Chapter 5

Karen’s mother arrived the next morning.

She stood on Rachel’s porch in a cream coat and sunglasses, holding a casserole like violence could be covered in foil.

Rachel opened the door.

“No.”

The woman blinked.

“I need to speak to Daniel.”

“No.”

“I’m Karen’s mother.”

Rachel smiled without warmth.

“That explains the smell of entitlement.”

I almost laughed.

I was sitting on the couch with Mia asleep against my chest.

Her fingers still clutched my shirt.

Karen’s mother leaned around Rachel.

“Daniel, my daughter made a mistake.”

Rachel stepped in front of her.

“One more word and I call the officer handling the case.”

“She’s pregnant.”

The room went silent.

My heart stopped.

“What?”

Karen’s mother looked pleased.

“She was going to tell you this weekend. You can’t let your child’s mother sit in jail.”

Rachel whispered, “Your child?”

I stood carefully, keeping Mia supported.

Karen’s mother turned softer.

“Daniel, babies need fathers. Karen needs compassion.”

I felt the trap close around my throat.

A baby.

Another child.

Another innocent life.

Rachel looked at me.

“Do not let her use this.”

But my mind was spinning.

Could I protect Mia and still protect an unborn baby?

Could Karen be punished while the baby was safe?

Was the baby even mine?

That last thought came hard and ugly.

Karen’s mother saw my doubt.

Her smile faded.

“You owe her loyalty.”

I looked down at Mia’s bruised wrist.

“No,” I said.

“I owe children safety.”

The woman left furious.

By afternoon, my lawyer, Mara Chen, had filed for emergency custody protection for Mia and requested supervised arrangements for any unborn child if paternity was confirmed.

Mara was precise.

Calm.

Sharp.

She told me what I needed to hear.

“Pregnancy does not erase abuse.”

I nodded.

But that night, after Mia finally slept, I sat alone in Rachel’s kitchen.

Rachel placed coffee in front of me.

“You’re thinking about Grace.”

I closed my eyes.

“I promised her Mia would be safe.”

Rachel sat across from me.

“You failed.”

The words hit like a slap.

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Then she reached across the table and took my hand.

“But you stopped failing when you saw the truth. Keep going.”