Chapter 9 - Why they wanted her born early
Premature birth at eight months.
Why?
Trust timing.
The Thomas Vance succession clause activated not merely upon live birth.
It depended on the child being born before a corporate restructuring date.
That restructuring was scheduled for the following week.
Arthur wanted my daughter born before then?
That sounded counterintuitive.
If her birth triggered the trust, why accelerate it?
Julian explained.
Because Arthur planned to challenge paternity immediately.
If my daughter was delivered during the manufactured “psychiatric crisis,” Arthur’s legal team intended to argue Julian was not the biological father.
My head spun.
“But he is.”
Julian looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
There.
Dr. Cole.
Continuity.
Approved embryo.
Everything returned.
Julian said Arthur discovered irregularities in our fertility records.
He believed Dr. Cole had used biological material not belonging to Julian.
Did Julian know before?
“Two months ago.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I thought Dad was bluffing.”
“Arthur isn’t your father.”
His face twisted.
“Don’t.”
Interesting.
He knew and still called him Dad.
Human bonds survive facts.
Then Julian explained Arthur’s strategy.
If paternity became uncertain, Thomas’s trust could enter litigation.
Shares frozen.
Restructuring completed.
Arthur bought time.
The fake mistress pregnancy created an alternate heir narrative for investors and family members.
My public breakdown would support emergency control.
My early labor would accelerate the triggering event before anyone had time to investigate.
The cruelty was strategy.
Then I asked:
“Why punch me?”
He lowered his eyes.
“I lost control.”
“No.”
I leaned forward despite the ache in my body.
“You brought Chloe there deliberately. Your mother announced she was pregnant. Your father had documents ready.”
Silence.
“You didn’t lose control.”
He started crying.
I felt nothing.
“You were part of it.”
“Yes.”
Finally.
No excuse.
Then:
“But Arthur lied to me too.”
“What about?”
“Dr. Cole.”
Apparently Arthur told Julian the fertility records proved another man fathered my baby.
That was why Julian had become especially vicious in recent months.
He believed I had cheated.
Even though no affair occurred.
Again:
Explanation.
Not absolution.
Then Julian gave Harris an address.
Dr. Cole’s location.
A Vance-owned hunting property in West Virginia.
“Why help us?”
Julian looked at me.
Then my stomach.
“Because Arthur told me yesterday that if the baby doesn’t survive, all of this disappears.”
May you like
The room went silent.
Arthur had apparently decided the easiest solution to a succession problem was no heir at all.
