Chapter 4: The Baby Who Wasn't Supposed to Exist
“The baby isn't breathing.””
Hannah read Ethan's message again.
For a moment, she couldn't move.
Savannah was in labor. The baby wasn't breathing. And somehow, Ethan knew Hannah had been speaking to Rebecca.
Three separate emergencies.
One family.
And a little girl whose life might depend on what Hannah did next.
“What's wrong?”” Rebecca asked.
Hannah showed her the phone.
Rebecca's face drained of color.
“No,” she whispered.
“What?””
“That's impossible.””
“What is?””
Rebecca grabbed the edge of the table.
“Savannah isn't supposed to deliver until next week. And the last time she went into labor, there was something strange about the hospital arrangements.””
Hannah stood.
“Tell me while we're driving.””
Rebecca hesitated.
“I can't go back to that house.””
“Then don't. But I'm going.””
“Hannah, you don't understand. Ethan knows about the documents. Savannah knows about the documents. If they realize I gave you copies—”
“There's a two-year-old child in that house.””
Rebecca looked at her.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Rebecca picked up her handbag.
“I'll come with you.””
They drove toward the Whitmore mansion in Hannah's car.
Rain streaked the windshield. The roads were crowded, and Hannah kept glancing at the clock.
At 11:36 a.m., her phone rang.
Ethan.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
“I'm coming.””
“You need to hurry.””
“What hospital is Savannah at?””
“We're still at home.””
Hannah tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
“Why?””
“Because the ambulance hasn't arrived.””
“Have you called emergency services?””
“Of course I've called!””
His voice cracked.
“I don't know what's happening, Hannah. She started bleeding. The baby came too quickly.””
“Is Savannah conscious?””
“Yes.””
“Is she breathing normally?””
“I don't know! She's screaming!””
Hannah forced herself to remain calm.
“Listen to me. Don't move her unnecessarily. Follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions. Keep the baby warm if it's been delivered, and don't cut or pull the umbilical cord.””
Ethan said nothing.
“Ethan?””
“Just get here.””
The call ended.
When they reached the mansion, two cars were parked outside the entrance.
One belonged to the family doctor.
The other was a black SUV Hannah didn't recognize.
The front door stood open.
Hannah ran inside.
“Ethan!””
He appeared at the top of the staircase.
His white shirt was stained with blood.
His face looked gray.
“Thank God.””
Hannah climbed the stairs.
“What happened?””
He pointed toward the master bedroom.
“She's in there.””
Hannah entered.
Savannah lay on the enormous bed, her ivory maternity gown soaked with blood. Her hair clung to her forehead, and her face was twisted with pain.
A small bundle rested on a towel beside her.
The family doctor, Samuel Reeves, stood near the bed.
He was holding a stethoscope.
Hannah approached.
“Dr. Reeves?””
He looked at her sharply.
“What are you doing here?””
“Ethan called me.””
“You shouldn't be here.””
Hannah ignored him.
Her eyes moved toward the newborn.
The baby was unnaturally still.
“What's wrong with the child?””
Dr. Reeves placed a hand over the bundle.
“The infant isn't responding.””
“Have you started neonatal resuscitation?””
“I'm assessing the situation.””
Hannah's professional instincts took over.
She moved closer.
The baby was tiny, pale, and covered in fluid.
“Where's the emergency equipment?””
Dr. Reeves stepped between her and the child.
“I said I'm assessing the situation.””
Hannah looked at him.
“Then why isn't anyone performing resuscitation?””
Ethan appeared in the doorway.
“Doctor, please do something!””
Dr. Reeves glanced at Savannah.
“Ethan, I need you to calm down.””
Savannah suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“Don't let her touch the baby.””
Hannah turned.
“Savannah, the baby needs medical attention.””
“She doesn't know what she's doing!””
“I've been a nurse for twelve years.””
“You're not a doctor!””
Hannah looked toward the newborn again.
“Dr. Reeves, call emergency services and begin the appropriate neonatal assessment. Now.””
Something flickered across his face.
Then the doorbell rang.
Ethan rushed downstairs.
Hannah used the moment to move closer.
She could see the baby's tiny chest.
There was movement.
Very slight.
But there was movement.
“Doctor, I think she's breathing.””
Dr. Reeves immediately picked up the child.
“She's not.””
Hannah stared at him.
“Her chest just moved.””
“Enough!””
He carried the baby toward the bathroom.
Hannah followed.
“Where are you taking her?””
“Out of the room.””
“Why?””
He turned.
“Because you're interfering.””
The front door slammed downstairs.
An ambulance crew had arrived.
Two paramedics entered the bedroom, carrying medical equipment.
One of them approached Savannah while the other examined the newborn.
“What happened?””
Ethan rushed back into the room.
“She delivered unexpectedly. The baby wasn't breathing.””
The paramedic began assessing the infant.
“Let's get her onto the warmer.””
Dr. Reeves immediately objected.
“There's no need. I've already examined her.””
The paramedic looked at him.
“Sir, step aside.””
For the first time, Dr. Reeves appeared uncertain.
The second paramedic examined Savannah.
“Ma'am, can you tell me your name?””
Savannah moaned.
“Savannah.””
“Do you know where you are?””
“My house.””
“Good. We're going to take you to the hospital.””
Hannah stood beside the door.
Her eyes remained fixed on the newborn.
Then she noticed something.
The baby had a small reddish birthmark just beneath her left shoulder.
Hannah had seen that mark before.
Not on a newborn.
On a photograph.
A photograph of Grace taken during her first medical examination.
Her stomach dropped.
The paramedic lifted the baby carefully.
“There's a heartbeat.””
Ethan covered his mouth.
“Oh, thank God.””
But Dr. Reeves looked furious.
“That's impossible.””
The paramedic turned.
“What?””
“Nothing.””
The ambulance crew worked quickly.
Savannah was placed on a stretcher, and the newborn was transferred into a neonatal transport unit.
As they prepared to leave, Ethan caught Hannah's arm.
“Come with us.””
She pulled away.
“Why?””
“Because you know what you're doing.””
Hannah looked at him.
“Yesterday you slapped me and accused me of trying to kill your daughter.””
His eyes lowered.
“I know.””
“And now you want my help?””
“Please.””
Before Hannah could respond, a woman appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was wearing a dark green coat and holding a leather handbag.
Rebecca froze.
Hannah turned.
“Who is that?””
Rebecca's lips parted.
“Claire.””
The woman looked directly at the newborn being wheeled downstairs.
Then she began crying.
“That's my daughter.””
Ethan turned sharply.
“What?””
Claire took another step.
“That's my baby.””
Dr. Reeves rushed toward her.
“You need to leave.””
Claire backed away.
“Don't touch me!””
Savannah, still lying on the stretcher, suddenly began screaming.
“Get her out of my house!””
The paramedics exchanged confused looks.
Claire pointed toward the baby.
“Her name is Isabella!””
Hannah felt the room tilt.
Rebecca grabbed her arm.
“That's the woman from the hospital record.””
Ethan looked between the women.
“What the hell is going on?””
Claire's face crumpled.
“You stole my daughter.””
The entire hallway fell silent.
May you like
And then she said something that made Ethan take a step backward.
“You told me she was dead.””
