Chapter 8 - The Woman Beside the Bassinets
Celeste placed the Birkin bag on the chair beside Evelyn’s bed.
“You’re awake.”
Evelyn struggled to focus.
“Where’s Adrian?”
“Handling legal matters.”
“Where are my babies?”
Celeste gestured toward the three bassinets.
“They’re fine.”
Evelyn tried to sit up.
Pain tore through her abdomen.
A monitor alarmed.
The nurse entered and helped her settle back.
Celeste remained beside the bassinets as though she belonged there.
The nurse asked, “Are you family?”
“I’m Mr. Mercer’s representative.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Celeste smiled tightly.
“His partner.”
Evelyn looked at her.
The word no longer sounded like a business title.
After the nurse left, Celeste leaned closer.
“You should conserve your strength.”
“Get out.”
“You need to understand what happens next.”
“My husband brought his mistress into my hospital room?”
“Your marriage has been over for months.”
“Did Adrian tell you that?”
“He chose me.”
Celeste opened the Birkin bag.
Inside were copies of the house transfer, custody agreement and divorce petition.
“You can leave with dignity,” she said. “Or you can make everyone document how unstable you become.”
Evelyn’s heart began beating faster.
“You forged the house transfer.”
“Adrian had authority.”
“No, he didn’t.”
Celeste paused.
That answer told her Evelyn had contacted the Bennetts.
“How much do your parents know?”
“Enough.”
Celeste’s confidence weakened, but she recovered quickly.
“Then why aren’t they here?”
Evelyn had no answer.
Her chart still blocked them.
Her phone had disappeared during surgery.
Celeste lifted the bag.
“This belonged to you. Consider it a preview.”
She walked out.
The nurse returned minutes later and closed the door.
“I don’t like that woman,” she said.
Evelyn looked toward the hallway.
“My husband restricted my parents from the hospital without my permission.”
The nurse immediately contacted the patient advocate.
Together, they corrected the chart.
Evelyn borrowed a hospital phone and called Helena.
The call went to voicemail.
She called Robert.
No answer.
They were both inside a legal meeting reviewing the forged property deed.
Evelyn left a message.
“The babies are here. Adrian changed the hospital. Please come.”
Before the hospital could tighten visitor restrictions, Adrian returned wearing a dark green suit.
He carried a stack of documents and a red pen.
Celeste followed him.
Adrian locked the room’s privacy latch.
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Then he placed the papers on Evelyn’s bed.
👉 Evelyn had finally restored her parents’ access, but Adrian believed he still had enough time to obtain every signature before they reached the hospital.
