Chapter 3
Richard stared at the note.
“That isn't the whole thing.”
Emma’s breathing became heavier.
“You said Ethan wanted you to take my son.”
“He wanted him protected.”
“He wrote not to separate them.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
Vittorio watched.
Not the words.
The hands.
Richard’s right hand had begun rubbing the edge of his watch.
Nervous.
“Where did you get that note?”
Emma looked at him in disbelief.
“In my hospital bag.”
Richard’s eyes went toward the bag.
Too quickly.
Vittorio saw it.
“You knew something was inside.”
Richard looked toward him.
“No.”
“You looked at the bag before you looked at the note.”
Richard’s nostrils flared.
“Don't turn every movement into evidence.”
Vittorio said nothing.
The silence did more.
Richard finally looked away.
Emma pressed the note against her chest.
“Did you know Ethan left this?”
“No.”
Then she asked:
“Did you put something else in the bag?”
Richard’s eyes hardened.
“No.”
The monitor beeped faster.
A nurse stepped in.
“Mrs. DeLuca needs calm.”
Vittorio immediately backed away.
Richard did not.
Emma saw the difference.
“Dad.”
Her voice weakened.
“Leave.”
Richard froze.
“Emma—”
“Leave.”
He stared at his daughter.
Then at Vittorio.
Finally he walked out.
The moment the door closed, Emma began crying.
Vittorio did not touch her immediately.
He waited.
She reached first.
Her hand found his.
“I didn't know Ethan was planning anything.”
“I believe you.”
“He wouldn't keep this from me.”
Vittorio’s voice became low.
“My son kept things from people when he thought the truth would start a war.”
Emma looked at him.
There was no accusation in the sentence.
Only recognition.
Then the obstetrician entered.
Both babies remained viable.
But Twin B showed concerning decelerations.
Delivery could no longer wait.
Emergency cesarean if labor did not progress quickly.
Emma closed her eyes.
“Okay.”
Vittorio’s fingers tightened around hers.
The doctor asked:
“Who is your medical decision-maker if you become unable to consent?”
Emma looked at Vittorio.
Then hesitated.
That hesitation hurt him.
Not because she owed him authority.
Because he suddenly understood how many decisions were being made around her tonight.
She answered:
“Myself unless I can't.”
The doctor nodded.
“And then?”
Emma looked toward the door.
“My husband was.”
Silence.
Ethan was dead.
Four days.
The wound reopened.
The doctor waited gently.
Emma finally said:
“Vittorio.”
His breathing stopped.
“Are you sure?”
She looked at him.
“If something happens, you keep both babies together.”
His eyes hardened with emotion.
“Yes.”
“No family arguments.”
“Yes.”
“No one takes the boy.”
“Yes.”
Then Emma added:
“And no one turns him into Ethan’s replacement.”
Vittorio looked away.
That struck somewhere deeper.
He nodded.
“I promise.”
The nurse began preparing Emma.
Then a hospital administrator entered quietly.
“There’s a legal issue.”
Vittorio’s expression changed.
“What issue?”
The administrator looked at Emma.
“Someone filed an emergency family petition this afternoon.”
Emma went still.
“To do what?”
The administrator swallowed.
“To establish temporary protective custody over your male infant immediately after birth.”
Emma’s face emptied.
May you like
Applicant:
Richard Bell.
