Chapter 4 - The Woman in Cabo
Britney Shaw arrived in Boston three days later.
She didn’t look like the woman I had imagined.
No designer sunglasses.
No smug smile.
No engagement ring.
She looked terrified.
Dominic’s attorney brought her into a private conference room at the hospital.
I sat across from her.
Dominic stood by the door.
Britney stared at him.
“Does he have to be here?”
I answered, “Yes.”
Dominic glanced at me.
Technically, I had invited him because I was still getting used to seeing Bradley’s lies without somebody helping me question my own reality.
Britney folded her hands.
“I didn’t know you were in the hospital.”
“You knew I was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“With twins.”
“Yes.”
“And you were with my husband.”
She swallowed.
“Yes.”
“At least you can answer a question.”
Her eyes filled.
“I’m not here to defend myself.”
“Why are you here?”
She pulled a phone from her purse.
“Because Bradley lied to me too.”
Dominic’s attorney leaned forward.
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Britney placed the phone on the table.
“He told me Rachel had left him six months ago.”
I almost laughed.
“I was sleeping beside him six months ago.”
“I know that now.”
“He told you I left?”
“He said the pregnancy was from a fertility arrangement you both regretted.”
I stared at her.
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
She nodded.
“Now.”
Dominic asked, “Why Cabo?”
Britney looked at him nervously.
“Bradley said we were going there for a commitment ceremony.”
“So the wedding was real?”
“No.”
I frowned.
She continued.
“When we got to the airport, he spent most of the time making calls. Then someone called him about Rachel.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. But he panicked.”
“That’s when he came to the hospital,” I said.
Britney nodded.
“He told me his estranged wife was creating a scene.”
I stared at her.
“My emergency C-section was a scene.”
“I’m sorry.”
I believed she was.
I didn’t like her.
But I believed her.
She unlocked her phone.
“I also found these.”
Emails.
Bank statements.
Messages between Bradley and a financial adviser.
One sentence jumped out.
Once Rachel signs the authorization after delivery, we can move the remaining trust assets.
I looked at Britney.
“After delivery?”
“He expected you to sign documents while recovering.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
His attorney asked, “How did you obtain these?”
“He left his laptop open.”
“Did you alter anything?”
“No.”
“Will you make a statement?”
Britney looked at me.
“If Rachel wants me to.”
I studied her for several seconds.
“Why?”
Her eyes dropped.
“Because I was stupid.”
“That’s not a legal reason.”
“No. It’s a human one.”
I waited.
She continued.
“My father cheated on my mother for years. I always said I’d never become the other woman.”
“And yet.”
“And yet.”
Her mouth trembled.
“Bradley was good at making his version of the world sound like the only version.”
That sentence hit too close.
I looked away.
Dominic noticed.
“He did that to Rachel too,” he said.
I turned toward him.
He continued.
“Different lies. Same method.”
Britney nodded.
“I’ll testify.”
The attorney collected the phone.
“This changes things.”
“How much?” I asked.
“A lot.”
Bradley called me that evening.
I almost didn’t answer.
Then I did.
“What?”
His voice was tight.
“You met with Britney.”
“Yes.”
“She stole private business information.”
“You forged my signature.”
“You don’t understand what’s happening.”
“Then explain it.”
Silence.
“Bradley?”
“I made mistakes.”
“You planned to take my inheritance.”
“I was going to replace it.”
“With what?”
“My next project.”
“Which failed.”
Another silence.
I leaned back against the hospital pillow.
“You cancelled my insurance.”
“I panicked.”
“You removed me from the house.”
“I needed collateral.”
“You filed for divorce.”
“I thought Britney and I—”
He stopped.
“Go ahead.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He exhaled.
“Rachel, we can fix this.”
“No.”
“For the children.”
That almost made me laugh.
“You haven’t asked about them once.”
“I know they’re alive.”
“Their names are Noah and Grace.”
Silence.
“You named them without me?”
I stared at the phone.
“You abandoned them before they were born.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No. Fair would have been you sitting beside me while doctors told me one baby was in distress.”
“Rachel—”
“Fair would have been insurance.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry Dominic found out.”
His voice changed.
There it was.
Fear.
“Stay away from Russo.”
“He’s my father.”
“He’s dangerous.”
“So were you.”
“That’s different.”
“Not to me.”
Bradley lowered his voice.
“You don’t know what Dominic Russo is capable of.”
I looked through the hospital window.
Dominic was in the hallway carrying two coffees.
One for himself.
One decaf for me.
“I’m learning.”
“Rachel, listen to me.”
“No.”
“What?”
“For years, you made me listen while you explained why everyone else was wrong.”
I took a breath.
“Now you listen.”
He became quiet.
“You are not allowed near my hospital room. You are not allowed near the NICU without written approval. All communication goes through my attorney.”
“Those are my children.”
“Then act like their father through the courts.”
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
I smiled faintly.
“I’m not humiliating you, Bradley.”
Dominic entered and handed me my coffee.
I finished:
“I’m simply no longer protecting you from the consequences of what you did.”
Then I hung up.
Dominic sat down.
“Decaf.”
“You’re learning.”
“I was informed caffeine makes me the enemy.”
“Dr. Kline told you?”
“Three times.”
I took the cup.
“Bradley says you’re dangerous.”
Dominic leaned back.
“He’s not entirely wrong.”
I looked at him.
“I need something from you.”
“What?”
“No threats. No revenge. No men showing up at his house.”
He was silent.
“Dominic.”
“You said no illegal activity.”
“I’m expanding the rule.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“No.”
I laughed.
He smiled.
Then the NICU doors opened.
A nurse approached.
“Rachel?”
My smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“Nothing bad.”
I stood too quickly.
Dominic caught my elbow.
The nurse smiled.
“Grace is breathing well enough that we’d like you to hold her.”
I stared at her.
“Today?”
“Right now.”
I started crying before I could stop myself.
Dominic looked away politely.
I wiped my face.
“Are you coming?”
His eyes widened.
“To NICU?”
“Yes.”
“You want me there?”
“I didn’t say that.”
A faint smile appeared.
“I understand.”
“Just walk.”
May you like
“Yes, ma’am.”
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