“I called the following morning,” Claire continued. “I never received a call.”
“I left a voicemail.” “There wasn’t one.” “Yes, there was. I told you I needed to see you.
You never answered.” My hand moved instinctively toward my phone, though I knew it could prove nothing now.
Back then, every personal call, email, and appointment passed through Valerie before reaching me.
Dr. Porter asked quietly, “Who managed your private communications?” “Valerie.”
Neither woman appeared surprised. Claire opened the drawer beside the couch and removed a cream-colored envelope.
“I emailed you too.” “I never saw it.” “I know that now.” She handed me the envelope.
My name appeared across the front in handwriting I did not recognize. Inside was a typed message.
*Stay away from Evan Mercer. * *He has chosen his future. * *Any child you claim belongs to him will be challenged.
* *Do not test people who can bury you in court. * I read it twice. “This did not come from me.”
“I know that now.” “But when you received it?” Claire looked down at Leo.
“At the time, I believed it.” That answer hurt more than the threat itself.
Somewhere during our marriage, I had become the kind of husband whose silence made a letter like that believable.
“I would never have threatened you.” “I wanted to believe that.” “But you couldn’t.”
She looked away. I carefully folded the page. “I’m sorry,” I said. Claire looked up, startled.
“I’m sorry I made it possible for you to believe I could do something like this.
I abandoned you long before I actually walked away.” For several moments, none of us spoke.
The heater hummed beneath the window, and my newborn son breathed softly in Claire’s arms.
Then Dr. Porter placed another folder on the coffee table. “There is another reason I came tonight.”
Claire’s expression changed immediately. “The records?” Dr. Porter nodded.
“Someone requested Leo’s birth records this afternoon.” “Who?” I asked.
“The authorization appeared to come from Claire.” Claire shook her head.
“I never authorized anything.” “I know,” Dr. Porter replied. “That is why I came here personally.”
She handed me a copy of the request. Claire’s name had been written at the bottom, but the signature was visibly false.
“Who requested the records?” “A legal-services firm.” “Which one?” “Halston, Price and Reed.”
I recognized the name instantly. The firm did not represent my company.
It represented my mother. Claire watched my face carefully. “She knows.”
I could not deny it. At that exact moment, my phone vibrated. One word appeared on the screen.
**Mother. ** I ignored the call, but a message followed seconds later.
*Christmas Eve or not, I expect you at dinner by eight. We need to discuss the Claire situation.
* The Claire situation. Not my former wife. Not the mother of my child.
A situation. I slowly lowered the phone. “She knows,” Claire repeated.
This time, I nodded. Before I could respond, Leo woke and began to cry.
Claire instinctively adjusted the blanket around him. I stepped closer, then hesitated.
After everything that had been concealed from me, only one question mattered in that moment.
“May I hold him?” (I know you're all very curious about the next part, so if you want to read more, please leave a "YES" comment below!)
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