The man ignored her.
His eyes landed on Lena.
ADRIAN: “Lena Hart.”
She slid off the table.
LENA: “Who are you?”
Then he saw the monitor.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Not shock exactly.
Recognition.
He stepped closer.
ADRIAN: “My name is Adrian Vale.”
Lena’s stomach tightened.
Vale.
Baltimore knew that surname.
Vale Shipping owned warehouses along the harbor. Vale Security guarded half the private construction sites downtown. Adrian Vale appeared in business pages, charity photographs, and whispered stories told by people who lowered their voices before repeating them.
Lena looked from him to the monitor.
LENA: “Vale?”
Adrian nodded once.
ADRIAN: “Miles is my younger brother.”
The floor seemed to shift beneath her.
LENA: “Miles what?”
ADRIAN: “Vale.”
Her face went hot.
LENA: “He lied to me.”
ADRIAN: “He omitted enough to make the difference meaningless.”
She backed toward the counter.
LENA: “How do you know about me?”
Adrian glanced toward the hall.
ADRIAN: “Because Miles showed someone your message.”
Lena went still.
ADRIAN: “And that person decided your pregnancy was a business problem.”
His eyes moved again to the three flickering pulses.
ADRIAN: “Those children belong to my family.”
Lena’s fear sharpened into anger.
LENA: “They belong to me.”
Something almost like approval crossed his face.
ADRIAN: “Good. Keep saying that.”
Footsteps approached.
Adrian extended his hand.
ADRIAN: “We have seconds.”
LENA: “For what?”
ADRIAN: “My aunt bought the debt attached to your mother’s estate this morning.”
Lena stared at him.
ADRIAN: “She knows about this appointment. If you want these babies to survive because that is what you choose—not because anyone orders you either way—you need to hear what she’s planning.”
Lena did not take his hand.
LENA: “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
ADRIAN: “Fair.”
He stepped away from the door instead of blocking it.
ADRIAN: “Then don’t. But don’t sign anything she gives you.”
The handle moved.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
The door opened.
Celeste Vale entered behind the clinic administrator wearing a cream coat and carrying a slim blue folder.
She looked nothing like Lena expected.
No bodyguards.
