Chapter 8
They hated the plan.
Nora hated it legally.
My uncle hated it personally.
Security hated it professionally.
I insisted.
For once, everyone had to listen to me.
Not because I was fragile.
Because I was the target.
Because I was the mother.
Because I had spent too long being handled.
Bennett was told I wanted to speak privately.
He came within nine minutes.
Alone.
That told me Margot was losing influence already.
He entered my room wearing concern like a tailored jacket.
“Tessa.”
I looked at the floor.
A camera was recording from the corner.
Another from the medical tray.
Nora listened from the next room.
My uncle stood behind the observation glass.
“Are you here to apologize?” I asked.
He sighed.
“I am here because this has gotten out of hand.”
“You mean Margot shoving me?”
“I mean your uncle turning a marital disagreement into a legal circus.”
I touched my belly.
“Your mother came.”
His face tightened.
“She was worried.”
“She said you should have married Margot.”
Bennett looked away.
“And that you might need to be widowed first.”
He froze.
Only for a second.
But enough.
“My mother says cruel things.”
“So do you.”
“Tessa.”
He sat beside the bed without asking.
I moved my hand away before he could touch it.
His jaw clenched.
“You need to think carefully. You are emotional. Pregnant. Vulnerable. If this becomes public, Mercer Holdings will be dragged into scandal.”
There it was.
Mercer Holdings.
He knew.
“When did you find out?” I asked.
He blinked.
“Find out what?”
“That I own part of the hospital.”
His face changed.
A mistake.
Then he smiled.
“Your uncle has filled your head.”
“No. My mother filled a trust.”
His eyes hardened.
“You were never supposed to control that.”
The words slipped out.
He knew it.
I knew it.
Every hidden recorder in the room knew it.
I whispered, “Why?”
He leaned close.
“Because you don’t know how power works.”
My daughter kicked.
Hard.
I looked him in the eye.
“And you do?”
“Yes.”
He smiled softly.
“You take it before someone weaker wastes it.”
The door opened.
May you like
Nora stepped in.
“Thank you, Mr. Halloway. That will be enough.”
