Chapter 6 - The Unspoken TruthEleanor recoiled as if struck. "Your... your daughter?!"
Clare looked up at Ethan, fresh tears glistening in her eyes as she gave a quiet, definitive nod. "He's the father, Mother. And you are going to leave this room right now."
Eleanor opened her mouth to argue, her face turning red with frustration, but Ethan raised a single hand, signaling to two hospital security guards standing in the hallway.
"Escort Mrs. Matthews to the lobby," Ethan ordered firmly. "If she attempts to re-enter this floor without permission, issue a trespass warning."
"You can't do this!" Eleanor shouted as the guards firmly escorted her backward out the door. "Clare, you'll regret this!"
The door clicked shut, leaving the room in a heavy, profound silence.
Ethan turned back to the bed. He removed his sterile gloves and tossed them into the bin. He walked over to the side of the bed, his knees feeling weak as he looked down at the tiny baby resting against Clareâs chest.
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"You knew?" Ethan asked softly, his voice trembling with raw, vulnerable emotion. "Nine months ago in Boston... you knew?"
"I found out three weeks after I left Boston," Clare whispered, her voice breaking. "I was terrified, Ethan. I thought... I thought if I brought a baby into your life, you'd resent me. You were building your career, and I was such a mess..."
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