Do Not Touch My Child
Chapter 06 - Do Not Touch My Child
Victoria returned to the foyer carrying the baby and found Emma still there.
Her anger became immediate.
“I told you to leave.”
Emma stood beside the marble console, hands trembling but voice steady. “Mr. Ashford asked me to stay.”
Victoria looked toward the stairs. Henry was no longer visible. He had stepped into the library to call his attorney and the hospital nurse whose message had been buried for days.
Victoria assumed Emma was bluffing.
She moved closer.
The baby opened his eyes and made a small restless sound. Emma’s whole body reacted. She reached out without thinking, then stopped herself before contact.
Victoria noticed.
“You want to touch him?”
Emma’s eyes filled. “Yes.”
“Then remember what happens when poor women reach for things that belong to powerful families.”
The cruelty was so calm that Emma almost missed the fear beneath it.
“I don’t want your family,” Emma said. “I want my son.”
Victoria pulled the blanket tighter.
“Your son is buried.”
Emma’s breath caught.
Victoria leaned close enough that the baby rested between them.
“If you keep this up, I will have you committed. The clinic will confirm postpartum delusion. The police will confirm harassment. Every person in this house will say you frightened a newborn.”
Emma looked around the empty foyer.
For the first time, she understood how completely Victoria had designed the story.
Then Henry’s voice came from behind them.
“Every person?”
Victoria turned.
Henry crossed the marble, expression unreadable. He stopped beside Emma.
“Give me the child.”
Victoria’s smile faltered. “Henry, she is having an episode.”
“I spoke to Nurse Rachel Gomez.”
The baby stirred.
Victoria’s arms tightened.
Henry held out both hands. “Do not make me ask again.”
Something in his voice reached beyond family and into law.
Victoria surrendered the baby.
Henry cradled him carefully, then stepped beside Emma. The child’s eyes opened at the sound of her breathing.
Henry looked from the blue thread to Emma’s face.
“Say his name.”
Emma whispered, “Noah.”
The baby turned toward her.
Victoria went pale.
Henry placed one arm around Emma’s shoulders and faced his daughter-in-law.
“The hospital records were altered,” he said. “And your accounts paid for it.”
Victoria’s mouth opened.
No denial came.
May you like
Only calculation.
That was the moment Emma knew the battle had finally become visible.
