Chapter 9 - The Birth Certificate
A hospital administrator brought the paperwork for Noah’s birth certificate.
Daniel reached for it before Claire could.
“I’ll complete this.”
Claire held out her hand.
“I want to see it.”
His jaw tightened, but he gave her the form.
Daniel had listed himself as the primary contact for all legal correspondence.
He had also entered his private office as Noah’s mailing address.
Claire crossed out both entries.
“Use our home.”
“The office is more reliable.”
“For our son’s birth certificate?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You are not capable of managing mail right now.”
Claire looked at him.
“I delivered a baby. I did not lose my mind.”
The administrator shifted uncomfortably.
Claire asked her to document that all changes required her direct approval.
Daniel’s phone vibrated.
The board meeting had begun without him.
He placed the authority transfer beside the birth certificate.
“Sign this, and I’ll take care of everything.”
Noah began fussing.
Claire tried to adjust herself, but pain shot through her incision.
“Help me lift him.”
Daniel remained standing.
“The nurse can do it.”
“I’m asking you.”
“I have an emergency meeting.”
“Your son is crying.”
“And you wanted this baby.”
Claire froze.
Daniel seemed to realize what he had said.
For a moment, guilt appeared.
Then his phone rang again.
He answered it.
“I’ll be there soon.”
After he ended the call, Claire asked quietly, “Did you want Noah?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“I wanted our life to continue.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“You knew a baby would complicate things.”
Claire pulled Noah closer.
Daniel had attended appointments, painted the nursery and told everyone he was excited.
But now that the child had arrived, he viewed him as another burden competing with money and control.
The truth hurt.
It also freed her.
Claire placed the unsigned transfer document inside the black folder.
Then she photographed the birth certificate, the forged signature pages and the financial records.
She sent everything to Tessa.
The attorney replied:
I am coming upstairs. Keep him in the room if possible.
Claire looked at Daniel’s overnight bag near the door.
He had never opened it.
He had not planned to stay.
His suit was pressed.
His car waited downstairs.
He intended to leave Claire hours after surgery, complete the sale and return only after Haven House belonged to him.
Noah cried again.
Daniel covered one ear.
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That was when Claire stopped asking him to be a father.
👉 Claire no longer begged Daniel to stay, but his frustration with Noah finally pushed him into the outburst that hospital staff could no longer ignore.
