Chapter 10 - The Pregnancy AnnouncementEleanor’s lawyer called at 3:00 p.m.
His name was Preston Vail, and his tone suggested he billed by the sneer.
“Mr. Sterling, my client is prepared to resolve this privately.”
“There is no private resolution for child abuse.”
He sighed, as if I were being unreasonable.
“Mrs. Sterling is under significant emotional strain.”
“So is my daughter.”
“Especially considering her condition.”
I paused.
“What condition?”
Another sigh.
“You haven’t been informed?”
My eyes moved to Daniel.
His expression hardened.
Preston continued.
“Mrs. Sterling is pregnant.”
The room went silent.
For one wild second, the world tilted.
Eleanor pregnant.
A child.
My child?
Preston used the silence like a weapon.
“You can imagine how a public scandal would affect an expectant mother. We suggest Mrs. Sterling remain in the residence while all parties enter family counseling.”
Daniel reached for the phone, but I lifted a hand.
“When did she find out?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss medical details.”
“Then this conversation is over.”
I hung up.
Daniel looked at me.
“Richard.”
“I know.”
We both knew what this meant.
If Eleanor was pregnant, she would use the child as armor. Sympathy. Leverage. Headlines.
Poor pregnant wife thrown out by billionaire husband.
Grieving stepdaughter makes accusations.
Cruel father abandons unborn baby.
I could already see the story she would sell.
That evening, Eleanor proved it.
At 6:30, a gossip site posted a blind item.
FAMOUS FINANCE CEO EVICTS PREGNANT WIFE AFTER STEPDAUGHTER’S TANTRUM.
No names.
But enough details.
By 7:00, my phone exploded.
By 7:12, Daniel found the source.
Eleanor’s assistant.
By 7:20, Maya saw a headline on a tablet before Rosa could take it away.
She looked at me with tears filling her eyes.
“Daddy,” she whispered, “is everyone going to hate me now?”
I knelt in front of her.
“No.”
But as I held her, I understood the next battle had begun.
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Eleanor was not trying to win the truth.
She was trying to bury it under noise.
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