Chapter 13 - The Moment Everything ChangedVanessa shoved Claire’s shoulder.
Claire stumbled but stayed upright.
Rachel moved toward her.
Then Claire said the words Vanessa feared most.
“Investigators already have the transfers.”
Daniel froze.
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“You’re lying.”
“They have your company records.”
“You worthless—”
Vanessa stepped back, lifted her leg, and kicked Claire hard in the abdomen.
The impact folded Claire forward.
She fell to her knees, then onto her side.
A cry escaped her.
Rachel screamed for help.
Daniel stared at his wife on the floor.
For one horrifying second, he did nothing.
Then he looked around and realized everyone was watching.
“She always overreacts,” he said.
Claire clutched her belly.
“I’m pregnant.”
An officer rushed between them.
Another called emergency medical services.
Vanessa began shouting that Claire had attacked first.
Rachel pointed to the security camera.
“It recorded everything!”
Daniel saw the blinking red light.
His confidence cracked.
The courtroom door opened.
Judge Thomas Whitmore emerged in his robe.
He had just finished an emergency conference with investigators regarding the documents in Claire’s letter.
Then he saw his daughter on the floor.
He saw the bruise forming beneath the fabric of her dress.
He saw Daniel standing over her.
Thomas crossed the hallway.
“Who dared lay a hand on my daughter?”
The words struck Daniel harder than any blow.
Claire looked up at her father.
“Dad.”
Thomas knelt beside her.
May you like
“I’m here now.”
👉 But before Claire could be taken away, the medic heard something that made the entire hallway fear for the unborn baby.
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