Chapter 4: The Bottle
Daniel stared at the image.
“That's her.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“You're sure?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“My mother owns that coat.””
I couldn't stop staring at the bottle.
“Could it be the supplements?””
Dr. Patel stepped closer.
“Possibly.””
Harris looked at me.
“Did your mother know you were in this room?””
“She knew which hospital.””
“Did she know your room number?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
A text from Noah.
*Don't tell your parents I have the full video.*
Daniel typed back.
*Why?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*Because there's something at the end you didn't see.*
Daniel looked at me.
“What?””
“I don't know.””
He called Noah.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Harris took out his own phone.
“What's his address?””
Daniel gave it.
Harris immediately called another officer.
I stared at the ceiling.
The rain had stopped.
Sunlight pushed through the window.
It should have felt peaceful.
It didn't.
Twenty-five weeks.
Two days and some hours.
That number had become a countdown.
Dr. Patel returned with a nurse.
“We received the preliminary blood results.””
I sat up.
“What did they find?””
“There's an abnormal substance in your system.””
Daniel's face went hard.
“What substance?””
“We're still identifying it.””
“Is it dangerous?””
“It can affect blood pressure and placental blood flow.””
My hand moved to my stomach.
“Could it hurt the baby?””
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Daniel stood.
“Who administered it?””
Dr. Patel shook her head.
“We can't determine that.””
But I could.
I remembered my mother.
The supplements.
The tea she brought me.
The way she had started insisting I take everything she gave me.
I felt sick.
Detective Harris spoke quietly.
“Mrs. Bennett, I need you to think about every time your mother gave you food, drinks, medications, or supplements during this pregnancy.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You think she did this?””
“I think we need evidence.””
I swallowed.
“There was one time.””
“When?””
“Three weeks ago.””
“What happened?””
“My mother came to my house.””
“Why?””
“She said she wanted to help me prepare for the baby.””
“What did she bring?””
“Tea.””
“What kind?””
“I don't know.””
“Did anyone else drink it?””
“No.””
Daniel's eyes closed.
I whispered, “I got dizzy afterward.””
“Did you tell anyone?””
“My mother said it was normal.””
Harris wrote something down.
Then the door opened.
A nurse entered.
“Detective?””
“Yes?””
“Security has someone downstairs.””
“Who?””
“Mrs. Bennett's father.””
My father.
Daniel immediately moved toward the door.
Harris stopped him.
“Let me handle it.””
But before Harris could leave, Dad appeared in the hallway.
He looked furious.
“This is insane.””
Harris stepped outside.
“You need to stay behind the line.””
“I am her father.””
“You can visit when cleared.””
Dad pointed at me.
“She is being manipulated.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“By who?””
Dad ignored him.
“Sarah, listen to me.””
I stared at him.
“You knew about the trust.””
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“What trust?””
“You knew.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“The clause.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“What clause?””
“The one about Lily reaching twenty-five weeks.””
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Then he recovered.
“You've misunderstood the document.””
“No.””
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I read it.””
He stepped closer.
“You need to stop this.””
“Stop what?””
“Destroying the family.””
I laughed.
The sound came out broken.
“You destroyed it when Emily kicked me.””
“She was defending herself.””
“No.””
Dad looked at Daniel.
“You've poisoned her against us.””
Daniel's voice was calm.
“You don't get to talk about poisoning.””
Dad went silent.
Detective Harris returned.
“Mr. Bennett, I'd like you to come with me.””
“Why?””
“We need to discuss last night's incident.””
Dad looked at me one last time.
Then he said something so quietly that only I heard it.
“You have no idea what your grandfather was protecting you from.””
He turned.
Harris followed him.
I looked at Daniel.
“What did he mean?””
Daniel didn't answer.
His phone rang.
Noah.
He answered immediately.
“Noah?””
Breathing.
Heavy.
Fast.
Then—
“Daniel, listen to me.””
“Where are you?””
“I got the original video.””
“Where?””
“I found it hidden in my cloud backup.””
“What does it show?””
Noah's breathing became shakier.
“It shows Emily didn't come out of nowhere.””
Daniel frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“I watched the whole thing.””
“What happened?””
“I saw your mother pull Emily aside before the argument.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did they say?””
Noah swallowed.
“She handed Emily something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
Then his voice dropped.
“But five minutes later, Emily asked your mother…”
He stopped.
“Asked her what?””
Noah whispered the words.
“‘What happens if the baby makes it to twenty-five weeks?’”
Daniel and I looked at each other.
Then Noah screamed.
May you like
The phone crashed.
The line went dead.
