Chapter 4 - The Midnight Intruder
The hospital room was dark and quiet, the only sound the rhythmic beeping of my heart monitor.
My son, whom I had named Leo, was sleeping peacefully in the bassinet beside my bed.
Exhaustion pulled at my eyelids, dragging me into a deep, much-needed sleep.
Around 2:00 AM, the soft click of the heavy wooden door opening startled me awake.
I kept my eyes half-closed, pretending to be asleep as a shadow slipped into the room.
It was Marcus.
He didn't look at me; his eyes were entirely fixated on the plastic bassinet.
My blood ran cold as I watched him reach into his tailored jacket and pull out a stack of papers.
He crept toward the bassinet, pulling a pen from his pocket.
“Wake up,” he whispered harshly, jabbing my shoulder with his index finger.
I bolted upright, instinctively throwing my arm across Leo’s bed to block him.
“What are you doing here, Marcus?” I hissed, careful not to wake the baby.
“Sign these custody papers right now, or I swear I will ruin you,” he threatened, waving the documents in my face.
The papers were pre-dated, heavily favoring him with full physical and legal custody.
He wanted to steal my child before I even had the chance to recover from childbirth.
“Are you insane? I will never sign those!” I retorted, my voice shaking with fury.
Marcus grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully tight as he leaned in close.
“I drained the accounts, I own the house, you have nothing to offer this kid,” he sneered maliciously.
Before he could force the pen into my hand, I reached over with my free hand.
May you like
I slammed my palm onto the red emergency call button by the headboard.
Within seconds, two burly night nurses burst into the room, causing Marcus to drop the papers and run.
