Chapter 2 - ELEVEN MINUTES
The ambulance sped through downtown Manhattan while Noah held Mia’s hand.
A monitor beside her displayed the rapid rhythm of their baby’s heartbeat.
The paramedic adjusted an oxygen mask over her face.
“How far along are you?”
“Thirty-one weeks.”
“Has the pregnancy been complicated?”
“No.”
Mia looked toward Noah.
“Not until tonight.”
Another contraction tightened across her abdomen.
Her body curled despite the paramedic’s warning not to move.
Noah’s fingers closed around hers.
“I’m here.”
“You’re safe.”
She stared into his eyes.
“Scarlett knew about the camera.”
“I saw her look at it before you did.”
“I know.”
“Noah, she didn’t lose control.”
“She planned it.”
The possibility had already entered his mind.
He did not want to admit it.
Scarlett had been part of his life since childhood.
After their parents died, Noah had protected her.
He had paid for her education.
He had appointed her vice president of Vale International despite the board’s objections.
He had trusted her with business accounts, estate access, and private family information.
Now she had attacked his pregnant wife beneath a camera someone had tried to erase.
At St. Catherine’s Medical Center, doctors rushed Mia into an examination room.
Noah was stopped outside.
A nurse took his information while another disappeared through the double doors.
He could hear Mia crying out behind them.
His phone rang.
Marcus’s name appeared on the screen.
“What happened?”
“The deletion attempt failed.”
Marcus spoke quietly.
“The backup server copied the file automatically.”
“Who tried to erase it?”
“I’m checking the access logs.”
“Scarlett?”
“The command came from an administrative account.”
“Only three people have that level of access.”
“You.”
“Me.”
“And Mrs. Vale.”
Noah looked toward the examination room.
“Mia was on the floor when the attempt happened.”
“I know.”
“There is something else.”
Marcus paused.
“The system shows that Mrs. Vale’s credentials were used.”
Noah’s jaw tightened.
“That’s impossible.”
“Someone logged in with her password from the library computer.”
“Preserve everything.”
“Do not confront Scarlett.”
“The police are already there.”
“She claims Mia attacked her first.”
Noah closed his eyes.
“Show them the recording.”
“I will.”
The doctor emerged before Marcus could say more.
Noah ended the call.
“How is my wife?”
“She suffered blunt trauma to her lower back.”
“The impact caused placental bleeding.”
“Is the baby alive?”
“Yes.”
“But the fetal heart rate is unstable.”
Noah’s throat tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we are doing everything possible to stop premature labor.”
“If the bleeding worsens, we may need to deliver tonight.”
Behind the doctor, a nurse hurried through the doors carrying a blood bag.
Noah looked past her.
Mia lay surrounded by machines.
Her eyes found his through the narrow opening.
The doctor touched Noah’s arm.
“There is another concern.”
May you like
“What?”
“The pattern of bruising suggests someone struck her before she fell.”
