Chapter 1: The Price of Survival
Chapter 1: The Price of Survival
Lady Victoria did not ask how Chloe was feeling.
She did not ask whether the baby was safe.
She did not even glance at the monitors tracking the fragile rhythm of two lives that had nearly been lost.
Instead, she stood at the foot of the hospital bed and examined Chloe the way a jeweler inspects a flawed diamond.
Coldly.
Critically.
Without compassion.
Chloe swallowed against the pain in her throat.
"Where is Ethan?"
For the briefest moment, something resembling amusement crossed Victoria's face.
"My son is handling matters that are actually important."
The words landed harder than any slap.
Chloe stared at her.
Twenty-six hours earlier, she had been rushed into emergency surgery.
Twenty-six hours earlier, Ethan Sterling had been holding her hand, promising everything would be okay.
Now he was gone.
And his mother had come instead.
Victoria placed a leather folder on the bedside table.
The sound echoed through the silent room.
"What is that?" Chloe whispered.
"A solution."
A chill ran through her.
Victoria opened the folder.
Inside were legal documents.
Settlement agreements.
Non-disclosure clauses.
Custody provisions.
Chloe's pulse accelerated.
"What is this?"
Victoria folded her gloved hands.
"The Sterling family has reached a decision."
A decision.
As though Chloe were not a wife.
Not a mother.
Not a human being.
Only a problem.
"The child will remain a Sterling."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
"And you?"
Victoria's eyes hardened.
"You will not."
Silence.
Even the oxygen machine seemed louder.
Hiss.
Click.
Hiss.
Click.
Chloe stared at the woman in disbelief.
"You want me to give up my baby?"
Victoria's expression never changed.
"No."
That answer almost sounded merciful.
May you like
Then came the rest.
"We want you to disappear."
