Chapter 9
"I've moved some of the money. The rest is still in the joint account. If I transfer it all at once, she'll get suspicious," Frank replied.
"Then hurry up. Don't let her find out after the baby's born," Helen urged.
"I know. Mom, there's something else. What did Susan say?" Frank asked.
"Susan said after you divorce Emily, she'll help you find a job in Parvosia. Once Sophia recovers, you two can move there and start over," Helen replied.
Emily closed the window, pressing her fingers hard against the frame.
She grabbed her phone and texted Linda, [The eighteenth of next month.]
Linda replied in seconds, [What do you want to do?]
Emily didn't reply right away. She sat on the bed for a long time, lost in thought, until she heard Frank come back from the balcony and push open the bedroom door.
The door was locked. Frank couldn't open it. "Emily? Did you lock the door?" he called out.
"I'm not feeling well today. I want to sleep alone. You can crash on the couch tonight," Emily said calmly.
Frank stood outside the door in silence for a few seconds. "Alright. Get some rest."
His footsteps faded away.
Emily picked up her phone and sent Linda a long text. [I'm going to terminate the pregnancy the day before the surgery. When Frank and Sophia are desperate for that baby, I'll tell them it's gone.
[At the same time, I'll submit all the evidence to the court. The cord blood Frank was counting on will be gone, and the assets he tried to hide won't be protected either. I won't leave him anything.]
Linda didn't text back. She immediately called. "Emily, are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious," Emily replied.
"Are you sure about this? The baby's already over two months old," Linda said.
"I've thought it through. This baby was never about love. It was planned from the start. I won't let it be used as Sophia's medicine," Emily said.
There was a brief silence on the line.
"Alright. What do you need me to do?" Linda asked.
"Is the report out?" Emily asked.
"Yeah. Someone poked holes in the condom. The lab gave us an official report," Linda replied.
"Give the report to John Parker. Have him get the lawsuit paperwork ready," Emily said.
"Anything else?" Linda asked.
"Book me a hotel room. I'll need somewhere to recover after the procedure. I can't go back home," Emily said.
"Emily." Linda's voice softened. "Can you handle this on your own?"
Emily didn't answer. "Did you find out about Frank's sister?" she asked instead.
Linda replied, "Yeah. Her name's Susan Sanders. She's the vice president at an investment firm in Parvosia.
"She and Frank have different mothers. She's the daughter of Frank's dad and his ex-wife.
"After Frank's mom married his dad, Susan went with her mom, and they didn't keep in touch much. But they've been getting closer these past two years."
"Is she involved in Frank's asset transfers?" Emily asked.
Linda replied, "No direct evidence yet. But Frank transferred two sums to an account under a company called Susan Shine.
"The legal rep is someone named Eric Lane, but Susan is suspected to be the real owner."
Emily noted that down. "Keep an eye on that company for me," she said.
"Got it. Emily, when did you get so sharp?" Linda asked.
Emily sat in the dark bedroom, hearing Frank shift on the couch in the living room.
"I'm not getting sharper. I have nowhere left to run," Emily said.
*****
The seventeenth was one day before Sophia's surgery. Emily had been counting down to this day for two months.
The night before, Frank was suddenly all tenderness. He walked in after work carrying a bouquet of roses and lilies, wrapped in brown paper.
"Em, these are for you," he said.
Emily took the flowers and found a vase to put them in. "Why did you think of buying flowers today?" she asked.
"Just felt like it," Frank said with a smile, stepping closer and cupping her face in his hands. "Emily, Sophia's having surgery tomorrow.
"I might have to stay at the hospital all day. Will you be okay at home by yourself?"
"I'll be fine," Emily replied.
"Once this is over, I'll take you on a trip. Where do you want to go?" Frank added.
"We'll talk about it later," Emily said.
Frank leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Emily caught a whiff of gardenia-scented perfume on him. It was the same scent Sophia wore.
That night, Frank slept soundly. Emily lay beside him, wide awake, until three in the morning. She finally got up.
She got dressed and grabbed a small bag she'd packed ahead of time.
Inside were her ID card, debit card, phone charger, and a set of clean underwear.
Emily took one last look around the bedroom. On the closet door was a wedding photo of her and Frank, both of them smiling like nothing was wrong.
Then she zipped up her bag, quietly closed the door, and walked out, leaving the home behind.
Linda pulled up at 4 a.m. to pick her up. "Ready?"
"Let's go," Emily replied.
Linda drove her to a private maternity hospital. John had called ahead, so the doctor was already waiting for them.
Emily signed the consent form for the termination.
Before the surgery, a nurse helped her change into a hospital gown and wheeled her into the prep room.
Linda followed, looking pale and anxious.