Chapter 7 - THE LOCKED MATERNITY FLOORThe hospital placed the maternity floor under lockdown.
Ava was moved into an operating room in case the premature delivery became dangerous. Detective Ellis assigned officers to every entrance.
No one entered without identity verification.
No electronic records were trusted.
Dr. Bennett documented every step on paper while an independent nurse remained beside Ava.
Lucas’s messages were recovered from his phone.
He had communicated with Sabrina through an encrypted application.
He told her Ava was an unstable former partner who had stolen his house and was carrying a child conceived during an affair.
He promised Sabrina marriage after the baby arrived.
“He lied to both women,” Natalie said.
Detective Ellis shook her head.
“He told each woman the version that made his next action look like rescue.”
Lucas also sent messages to Diana.
Ava refuses to sign.
Increase the vitamins.
If labor starts early, move both patients.
The plan had been active for months.
The garage assault was an emergency improvisation after Ava discovered a message from Sabrina on Lucas’s phone. Lucas believed she might contact the other woman and expose everything before the trust transfer.
Ava remembered seeing the notification.
Our baby moved today. When can I finally live with you?
Lucas grabbed the phone from her.
Hours later, he forced her into the garage.
The hospital’s backup generator activated unexpectedly.
Lights dimmed.
The maternity computers restarted under a St. Catherine’s administrator profile.
Doors locked electronically.
Officer Cole tried his radio.
Static answered.
A voice came through the ceiling speaker.
“Prepare Patient A for transfer.”
Dr. Bennett disconnected Ava’s bed from the networked monitor.
“No one is moving her.”
The speaker continued.
“Patient B is in distress.”
A security feed opened on the room’s wall screen.
Sabrina lay inside another delivery room, crying beneath bright surgical lights. A woman wearing Diane’s face stood beside her.
Diana.
She held an infant identification bracelet in each hand.
Both carried Ava’s surname.
Sabrina looked toward the camera.
“Lucas said Ava wanted to take my baby.”
Ava forced herself upright despite the contractions.
“Sabrina, the embryo is mine.”
The woman stared.
“No.”
“Lucas and the clinic lied to both of us.”
Diana reached toward the screen controls.
Natalie shouted through the connection.
“Emily is alive! They did the same thing to my sister!”
Sabrina began pulling at the straps around her abdomen.
Diana ordered a nurse to sedate her.
The nurse hesitated.
Diana’s expression hardened.
“Do it.”
Instead, the nurse removed her surgical mask.
Emily Barrett stood beneath it.
Natalie gripped the monitor.
“Emily.”
Emily looked toward Ava.
“I found Sabrina before Diana could move her.”
She locked the delivery-room door from inside.
Diana stepped backward.
Emily held up a vial.
“The compound in Ava’s vitamins came from this clinic. Every sample is preserved.”
For the first time, Diana appeared frightened.
Then a second woman entered behind Emily.
Same scars.
Same face.
Natalie whispered, “That isn’t possible.”
Emily looked toward the newcomer and went pale.
The second woman smiled.
“Your sister was never the only patient who survived the fire.”
The screen went black.
Ava’s fetal monitor accelerated.
Dr. Bennett looked toward the paper tracing.
“We need to deliver now.”
Outside the operating room, someone entered the secured hall using Officer Cole’s fingerprint.
May you like
Cole stood beside the door.
👉 While Ava went into premature labor, another identity substitute breached the only corridor protecting her.
