Chapter 14 - Eleanor’s Counterstrike
The silence inside the rotting greenhouse was heavier than a gravestone.
James stared at the black-and-white sonogram, his fingers quivering so hard the paper fluttered like a trapped moth.
"A twin?" James whispered, his face completely drained of color.
"Eleanor told me the surrogate only carried one child," he stammered, fighting for air.
"Eleanor lied to you to keep you weak and obedient," Evelyn hissed, stepping back into the gloom.
"She used a private clinic in upstate Vermont under a forged surrogate agreement."
"She took the boy the second he was extracted from the operating room."
"She left Hope behind at St. Jude’s because she believed Hope had the fatal blood defect."
"She wanted you to suffer the agony of losing another child while she raised the male heir in absolute isolation."
Before James could reply, the harsh glare of halogen headlights illuminated the greenhouse windows.
Tires crunched over the gravel pathway outside, followed by the heavy slam of car doors.
"They followed you," Evelyn gasped, terror instantly contorting her features.
"Eleanor’s security team has been hunting me ever since I stole the plasma transfer units from her private clinic."
Two private security guards in black tactical gear burst through the shattered entrance of the greenhouse.
"James Sullivan, step away from the woman!" a gruff voice barked across the ruined nursery.
Behind the guards walked Eleanor Vance, wrapped in an ankle-length sable coat, holding a leather briefcase.
Her silver hair was coiffed to perfection, completely untouched by the pouring rain.
She stepped onto the flagstones with the poise of an empress inspecting her dungeon.
"How delightfully predictable you both are," Eleanor sneered, her cold eyes fixing on me.
"Did you honestly believe you could raise a child born of my husband’s legacy in that suburban pigsty, Claire?"
"You stole a child!" I screamed, lunging forward until James caught me firmly by the waist.
"You kidnapped a newborn boy and left this baby girl to die in a public ward!"
Eleanor laughed, a dry, metallic sound that echoed off the broken glass panels above.
"I own the medical licenses, the birth certificates, and the judges in this district," Eleanor said softly.
"According to the state of Vermont, James signed away all parental rights to any offspring produced by that batch."
She opened the briefcase, holding up a certified contract bearing James's unmistakable signature.
James gasped, his eyes widening in horror as he recognized the document.
"That was the nondisclosure agreement for Sarah’s medical expenses twelve years ago!" James yelled.
"You buried a parental waiver inside a medical debt release form!"
"Ignorance of the law is never an excuse, darling," Eleanor smiled, signaling her guards.
"Take Evelyn into custody," Eleanor commanded coldly.
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"And call Child Protective Services to St. Jude’s immediately."
"By sunrise, both children will be sleeping under my roof, where they belong."
