PART 4 — THE NIGHT HIS SON ALMOST DIED

Alexander barely slept that night.

Claire’s final words kept repeating inside his head.

Your son needed surgery. I called your office from the hospital. Sophia answered.

He sat in his study until sunrise, staring at Ethan and Emma’s pH๏τograph.

He had missed their first words.

Their first birthdays.

Their first steps.

He had missed every ordinary moment that parents spent their lives remembering.

But now he had learned that there was something worse.

His son had almost died.

And Alexander had never known.

At seven in the morning, he called his private investigator.

“Find every medical record connected to Ethan Moretti’s birth.”

“Sir, that information is confidential.”

“Then have my attorneys request it through the proper channels. I want the hospital’s records, emergency calls, and insurance documentation.”

“Understood.”

“And find out who contacted the hospital on Claire’s behalf.”

There was a brief silence.

“Was someone preventing you from receiving information?”

Alexander looked at the pH๏τograph.

“Yes.”

At nine thirty, Sophia arrived at Alexander’s penthouse without an appointment.

She wore a white designer dress, carried an expensive handbag, and looked as though she had spent the morning preparing for an important meeting.

She walked into his study and closed the door.

“Alexander, we need to talk.”

He did not offer her a seat.

“What did you tell the hospital?”

Sophia blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“Three years ago. When Ethan was born. What did you tell them?”

Her expression changed almost imperceptibly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Claire called my office because our son needed emergency surgery. You answered.”

Sophia placed her handbag on the table.

“Alexander, I was handling your personal affairs. You had made it clear you didn’t want contact with Claire.”

“I never told you to prevent me from learning that my child was sick.”

“You were divorced.”

“He was my son!”

Sophia flinched.

Then she folded her arms.

“You were building a new life. I thought you deserved some peace.”

Alexander stared at her.

“Did you tell the hospital not to contact me?”

She looked away.

“Answer me.”

“I was trying to avoid another disaster.”

“What disaster?”

“Claire using the children to pull you back into her life!”

Alexander slowly approached the desk.

“She called you because our son needed surgery.”

Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.

“You weren’t there for me either, Alexander.”

He stared at her.

“What?”

“You were supposed to build a future with me.”

He shook his head.

“This isn’t about you.”

“Everything became about Claire the moment you saw those children.”

“They are my children.”

“And I was supposed to be your wife!”

The silence that followed was almost unbearable.

Alexander looked at her for a long moment.

“Did you tell the hospital I had refused contact?”

Sophia said nothing.

“Did you tell them I had authorized you to make decisions on my behalf?”

Her eyes flickered.

That was enough.

Alexander picked up his phone.

“Daniel, I need you here.”

Sophia stepped forward.

“Don’t do this.”

He looked at her coldly.

“Leave my house.”

“Alexander, please.”

“You have five minutes.”

She began crying.

“I loved you.”

He stared at her.

“Then why did you help me abandon my own children?”

Sophia’s expression hardened.

“Because I knew what would happen.”

“What?”

“You would choose Claire.”

Alexander shook his head.

“No. I would have chosen my children.”

Sophia whispered something he barely heard.

“Exactly.”

He looked at her.

She continued.

“I knew if you met those babies, there would never be room for me.”

Alexander felt something inside him go cold.

“Get out.”

This time, Sophia did not argue.

She picked up her handbag and walked toward the door.

But before leaving, she turned around.

“You think Claire is innocent? You don’t know everything about that marriage.”

Alexander frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Sophia gave a strained smile.

“Ask her why she waited until the last possible moment to tell you she was pregnant.”

Then she left.

Alexander stood motionless.

He knew Sophia was trying to create another argument between them.

But he also knew he had spent years accepting explanations without checking the truth.

He would not make that mistake again.

At noon, Daniel Hayes arrived with a preliminary hospital report.

He placed it on Alexander’s desk.

“Ethan was born prematurely,” he explained. “There were complications during delivery. Both children required specialized neonatal care.”

Alexander scanned the pages.

Emma had been stable.

Ethan had experienced serious breathing difficulties.

A medical team had performed emergency treatment and transferred him to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Alexander’s hands began shaking.

“How long was he there?”

“Twenty-three days.”

Alexander closed his eyes.

Twenty-three days.

His little boy had spent nearly a month fighting to survive.

He turned to the next page.

A section documented the emergency contacts supplied by Claire.

One name appeared repeatedly.

Claire Bennett Moretti.

Below it was a note.

Father’s notification requested.

Then another entry.

Contact attempt redirected to authorized representative.

Alexander pointed at the screen.

“Who was the representative?”

Daniel read the name.

“Ms. Sophia Reynolds.”

Alexander stared.

“Why?”

“The file indicates someone submitted a letter granting her temporary authority to receive certain communications.”

“Did I sign it?”

Daniel shook his head.

“The signature doesn’t match your verified signature samples.”

Alexander felt his stomach тιԍнтen.

“Who submitted it?”

“An administrative office. The idenтιтy of the person who delivered it is still being investigated.”

He looked at another page.

A handwritten note appeared beneath the record.

Father unavailable. No further notification requested.

Alexander pushed the folder away.

“Who wrote that?”

Daniel examined the page.

“We don’t know.”

Alexander stood and walked toward the window.

Outside, Chicago continued as usual.

Traffic moved through the streets.

People hurried to work.

Restaurants opened.

Children walked beside their parents.

The world had continued for three years while his own children grew up without him.

He turned back.

“Can I legally request visitation?”

