still did.
But love was no longer enough to make his decisions harmless.
She left Noah with Megan and walked downstairs.
At the door, she attached the security chain before opening it several inches.
Daniel turned instantly.
“Claire.”
He looked older than he had five days earlier.
His eyes dropped to the hospital bracelet on her wrist.
“You had him?”
Claire held his gaze.
“I told you I was in labor.”
“I didn’t know it was serious.”
“I asked you to take me to the hospital.”
Patricia stepped forward.
“Claire, none of us knew there was an actual emergency.”
Claire looked at her.
“There was blood after you left.”
Patricia’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Daniel whispered, “Was he okay?”
“His heart rate was dropping.
They delivered him that night.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened as though he were trying not to cry.
“Can I see him?”
Claire gripped the edge of the door.
This was the hardest part.
Not punishing Daniel.
Not protecting herself.
Separating what he had done to her from what Noah might someday need from his father.
“We’ll arrange that through Martin,” she said.
Patricia exploded.
“Through an attorney? Daniel is his father!”
“And I nearly went through an emergency delivery alone because Daniel was afraid to disappoint you.”
Patricia recoiled.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Claire continued, softer now.
“You took both car keys.”
“I know.”
“You heard me ask for help.”
“I know.”
“You saw me contracting.”
“Claire—”
“You made a decision.
Don’t call it a misunderstanding.”
Daniel looked down.
For once, Patricia had nothing useful to say.
Claire almost closed the door.
Then she remembered the second envelope.
“There’s another issue.”
Martin opened his folder.
Brooke shifted uneasily.
Claire noticed immediately.
So did Daniel.
Martin handed him copies of the bank records.
“These transfers came from Bennett Design Group accounts,” Martin said.
“Sixty-three thousand four hundred dollars over approximately four months.”
Daniel stared at the pages.
“What?”
Claire watched his face carefully.
His confusion looked real.
That frightened her more than guilt would have.
“They were authorized under your login,” she said.
Daniel flipped through the pages.
Then stopped.
Recipient: Brooke Mercer.
He turned toward his sister.
“What is this?”
Brooke’s face went gray.
Patricia stepped between them.
“There must be some mistake.”
Martin said, “Then explaining the transactions should be simple.”
Brooke’s eyes filled.
“Daniel, I can explain.”
“Explain now.”
She looked at her mother.
That look told Claire everything before Brooke spoke.
Daniel saw it too.
“Mom?”
Patricia’s jaw hardened.
“Brooke needed help.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You told me those transfers were vendor payments.”
Claire’s attention snapped to him.
So Daniel had authorized them.
He simply hadn’t known where they were going.
Patricia folded her arms.
“Her business was struggling.
She would have lost the apartment.
You had access to plenty of money.”
Claire felt cold.
“My company’s money.”
Patricia barely looked at her.
“You have more than enough.”
The sentence hung on the porch.
There it was.
Not desperation.
Entitlement.
Brooke began crying quietly.
“Mom said Daniel had permission.”
Daniel rounded on Patricia.
“You said Claire approved it.”
“Because I knew you’d make a fuss otherwise.”
Daniel stared at his mother as though seeing her clearly for the first time.
Claire almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“You used my login,”
