I stared at him.

“Controlling?”

He nodded.

“She wanted things her way.”

I almost laughed.

“Mark, what exactly are you trying to tell me?”

He looked toward the door.

Then lowered his voice.

“She made arrangements before the twins were born.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“What arrangements?”

“I didn’t agree with them.”

I studied his face.

“Then why did you sign those papers?”

His expression changed.

For one second, genuine fear appeared.

“What papers?”

I knew immediately.

He didn’t know how much I had seen.

I looked away.

“I mean… hospital paperwork.”

He relaxed slightly.

“Yes.”

Then he squeezed my hand.

“Hailey, I need you to trust me.”

The irony almost made me cry.

Trust him.

After everything I had seen.

I nodded.

“I do.”

He smiled.

“Good.”

Then he leaned toward me.

“My mother has been obsessed with the idea of controlling the family.”

“What family?”

“Everything.”

He looked exhausted.

“She thinks money gives her the right to make decisions for everyone.”

I said nothing.

He continued.

“When she learned we were having twins, she started talking about inheritance.”

I felt a chill.

“What inheritance?”

“Our family company.”

I stared at him.

“Why would our babies matter to your company?”

“Because my mother’s estate plan is complicated.”

“How?”

“She wanted one grandson to become her successor.”

“And the other?”

Mark looked away.

“She didn’t want another heir.”

My stomach twisted.

“Why?”

“Because she believed two children would divide everything.”

I stared at him.

“So she wanted one baby?”

He nodded.

“But that doesn’t explain why he was taken.”

Mark’s eyes filled with tears.

“I was desperate.”

“For what?”

“To protect you.”

I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“You let them take our baby to protect me?”

“I thought I could get him back.”

“When?”

He looked down.

“After everything was settled.”

“What was supposed to be settled?”

He didn’t answer.

My phone vibrated.

I kept it hidden beneath the blanket.

A message from Dr. Reed.

ADDRESS SENT. COME ALONE.

I knew I couldn’t leave with Mark.

I needed time.

I needed proof.

And I needed my son.

I looked at Mark.

“Can you get me some water?”

He stood.

“Of course.”

As soon as he left, I opened the message.

An address appeared.

Northlake Infant Services.

My hands shook.

Then another message came.

There is a second file. Ask for Room 214.

Room 214.

I memorized it.

When Mark returned, I drank the water slowly.

He sat beside me.

“I love you,” he whispered.

I looked at him.

“I love you too.”

The words felt like glass in my mouth.

Later that afternoon, Mark told me he needed to speak with his mother.

The moment he left, I called Dr. Reed.

“Tell me everything.”

His voice sounded exhausted.

“I found the original birth records.”

“And?”

“Both boys were born alive.”

I closed my eyes.

“Names?”

“The records originally listed Twin A and Twin B.”

“What happened to the names?”

“Wendy changed the paperwork.”

“Why?”

“Because she wanted the second child legally separated from you.”

I swallowed.

“Separated how?”

“She filed an emergency guardianship petition.”

“Without me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It shouldn’t have been possible.”

“But it happened.”

I looked at Martin.

“What about the baby?”

“He was transferred under a temporary medical custody order.”

“Who signed it?”

“Your husband.”

My heart sank.

“So Mark did this.”

“Mark signed.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

I whispered:

“He told me he was protecting me.”

Dr. Reed was silent.

Then he said:

“Hailey, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“What?”

“Mark came to me the night before the delivery.”

“What did he say?”

“He asked whether there was a way to separate one twin from the other without you knowing.”

I closed my eyes.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Why?”

“He said your marriage was in danger.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

Then I heard a noise outside my room.

I ended the call.

The door opened.

But it wasn’t Mark.

It was Judy.

She closed the door behind her.

“How much do you know?”

I stared at her.

“Enough.”

She sat beside me.

“I knew someone had to tell you.”

“Why did you risk your job?”

She looked down.

“Because I was there.”

“That night?”

She nodded.

“I watched them take your son.”

“Why didn’t you stop them?”

Tears appeared in her eyes.

“I tried.”

“What happened?”

“Wendy had hospital administrators on her side.”

I stared at her.

“They told us the baby was being transferred for specialized treatment.”

“But he wasn’t.”

“No.”

“Where was he actually going?”

“Northlake.”

“Who runs it?”

“Wendy.”

I gripped the blanket.

“Why?”

Judy hesitated.

“Because your baby wasn’t the only one.”

My blood went cold.

“What?”

“There were other newborns.”

“How many?”

“I don’t know.”

“But you saw them?”

“Yes.”

“Judy, what is happening?”

She leaned closer.

“Your mother-in-law has been using private medical arrangements to move babies into private custody.”

I felt sick.

“Why?”

“Money.”

The word hung in the air.

Then Judy handed me a small envelope.

“What’s this?”

“The original bracelet.”

I opened it.

Inside was a tiny hospital identification band.

Twin B.

My son’s birth date.

My name.

His weight.

I pressed it to my chest.

Judy whispered:

“There’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“Mark came back the next morning.”

“Why?”

“He wasn’t asking about your condition.”

“What was he asking?”

“He wanted to know whether the baby had been transferred.”

My heart shattered.

“Did he?”

“Yes.”

“Did he ask where?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he already knew.”

I looked down at the bracelet.

Then Judy said:

“Hailey, if you want your son back, don’t go to Northlake alone.”

“Why?”

“Because your husband isn’t the only person who knows you’re looking.”

The door handle suddenly moved.

Judy stood.

“Someone is coming.”

I hid the bracelet.

The door opened.

Mark walked in.

He looked at Judy.

Then at me.

“What’s she doing here?”

Judy smiled.

“Checking on your wife.”

Mark stared at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Mark said:

“Could you give us a minute?”

Judy nodded.

Before leaving, she looked directly at me.

Her eyes said one thing.

Don’t trust him.

The door closed.

Mark sat beside me.

“I need to tell you the truth.”

I looked at him.

“Then tell me.”

He swallowed.

“My mother has our other son.”

I didn’t react.

“I know.”

His face went white.

“How?”

I held his gaze.

“I watched the video.”

He froze.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he whispered:

“Hailey…”

“Where is my baby?”

“I can take you to him.”

My heart stopped.

“Tonight.”

Mark nodded.

“But there’s something you need to understand.”

“What?”

He looked toward the door.

“If we go there, my mother will know I betrayed her.”

“And?”

His voice cracked.

“She won’t let either of us leave.”

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