CHAPTER 7: THE TWINS

He glanced at the screen and answered immediately. “Doctor. What’s wrong?”

Chloe watched his face tighten as he listened. He put it on speaker.

“Ms. Bennett needs to come in right away,” the doctor said. “Twin B’s readings have declined sharply. We’re seeing signs that require immediate evaluation.”

They rushed to the hospital in tense silence. In the exam room, Chloe lay back on the table while the technician ran the ultrasound wand over her gel-covered belly. Damian stood beside her, arms crossed so tight his knuckles showed white.

The doctor reviewed the new blood work, brow furrowed. “There are traces of an unprescribed medication in your system, Chloe. Something that could explain the slowdown in Twin B. We’re running specifics now, but this shouldn’t be here.”

Chloe froze, one hand still resting on her exposed stomach. She stared at the monitor where the smaller twin’s heartbeat flickered. *He or his family could be behind it. Getting rid of the complication. Making sure only the perfect heir survives.

Damian’s voice rose. “How the hell did medication get into her? I want every person with access to her files questioned. Now.”

The doctor nodded quickly and stepped out to make calls. Chloe pulled her shirt down and sat up slowly. She wrapped both arms around her belly, rocking slightly forward with Tears rolling down her cheeks .

“I can’t lose them,” she whispered against the fabric. “Not after everything.”

Damian turned back to her, jaw working. “We’ll find who did this.”

A nurse knocked and entered, tablet in hand. “Mr. King, the security footage from Chloe’s last clinic visit is gone. The files were wiped yesterday. Deliberately. IT is confirming, but someone erased it on purpose.”

Chloe’s arms tightened around her belly as she looked at Damian.

Damian stood in the sterile hospital hallway, fists clenched so tight his nails bit into his palms. The nurse’s words still hung in the air.

who could have erased the footage on purpose. He pulled out his phone and dialed his head of security before the door to Chloe’s exam room even closed fully.

“Audit everyone with access to Chloe’s files,” he ordered the second the man picked up. “Doctors, nurses, admins, delivery people. Cross-reference with my mother’s contacts and Marcus’s known associates. Do it quietly. I want names by tonight.”

“On it, sir,” the security chief replied. “We’re already pulling financials on the clinic staff.”

Damian ended the call and paced three steps before turning back. Inside the room, Chloe sat on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around her belly, staring at the floor. She looked up when he entered but her expression stayed closed.

“We’re going home,” he said. “The doctor wants you on stricter rest. I’ll have a private nurse at the penthouse.”

Chloe slid off the bed slowly and grabbed her bag. “I can rest in my own room. Without you hovering.” She walked past him into the hallway, shoulders rigid.

Back at the penthouse, she headed straight for the guest suite and shut the door. The lock clicked loudly. Damian stood outside for a long moment, jaw tight, then went to his office. He couldn’t force her to talk, but he could damn well find who was trying to hurt the twins.

Two hours later, his investigator called. “Your mother made a two-hundred-thousand-dollar donation to the fertility clinic three weeks ago. Same week the medication traces first showed up in the blood work. Timing’s too clean.”

Damian’s hand tightened on the phone. “Keep digging. Pull everything.”

His other line buzzed. Chloe’s bakery manager. He answered on speaker.

“Mr. King, we’ve got a problem. Two major suppliers just canceled our standing orders. Said they’re sold out or under new ownership. We’re short on flour and chocolate for the weekend rush. Chloe’s already stressed, this is going to hit hard.”

Marcus. Damian knew it in his gut. His half-brother making another move. “I’ll handle it. Double whatever you need from alternative sources. Bill me.”

He ended the call and rubbed his face. The sabotage kept spreading. clinic, bakery, everything connected to Chloe. He walked to her door and knocked.

“Chloe. Open up.”