Chapter 2
"Don't listen to him!"
Evelyn's scream echoed through the living room.
Marcus tightened his grip around her wrist.
"Mom, stop!"
But she wasn't looking at him.
She was staring at my phone.
The fear in her eyes was unlike anything I had ever seen.
For three years, Evelyn had been the most confident person in every room.
She had insulted me at parties, criticized my cooking, and questioned my loyalty to Marcus.
Now her hands were shaking.
My father spoke again.
"Nia, take Noah somewhere private."
I looked toward the hallway.
"Why?"
"Because what I found concerns your son's safety."
My knees nearly gave out.
I glanced down at Noah.
He was sleeping against my chest, his tiny lips moving as if he were dreaming.
"What happened to my baby?"
Evelyn suddenly started crying.
"They're twisting everything!"
Marcus looked horrified.
"Mom, what did you do?"
"I did nothing!"
My father interrupted.
"Nia, do not hand your son to Evelyn."
That was enough.
I moved toward the staircase.
Marcus followed.
"Nia, wait. Please let me come with you."
I turned.
"No."
His face crumpled.
"He's my son too."
"Then you should have acted like his father when your mother humiliated his mother."
He stopped moving.
I walked upstairs and entered Noah's nursery.
The room had pale blue walls and little white clouds painted above his crib.
I had spent weeks preparing it.
Now it felt like the only safe place in the entire house.
I locked the door.
"Dad, tell me."
I heard him exhale.
"At 5:42 this afternoon, Evelyn entered the nursery while you were taking a shower."
My heart began pounding.
"She told me she was checking on Noah."
"She wasn't."
I looked toward the crib.
My father continued.
"She approached his formula supplies and removed a small container from her handbag."
I froze.
"What container?"
"We don't know yet. The camera shows her opening it, but her body blocks the contents."
My mouth went dry.
"Did she put something in his milk?"
"We can't confirm that from the recording."
I remembered something.
Earlier that afternoon, Evelyn had insisted on preparing Noah's bottle herself.
She had become irritated when I told her he was breastfeeding and only needed expressed milk when I was unavailable.
She had called me controlling.
Then she'd disappeared into the kitchen.
I slowly lowered myself into the rocking chair.
"Dad, she touched his feeding supplies?"
"Yes."
My hands began trembling.
"I need a doctor."
"I've already contacted your pediatrician's emergency service and arranged a hospital assessment. Don't feed Noah anything Evelyn prepared. Bring any bottles or supplies she handled."
I looked at my baby.
He was breathing normally.
He had fed well an hour earlier.
But fear doesn't listen to reason when your child might be in danger.
I pressed my cheek against his forehead.
"Please be okay," I whispered.
My father softened his voice.
"Sweetheart, I'm sending a car with security. I'll meet you at the hospital."
A loud knock came at the nursery door.
"Nia!"
Marcus.
"Open the door!"
I remained seated.
"Go away."
"Please. I need to know what's happening."
I hesitated.
Then I asked a question.
"Marcus, did your mother give Noah anything today?"
Silence.
I stood.
"Answer me."
"I don't know."
"Did she?"
Another pause.
Then he said something that made my stomach twist.
"She mentioned bringing something to help him sleep."
The nursery suddenly seemed to tilt.
"What?"
"She said babies cry too much when mothers are stressed. I thought she meant some kind of natural remedy."
I felt cold all over.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Nia, I didn't think—"
"Exactly."
My voice broke.
"You didn't think."
I turned away from the door.
"Stay downstairs. Don't let your mother leave until security arrives."
Marcus started pleading.
But I had already ended the conversation.
I gathered Noah's diaper bag, the feeding bottles from his nursery refrigerator, and the formula tin Evelyn had brought as a gift.
Then I waited.
Fifteen minutes later, I heard voices downstairs.
My father's security team had arrived.
One of the guards called through the nursery door.
"Mrs. Bennett? My name is David Cole. Your father sent me."
I recognized David's voice.
He had worked for our family since I was a teenager.
I opened the door.
He looked at the baby first.
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know."
His expression softened.
"Then we'll get him checked."
As we reached the staircase, Evelyn stepped into the hallway.
Her makeup had smeared.
"You're making a terrible mistake."
I looked at her.
"What did you put near my son's milk?"
She stared at me.
"I didn't put anything in his milk."
"Then why are you afraid of the recording?"
Her lips tightened.
"Because your father has always wanted to destroy this family."
Marcus appeared behind her.
"Nia, let's talk."
David moved between us.
"Sir, please give her space."
Marcus looked offended.
"This is my wife."
I turned.
"Then why do I need someone else to protect me from your family?"
His eyes filled with tears.
I felt nothing.
Not yet.
I was too frightened.
As David escorted me toward the front door, Evelyn spoke one final time.
"You think your father is telling you the truth?"
I stopped.
She stepped closer.
"Ask him why he really funded Marcus's company."
I looked back.
"What are you talking about?"
Her mouth curved into a strange smile.
"Ask him what he was paying to keep quiet."
Marcus stared at her.
"Mom?"
Evelyn wiped her tears.
"Your father isn't the hero you think he is, Nia."
For the first time since the call, I felt a different kind of fear.
Not because I believed her.
But because she sounded absolutely certain.
I left without answering.
Inside the car, Noah stirred.
I kissed his forehead and held him carefully against my chest.
Then I called my father.
"Dad, Evelyn said something strange."
"What?"
"She said you funded Marcus's company to keep something quiet."
The line went silent.
"Dad?"
His next words made my chest tighten.
"Nia, there's something about that investment I've never told you."
I closed my eyes.
"Then tell me now."
May you like
He hesitated.
And I realized my father had been keeping a secret too.
