Chapter 2 · A Son In The Shadow, A Daughter In The Light

When I finally regained consciousness, the hospital room was dead quiet.

Thomas was gone. And the bassinet was empty. My son was gone.

I completely lost my mind. I ripped the IV out of the back of my hand, ignoring the searing pain radiating through my exhausted body, and stumbled out into the hallway.

The corridor was completely deserted. There was no trace of them.

I collapsed onto the sterile floor and sobbed until my lungs burned.

The child I carried for nine agonizing months, the one I literally almost died delivering, was snatched away from me like a piece of luggage.

How could Thomas be so heartless!

The next morning, Thomas' lawyer arrived exactly on schedule.

He slid a thick divorce settlement across my tray table, speaking in a monotone drone, "Ms. Crane, these are Mr. Shaw's terms. You will receive three million dollars in liquid capital, along with a luxury penthouse downtown valued at two million dollars. In exchange, you will permanently relinquish all custody rights to the child and sign a strict NDA regarding your past relationship with Mr. Shaw."

I stared down at the crisp, white legal pages. Every single typed word was a blade carving into my flesh.

Relinquish custody? Never speak of our relationship?

He was trying to completely erase my existence, scrubbing me from his history like a stain.

"And what if I refuse?" I asked and glared up at the lawyer coldly.

The lawyer adjusted his glasses, completely unfazed, a pitying look crossing his face. "Ms. Crane, I highly suggest you reconsider. Given Mr. Shaw's current power and influence in Riverdale, your chances of winning a custody battle in family court are absolutely zero. Fighting this will only provoke him, and that will end disastrously for both you and the child."

It was a blatant threat.

And the worst part was he was right.

Thomas practically owned Riverdale now. I was nobody. I had no leverage and no power. How could I possibly wage a war against him?

But I would rather die than give up my baby.

"You go back and tell Thomas," I snarled, snatching the legal documents and ripping them straight down the middle, right in the lawyer's face. "If he wants my signature, he can come down here and face me himself!"

The lawyer's polite mask slipped for a second, but he kept his mouth shut. He calmly packed up his briefcase and walked out.

I genuinely believed that standing my ground would force Thomas to at least show his face.

I waited in that hospital room for three agonizing days. But instead of Thomas, I was greeted by a tsunami of breaking news alerts lighting up my phone.

[Thomas Shaw, the CEO of Shaw Enterprises, welcomes a daughter. He and his fiancée, Claire Lynn, are soon to wed!]

The headline photo showed Thomas gently cradling a tiny, swaddled newborn with a look of tender love on his face, a look he had never, ever given me. Beside him stood Claire, looking a little exhausted but radiating absolute bliss.

They looked like the ultimate picture-perfect family.

And I was the dirty little secret, the rat hiding in the walls, completely forbidden from stepping into the light.

The last ember of my heart has finally gone cold.

Since Thomas decided to play this dirty, he didn't dare cry when I played ruthless.

I aggressively wiped my face dry, reached under the hospital mattress, and pulled out a burner phone I had hidden away.

It was the one trump card I still held.

I punched in a number I hadn't dialed in eight long years.

It rang twice before a deep, steady voice answered, "Hello?"

"Joe Smith," I choked out, my voice trembling violently. "It's me, Evelyn Crane."

The line went completely silent for a heavy moment. Then, he let out a long exhale. "Ms. Crane, you finally called."

"Joe, I need your help," I said, taking a centering breath. My eyes hardened into pure steel. "I am taking back everything that belongs to me. And I am going to make Thomas pay in blood for what he's done."

"Consider it done, Ms. Crane. Your father set the contingency plans in motion years ago. Whatever you need, we have the full arsenal ready for you."

I hung up the phone and stared out the window at the heavy, gray clouds rolling over the city. A dark smile crept onto my face.

I barked, "Thomas, do you honestly think you've won?

"Do you really believe you can just steal my child, throw some hush money in my face, and walk away clean?

"You are so incredibly wrong.

"Your biggest mistake was severely underestimating me.

"You are completely clueless about who actually built that shiny little empire you love so much.

"This game is just getting started."

Chapter 2

When I finally regained consciousness, the hospital room was dead quiet.

Thomas was gone. And the bassinet was empty. My son was gone.

I completely lost my mind. I ripped the IV out of the back of my hand, ignoring the searing pain radiating through my exhausted body, and stumbled out into the hallway.

The corridor was completely deserted. There was no trace of them.

I collapsed onto the sterile floor and sobbed until my lungs burned.

The child I carried for nine agonizing months, the one I literally almost died delivering, was snatched away from me like a piece of luggage.

How could Thomas be so heartless!

The next morning, Thomas' lawyer arrived exactly on schedule.

I stared down at the crisp, white legal pages. Every single typed word was a blade carving into my flesh.

Relinquish custody? Never speak of our relationship?

He was trying to completely erase my existence, scrubbing me from his history like a stain.

"And what if I refuse?" I asked and glared up at the lawyer coldly.

It was a blatant threat.

And the worst part was he was right.

Thomas practically owned Riverdale now. I was nobody. I had no leverage and no power. How could I possibly wage a war against him?

But I would rather die than give up my baby.

The lawyer's polite mask slipped for a second, but he kept his mouth shut. He calmly packed up his briefcase and walked out.

I genuinely believed that standing my ground would force Thomas to at least show his face.

I waited in that hospital room for three agonizing days. But instead of Thomas, I was greeted by a tsunami of breaking news alerts lighting up my phone.

[Thomas Shaw, the CEO of Shaw Enterprises, welcomes a daughter. He and his fiancée, Claire Lynn, are soon to wed!]

They looked like the ultimate picture-perfect family.

And I was the dirty little secret, the rat hiding in the walls, completely forbidden from stepping into the light.

The last ember of my heart has finally gone cold.

Since Thomas decided to play this dirty, he didn't dare cry when I played ruthless.

I aggressively wiped my face dry, reached under the hospital mattress, and pulled out a burner phone I had hidden away.

It was the one trump card I still held.

I punched in a number I hadn't dialed in eight long years.

It rang twice before a deep, steady voice answered, "Hello?"

"Joe Smith," I choked out, my voice trembling violently. "It's me, Evelyn Crane."

The line went completely silent for a heavy moment. Then, he let out a long exhale. "Ms. Crane, you finally called."

"Consider it done, Ms. Crane. Your father set the contingency plans in motion years ago. Whatever you need, we have the full arsenal ready for you."

I hung up the phone and stared out the window at the heavy, gray clouds rolling over the city. A dark smile crept onto my face.

I barked, "Thomas, do you honestly think you've won?

"Do you really believe you can just steal my child, throw some hush money in my face, and walk away clean?

"You are so incredibly wrong.

"Your biggest mistake was severely underestimating me.

"You are completely clueless about who actually built that shiny little empire you love so much.

"This game is just getting started."