My shares would move directly into a protected trust for my child, supervised by Noah, Diane and an independent fiduciary.
There was also a misconduct provision.
If my spouse became the subject of a criminal investigation connected to my death or incapacity, every discretionary benefit to him froze immediately.
Evan was risking prison for an inheritance that had already vanished from his reach.
The irony almost felt too perfect.
At 10:11, Evan returned from the cafeteria carrying crushed ice.
He had no idea the room had changed.
He had no idea two detectives were watching through a secure feed.
He had no idea his mistress was about to be detained.
He had no idea Dr. Bell’s office was being searched.
He just smiled.
“Miss me?”
I looked up from the bed.
“Terribly.”
He put the cup beside me.
Then he reached for my stomach.
Our daughter kicked against his palm.
His face lit up.
For one confusing moment, I saw the man I thought I had married.
“Oh,” he whispered. “There she is.”
I nearly asked him how he could feel his daughter move and still intend to murder her mother.
But I didn’t.
Instead I covered his hand with mine.
“Evan?”
“Yeah?”
“If something happened to me today, you’d take care of her, right?”
His eyes met mine.
He didn’t blink.
“With my life.”
I smiled.
“Good.”
Because within a few hours, his life was going to belong to the state.
PART THREE — LABOR
My contractions began naturally shortly before noon.
There was no more delaying anything.
The new obstetrician, Dr. Simone Carter, examined me and announced that I was progressing rapidly.
Evan became visibly excited.
He paced the room.
Called his parents.
Took photographs of the monitors.
At one point, he posted a picture of our hands together with the caption:
Almost time to meet our little miracle.
I stared at the screen.
People immediately began leaving comments.
Best husband ever!
You two deserve this!
Praying for a safe delivery!
Nobody had any idea that police officers were standing fifteen feet away behind a restricted door.
At 12:48, Dr. Bell appeared in the corridor.
He was not supposed to enter.
Hospital administration had already removed him from my case.
But apparently he was nervous enough to check.
Through the glass, I watched him speak with a nurse.
Then Detective Ortiz stepped from an adjoining room.
Dr. Bell stopped.
