The Baby Vivian Would Not Release
Chapter 02 - The Baby Vivian Would Not Release
Sebastian did not announce anything to the crowd.
He simply held Elena until she stopped shaking.
Then he turned toward Vivian.
“Give the baby to his mother.”
Vivian took one step backward.
“We do not know that she is his mother.”
Elena looked at her in disbelief.
“You watched me give birth.”
The sentence rippled across the room.
Sebastian’s face hardened.
Vivian recovered quickly.
“She arrived at the Vance Women’s Clinic under another name. There are medical concerns. The infant was placed temporarily under my supervision.”
“By whom?” Sebastian asked.
“Dr. Mercer.”
“Your brother?”
“He is the clinic director.”
Sebastian glanced toward the hotel physician standing near the orchestra.
“Is the child in immediate medical danger?”
The physician approached carefully and examined the sleeping baby without removing him from the blanket.
“He appears calm, warm, and stable. There is no medical reason he cannot remain with his mother.”
Vivian still did not move.
Family attorney Naomi Bell entered from the library carrying a leather document case.
She had been summoned by Sebastian’s private aide after he recognized the pendant.
Naomi addressed Vivian.
“Mrs. Vance, continued refusal may constitute unlawful interference with a parent’s custody.”
Vivian’s grip loosened.
Elena received her son with both arms and pressed her face against the white blanket.
The child opened his eyes.
Sebastian watched his great-grandson look toward the chandeliers.
“What is his name?”
“Noah.”
Vivian spoke before Elena could say more.
“The birth certificate lists no father and no verified family connection.”
Elena looked at Sebastian.
“My mother left records. I came here to find them.”
Vivian’s voice became cold.
“You came here under false pretenses.”
“I applied as Elena Marlowe. That is my legal name.”
“You concealed your purpose.”
“I learned that telling the Vance family who I was made letters disappear.”
Naomi opened the document case.
“Which letters?”
Elena reached into her apron and produced three returned envelopes.
Each was addressed to Sebastian Vance.
Each carried a rejection stamp from the Vance Estate Office.
May you like
Sebastian examined them.
The signatures authorizing the returns belonged to Vivian.
