to you as her emergency contact.”
Dominic laughed softly.
“Let me guess. She wants attention.”
Paige giggled in the background.
Then Dr. Reed said, “Your wife was pregnant. The fall caused the loss of the baby.”
Silence.
Real silence.
Not pause.
Not hesitation.
A room emptied of air.
Dominic’s voice came back smaller.
“What?”
“She was eight weeks pregnant.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Paige whispered, “Dominic?”
Dr. Reed continued.
“Additionally, your fertility test results from last month are conclusive. You are sterile. The report indicates you can never father another child naturally.”
The phone slipped from Dominic’s hand and landed on the comforter.
Paige stopped breathing.
Dominic grabbed the phone again.
“That’s impossible.”
“The lab confirmed twice.”
“My wife was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“So the baby—”
“Was yours, based on the available medical timeline and your marital history.”
Dominic made a sound I had never heard from him.
Not grief.
Panic wearing grief’s coat.
Because the loss was suddenly about him.
His heir.
His miracle.
His bloodline.
His mother’s obsession.
His pride.
Dr. Reed said one final sentence.
“Mr. Vance, police may contact you regarding the circumstances of her injuries.”
Then he ended the call.
At that exact moment, I sent the text.
Enjoy the family you chose.
Security footage showed Dominic staring at the screen for almost a full minute.
Then his phone began vibrating again.
Not from me.
From his CFO.
Then the bank.
Then the estate manager.
Then the company general counsel.
Paige sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest.
“What is happening?”
Dominic opened the first alert.
Executive access suspended.
Then the second.
Corporate account freeze.
Then the third.
Vehicle lease termination pending asset review.
Then the fourth.
Residence occupancy under legal review by Larkspur Meridian Holdings.
Dominic’s face went white.
“Larkspur?” Paige asked.
He looked around the bedroom as if the walls had betrayed him.
“No,” he whispered.
“What?”
His voice cracked.
“She owns it.”
Paige stared at him.
“Owns what?”
May you like
Dominic looked at the champagne, the bed, the mansion, the phone, the life he had been performing for years.
“Everything.”
