part 6
PART 6
Ethan called Vivian from the hospital hallway.
His hand shook so badly he almost dropped the phone.
She answered on the second ring.
“Is Harper with you?”
Ethan’s voice was low.
“She is in the emergency room.”
A pause.
Then Vivian sighed.
“I told her not to run on the stairs.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“She says you grabbed her.”
“She is confused.”
“She is six.”
“Exactly.”
Ethan turned and looked through the glass at Harper sitting on the hospital bed while Serena wrapped her wrist.
For the first time, Vivian’s old answers sounded like what they were.
Practice.
Not concern.
“How did she fall?”
Vivian’s voice sharpened.
“I already told you.”
“No.”
“You told me what you wanted me to repeat.”
Silence.
Then Vivian’s tone changed.
“You are emotional right now.”
Ethan almost laughed.
That word.
The same word she had used when he cried at Lauren’s funeral.
The same word she used when Harper had nightmares.
The same word she used when Serena came into their lives and made the house warm again.
“Stay away from Harper,” Ethan said.
Vivian’s voice went cold.
“You do not give me orders about my granddaughter.”
“I am her father.”
“And I am the only woman who has stayed loyal to Lauren.”
Ethan gripped the phone.
“Lauren would never want you hurting our child.”
Vivian did not answer.
That silence was enough.
Inside the room, Serena handed Harper a small cup of water.
Harper smiled weakly at her.
Ethan’s chest ached.
How many years had he let Vivian stand near his daughter because guilt made him blind?
Vivian spoke again.
“That doctor is pregnant, isn’t she?”
Ethan froze.
“How do you know?”
“I know everything that threatens my family.”
The words crawled under his skin.
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Did you know before today?”
Vivian hung up.
Ethan stared at the phone.
Then turned slowly toward Serena.
She saw his face and knew.
“Vivian knew,” he said.
Serena looked down at her belly.
“She came to the hospital months ago.”
Ethan stepped into the room.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Serena’s eyes filled.
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“Because every time I tried, someone convinced you I was the threat.”
Read the full story 👉 Vivian knew about Serena’s pregnancy and used Harper to keep Ethan from learning the truth.