Daniel nodded.

“Once paternity is confirmed and with Claire’s cooperation or through the appropriate court process, there are options. But I strongly advise you not to make threats or sudden demands.”

“I don’t want to fight her.”

“Then don’t. Show her that you can respect her boundaries.”

Alexander nodded.

For the first time, he understood that fatherhood could not be purchased through a legal agreement.

It had to be earned.

That afternoon, he visited Claire’s flower shop for the third time.

He waited outside until she noticed him.

When she opened the door, her expression was cautious.

“Alexander.”

“I brought something.”

Claire immediately stiffened.

“I told you not to buy the children expensive things.”

“I didn’t.”

He handed her a document folder.

She opened it.

Inside were copies of his financial records showing that he had established a trust for Ethan and Emma.

The funds were protected.

Claire would oversee their use until the children were adults, under independent legal supervision.

She looked up.

“What is this?”

“Something I should have done when they were born.”

She turned another page.

“I haven’t asked you for money.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

“Because they’re my children. I want to make sure their future is secure.”

Claire studied him carefully.

“You think money is going to repair what happened?”

“No.”

He looked down.

“I think money is the easiest thing I can offer. And for once, I know it’s not enough.”

She closed the folder.

“That’s at least an honest answer.”

Alexander took a breath.

“I also know about Ethan’s surgery.”

Claire’s face changed.

“Who told you?”

“The hospital records.”

She looked away.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

“Why didn’t you tell me yourself?”

Her eyes filled.

“I tried.”

He nodded.

Then she explained.

“Ethan was born early. He had difficulty breathing, and the doctors told me they needed to act quickly.”

Alexander felt his chest тιԍнтen.

“I called your office repeatedly. Eventually, Sophia answered. I told her our son was in intensive care.”

“What did she say?”

Claire swallowed.

“She told me you were traveling and had instructed her not to disturb you with anything involving me.”

Alexander closed his eyes.

“She said you had moved on. She said I was being selfish for trying to bring you back into my life.”

Claire’s voice cracked.

“I was sitting in a hospital corridor, Alexander. My daughter was sleeping in a nurse’s arms, and my son was behind a wall I couldn’t enter.”

She wiped her tears.

“I didn’t care about our marriage anymore. I just wanted my children’s father to know they existed.”

Alexander couldn’t speak.

After a moment, Claire continued.

“When Ethan came home, I stopped calling.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

He looked at her.

“Do you?”

She gave a sad smile.

“I believe you’re sorry now. But that doesn’t change what happened then.”

He nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

From the back room came Emma’s laughter.

Then Ethan appeared, carrying a toy ambulance.

He looked at Alexander.

“Are you coming back?”

Alexander crouched slightly.

“Would you like me to?”

Ethan shrugged.

“Maybe.”

Claire watched them both.

Alexander smiled faintly.

“That’s fair.”

Ethan held up the ambulance.

“My daddy used to have one of these.”

Alexander felt his heart stop.

“Your daddy?”

The little boy nodded.

“Mommy said he’s far away.”

Alexander looked at Claire.

She remained silent.

He turned back to Ethan.

“That’s a very nice ambulance.”

Ethan nodded proudly.

Then Emma appeared behind him.

“Mommy, can we show him our picture?”

Claire hesitated.

Then she allowed them to bring it forward.

It was a family drawing.

Claire.

Ethan.

Emma.

And a small fourth figure standing far away.

Above it, in uneven letters, was written:

DADDY.

Alexander stared at the page.

“Did you draw this?”

Emma nodded.

“Mommy says everybody has a daddy.”

He swallowed.

“That’s right.”

“Are you somebody’s daddy?”

Alexander looked at her.

His voice trembled.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

Emma smiled.

“Then maybe you can be their daddy too.”

Claire turned away, wiping her eyes.

Alexander could barely hold himself together.

He did not reach for the children.

He did not ask Claire to reconsider their marriage.

He simply thanked them for showing him the picture.

Then he left.

That evening, Alexander received a call from Daniel.

“We have a problem.”

He closed his eyes.

“What now?”

“Sophia’s attorney has contacted us.”

“About what?”

“She claims Claire deliberately concealed the pregnancy and that the twins’ parentage should be formally challenged.”

Alexander stood.

“What?”

“She is requesting a review of the evidence and has threatened to release documents to the press.”

Alexander felt anger surge through him.

“Sophia has no right to involve my children in this.”

“There’s something else.”

“What?”

Daniel lowered his voice.

“We found a payment made to the hospital’s administrative contractor three years ago.”

Alexander went still.

“Who paid it?”

“The money came from an account ᴀssociated with Sophia’s foundation.”

“Why would her foundation pay a hospital contractor?”

“We don’t know yet.”

Daniel paused.

“But the payment was made two days before Ethan’s emergency surgery.”

Alexander slowly sat down.

He thought of Sophia’s tears.

Her claims that she was protecting him.

Her insistence that Claire was trying to manipulate him.

Then Daniel said something that made his blood run cold.

“The payment reference contains a name.”

“What name?”

Daniel took a breath.

“Your mother’s.”

Alexander stared at the phone.

His mother had died long before the twins were born.

Why would Sophia be using her name in a payment connected to his son’s hospital records?

And why had the payment been made before the surgery?

For the first time, Alexander began to suspect that Sophia had not been acting alone.

Because the next document Daniel uncovered would reveal that someone in Alexander’s own family had known about Ethan and Emma from the very beginning—and had helped keep them hidden.