Chapter 2 - The Statement They Wanted
Detective Ortiz reached me first.
She crouched beside Nora.
“Is the baby hurt?”
“I don’t think so.”
My voice shook for the first time.
A hotel medic rushed forward.
Adrian tried to speak.
“This is insane.”
Lena stood.
“Do not approach her.”
Vivienne recovered faster.
She always did.
“My son was defending himself.”
Lena looked toward the guests.
“Against a woman holding a six-month-old baby?”
Nobody answered.
Vivienne’s mouth tightened.
Adrian pointed at me.
“She came here to destroy me.”
Julian stared at him.
“What statement were you trying to make her sign?”
Adrian went still.
So did Vivienne.
That was the second secret.
The statement was inside my purse.
I had brought it on purpose.
Lena retrieved the papers.
The first paragraph said I had suffered from postpartum depression.
The second said I experienced paranoia.
The third said I had become emotionally unstable around Nora.
The final page gave Adrian temporary sole custody while I voluntarily entered a private treatment center in Connecticut.
My signature line remained blank.
Julian read the document.
His expression became colder with every sentence.
“Who wrote this?”
Vivienne said nothing.
Adrian answered.
“Our attorney.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire needs help.”
I laughed.
It hurt my ribs.
Lena noticed.
“Claire, save your energy.”
But I needed everyone to hear this.
“I have never been diagnosed with postpartum depression.”
Adrian shrugged.
“You refuse treatment.”
“I was evaluated by two independent doctors.”
Vivienne cut in.
“Doctors you chose.”
Julian looked at her.
“You knew about this?”
She stared back.
“Of course.”
“He is my son.”
“And Claire is his wife.”
Vivienne’s expression did not move.
Julian looked disgusted.
The hotel medic examined Nora.
No visible injury.
Her breathing was slowing.
Mine was not.
Lena helped me stand carefully.
Then she looked toward Adrian.
“You are being detained while we determine whether an arrest is appropriate.”
Adrian laughed again.
“You think I’m going anywhere?”
Lena’s face remained calm.
“Yes.”
Two officers moved toward him.
Adrian’s arrogance finally cracked.
He looked at Julian.
“You brought police into a Vale event?”
Julian answered.
“No.”
“Claire did.”
Adrian turned toward me.
His eyes were full of betrayal.
That almost made me laugh.
He had pushed me to the marble floor.
Struck me while I protected our daughter.
Then looked betrayed because I called for help.
Vivienne walked closer.
“Claire.”
Lena blocked her.
Vivienne ignored the detective.
“You do not understand what happens if this becomes public.”
I looked around the ballroom.
Phones were still recording.
May you like
“It already is.”
For the first time, Vivienne Vale had nothing to say.
