Chapter 12 - Back to St. Catherine’s
St. Catherine’s had changed since Lily was born.
New lobby.
New maternity wing.
Fresh paint.
But when Nora walked through the entrance in a baseball cap and oversized coat, she still smelled the same antiseptic.
Her body remembered before her mind did.
The elevator.
The corridor.
The room where someone told her she had lost her baby.
Daniel walked beside her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
That answer seemed to surprise him.
Nora looked at him.
“Stop asking me questions you already know the answer to.”
They reached the old maternity floor.
It had been closed for renovation.
Margaret’s message directed them to Room 418.
Nora opened the door.
Empty.
On the bed sat a cassette recorder.
She pressed PLAY.
Her own voice filled the room.
Soft.
Young.
Pregnant.
Singing the lullaby.
Nora covered her mouth.
She remembered recording it for Daniel when he had traveled for work.
“I sent you this.”
Daniel looked devastated.
“I know.”
“How did Lily learn it?”
“My mother took the tape.”
Nora stared at him.
“When?”
“After the hospital.”
Margaret’s recorded voice interrupted the song.
“You always believed love made you special, Nora.”
Nora looked toward the recorder.
“It doesn’t.”
A second recording played.
A younger Daniel arguing with Margaret.
“She’s my daughter.”
Margaret answered.
“She is an investment.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“I never knew she recorded that.”
The audio continued.
“You signed.”
“I thought it was temporary.”
“You thought what I needed you to think.”
Then younger Daniel shouted:
“I’m telling Nora.”
Margaret laughed.
“And when she learns you signed away her child, do you think she will forgive you?”
The recording ended.
Nora stared at Daniel.
For the first time, she saw exactly how Margaret had controlled him.
Not innocence.
Not coercion alone.
Shame.
She had turned his first cowardly decision into six years of obedience.
A monitor on the wall activated.
Margaret appeared live.
“Nora.”
“Where is Lily?”
“Closer than you think.”
“Let her go.”
“Daniel first.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
“Your trust authorization.”
Nora understood.
Margaret needed Daniel’s signature to transfer emergency control of Lily’s inherited shares.
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Margaret smiled.
“Then Lily stays with me.”
“Not happening.”
“You already chose yourself over her once.”
Daniel flinched.
Nora looked at him.
“Don’t.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Don’t let her make the same decision for you twice.”
Daniel’s face changed.
He nodded.
Margaret watched.
“You sound brave now.”
Nora stepped toward the camera.
“No.”
She looked directly into Margaret’s eyes.
“I finally understand you.”
Margaret’s smile faded.
“You didn’t steal Lily because you loved her.”
Silence.
“You stole her because you couldn’t stand losing control.”
Margaret’s jaw tightened.
Nora continued.
“You lost your company.”
“You lost Caroline.”
“You lost Daniel.”
“And when you thought I was going to leave your family, you decided my daughter would be the one thing I could never take with me.”
“Stop.”
Nora almost smiled.
That word mattered.
Margaret had finally reacted.
“You don’t love Lily.”
“Stop.”
“You need her.”
The screen went black.
Then an alarm sounded.
Daniel turned.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Smoke began seeping beneath the hallway door.
Nora’s blood chilled.
Margaret had never intended to meet them.
May you like
The old maternity floor had been set on fire.
And the exit doors had locked.
