Chapter 7
Ethan looked toward the attorney.
“Who are you?”
The attorney stepped forward and handed him a second set of documents.
“Mr. Walker, you’ve been served,” she said. “And you are not taking that baby anywhere.”
Ethan stared at her.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means Madison has filed for divorce and emergency temporary custody. Hospital security has also been notified that the child is not to be removed from this floor by anyone except Madison or medical staff.”
Ethan’s voice rose.
“I’m his father.”
Madison looked at him.
“You remembered that two days late.”
Ethan pointed at the baby.
“My mother has a right to see her grandson.”
The attorney’s expression did not change.
“Your mother has no legal right to access this child.”
Ethan stepped toward the bed.
Security moved immediately.
One firm hand landed on Ethan’s shoulder.
“Sir,” the officer said. “Step back.”
Ethan froze.
Madison could see the humiliation hit him.
Not shame over what he had done.
Humiliation because someone had stopped him.
He glared at Madison.
“You’re really going to do this? Over one dinner?”
Madison looked down at their son.
His tiny mouth moved in sleep.
A small crease formed between his brows, just like hers.
Then she looked back at Ethan.
“No,” she said. “I’m doing this because when I begged you to help me, you walked over broken glass to leave.”
Ethan’s mouth opened.
She kept going.
“I’m doing this because your mother’s birthday mattered more to you than your child’s heartbeat.”
His face twitched.
“I didn’t know.”
Madison’s eyes filled, but she did not let the tears fall.
“You didn’t ask.”
That silenced him.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Ethan’s phone rang.
The screen lit up.
Mom.
He glanced at it.
Madison saw him do it.
So did the attorney.
So did the security officer.
Ethan rejected the call too late.
Madison smiled sadly.
May you like
“Even now,” she said.
👉 Ethan still thought this was about embarrassment — until Madison made him hear what he had truly lost.
