“They are my children,” I said, my voice cracking.

“For now,” Richard said.

He turned toward the door and unlocked it with a sharp click of the deadbolt.

He did not look back at me as he stepped out into the hallway.

The heavy door swung shut behind him, leaving me alone in the sterile room.

My hands were shaking as I reached for the call button on my bed.

Before I could press it, the door swung open again.

Ethan came rushing in, his white lab coat open, his face pale and covered in sweat.

He looked around the room quickly, his eyes landing on me.

“Are you alright?” he asked, lunging to my side.

He grabbed my hand, his fingers warm and steady against my cold skin.

“He was talking about the babies,” I said, the tears finally spilling over my eyelashes. “Ethan, he said Eleanor wants them.”

“I know,” Ethan said. “I saw him leave the floor.”

“What are we going to do?” I asked. “He knows about the records.”

“The records are safe,” Ethan said. “I sent them to three different legal firms outside of Chicago.”