Chapter 2
My mother held the document beneath the bright poolside lights.
Margaret stared at it as though she had seen a ghost.
"That agreement was destroyed."
Her voice was barely audible.
My mother raised an eyebrow.
"Was it?"
Margaret's hands began trembling.
I looked between them.
"What agreement?"
My mother glanced toward me.
"Sweetheart, we're going to discuss everything. But first, you need medical attention."
I shook my head.
"Mom, please tell me."
She knelt beside me.
"Serena, your safety comes first."
A female security officer approached.
"Ma'am, the ambulance is on its way."
My mother nodded.
Then she turned toward Margaret.
"Nobody is leaving until the authorities arrive."
Margaret's face twisted.
"You can't keep me prisoner in my own home!"
My mother remained calm.
"You're free to speak with the police when they arrive. My team is here to protect Serena."
Margaret glanced toward the driveway.
For the first time since I'd known her, she looked uncertain.
I tried to stand.
A sharp ache moved across my lower back.
I gasped.
My mother immediately supported me.
"Don't move too quickly."
"I'm okay."
But I wasn't sure.
My hands were shaking.
My stomach felt tight.
And every breath reminded me how close that bat had come.
Minutes later, paramedics arrived.
They helped me onto a stretcher.
One of them asked questions about the pregnancy.
I answered as carefully as I could.
Eight months.
No direct blow to my abdomen.
No bleeding.
The baby was moving.
But I had fallen onto my knees and experienced abdominal tightening.
The paramedic nodded.
"We need to evaluate you at the hospital."
My mother climbed into the ambulance beside me.
Before the doors closed, I saw Margaret speaking frantically to a police officer.
She pointed toward the mansion.
Then toward the security team.
Her voice rose.
"This is a family matter!"
My mother looked at her through the open doorway.
"No, Margaret."
Her voice was cold.
"It's a matter for the police now."
The doors closed.
As the ambulance pulled away, I began crying again.
"Mom, I'm scared."
She held my hand.
"I know."
"What if something happens to Hope?"
Her eyes filled.
"We're getting you checked. You're not facing this alone."
I looked toward the ceiling.
For months, I'd imagined my daughter's birth.
The tiny clothes.
The nursery.
Daniel holding her for the first time.
Now I was lying in an ambulance because his mother had tried to attack me.
I felt sick.
My mother squeezed my fingers.
"Serena, breathe with me."
I followed her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
At the hospital, doctors examined me and monitored Hope's heartbeat.
I lay in bed listening to the steady rhythm.
Every beat felt like a gift.
After several hours, the doctor returned.
"Serena, the baby's heart rate looks reassuring."
I closed my eyes.
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
"Thank God."
The doctor explained that they wanted to continue observing me because of the fall and the tightening I'd experienced.
I nodded.
I would have stayed a week if it meant protecting Hope.
My mother sat beside me.
She hadn't changed her clothes.
Her black pantsuit was wrinkled.
Her usually perfect hair had begun falling loose.
I had never loved her more.
"Mom?"
She looked up.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"How did you know I needed help?"
Her expression changed.
"Nia called me."
I frowned.
"Nia?"
"Our estate security analyst."
I blinked.
I had never heard that name.
My mother explained that she'd asked her team to monitor certain risks after receiving information about suspicious financial activity connected to the Whitmore family.
One of her investigators had been near the property collecting evidence related to a business matter.
When he heard shouting and saw Margaret threatening me, he called for immediate assistance.
I stared at her.
"Business matter?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I felt a chill.
"Mom, what was in that envelope?"
She looked toward the door.
Then she took my hand.
"Serena, do you remember when Daniel's father died?"
I frowned.
"Three years ago."
"Do you remember what happened to his company afterward?"
I thought carefully.
"Margaret said the business was struggling."
My mother nodded.
"That's what she told everyone."
I swallowed.
"Wasn't it true?"
"Not entirely."
She opened her handbag.
Then she removed a copy of the document.
I stared at the heading.
HAYES INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS.
PRIVATE FINANCING AGREEMENT.
Below it was another name.
WHITMORE FAMILY ENTERPRISES.
My heart began pounding.
"Mom, what is this?"
She looked at me.
"After Daniel's father died, Margaret approached my company for emergency financing."
I blinked.
"Margaret borrowed money from you?"
"Through a private investment structure."
I stared.
"How much?"
My mother's expression remained serious.
"Twelve million dollars."
I felt the room tilt.
"Twelve million?"
She nodded.
"She told us the money would protect the family business."
I looked at the document.
"Did it?"
My mother hesitated.
"Some of it was used for business obligations."
"And the rest?"
"That's what we've been investigating."
I felt cold.
"Does Daniel know?"
My mother looked at me.
"I don't know how much he knows."
I stared at her.
My husband had always told me his family was financially secure.
He said the Whitmore estate had belonged to his father.
He said Margaret managed the investments.
And he told me not to worry about money.
But now I was discovering that the family's wealth might have been built on borrowed funds.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes softened.
"Because the agreement was confidential, and I didn't want to interfere in your marriage without clear evidence of wrongdoing."
I looked away.
I understood the legal reasons.
But emotionally, I felt betrayed.
"You knew Margaret was involved with your company?"
"Yes."
"And you let me marry into that family?"
My mother's face changed.
"Serena, I didn't know she would mistreat you."
Tears filled my eyes.
"She hated me from the beginning."
"I know."
"She called me poor."
My mother looked down.
"Yes."
I began crying.
"She made me feel like I wasn't good enough for Daniel."
My mother reached for me.
I pulled away.
For a moment, we sat in silence.
Then she whispered, "I'm sorry I didn't see how dangerous this had become."
I stared at the wall.
I wanted to be angry with her.
But the image of Margaret swinging that bat returned.
And I remembered who had come to save me.
My mother.
Not Daniel.
Not Margaret's friends.
Not the people who smiled at me during charity dinners.
My mother.
I turned back.
"Mom, what did Margaret do with the money?"
She took a breath.
"We believe some funds were diverted into private accounts."
I stared.
"Her accounts?"
"Possibly."
My stomach tightened.
"How much?"
My mother's expression darkened.
"Several million dollars."
I covered my mouth.
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"Serena, the reason your mother-in-law became so frightened when she saw that envelope is because the agreement contains a personal guarantee."
I looked at her.
"What guarantee?"
My mother hesitated.
"Margaret pledged certain family assets as security."
I stared at her.
"Which assets?"
She looked directly into my eyes.
"The Whitmore estate."
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then my phone began ringing.
Daniel.
I stared at his name.
My mother looked toward the screen.
"Answer it."
I hesitated.
Then I pressed the button.
"Daniel?"
His voice sounded frantic.
"Serena! Where are you?"
"I'm at the hospital."
"What?"
He sounded shocked.
"Why?"
I closed my eyes.
"Your mother attacked me."
Silence.
Then he said something I will never forget.
"Serena, please tell me you didn't call the police."
I stared at the phone.
My entire body went cold.
May you like
Because my husband wasn't asking whether our daughter was safe.
He was asking whether his mother was in trouble.
