Chapter 5 – The Truth Beneath the Surface
Daniel carried Hannah through the mansion as though nothing else in the world mattered.
His security team rushed ahead, clearing the hallways while servants stepped aside in stunned silence.
“She needs a doctor!” Martin shouted.
“Dr. Hayes is five minutes away,” Victor answered into his earpiece. “I've also called an ambulance.”
Hannah gripped Daniel's shirt, breathing through another wave of pain.
“I... I don't want to lose my baby.”
“You won't,” Daniel said with quiet certainty. “Stay with me.”
“I wasn't supposed to be here tonight.”
“You're exactly where you need to be.”
His calm voice steadied her more than he realized.
Back in the ballroom, the guests remained frozen.
Claire stood alone in the middle of the room, unable to understand what had just happened.
A woman in a navy evening gown leaned toward her husband.
“I've never seen Daniel look at anyone like that.”
“Neither have I,” he whispered.
Another guest quietly set down his champagne glass.
“This engagement may already be over.”
The words spread through the room like wildfire.
Claire heard every one of them.
“That's enough!” she snapped.
No one answered.
For the first time all evening, the room belonged to silence instead of her.
Upstairs, Daniel gently laid Hannah on the bed in one of the mansion's guest suites.
“It hurts...” she whispered.
“I know.”
Martin placed a cool cloth against her forehead.
“You're safe now.”
A minute later, Dr. Eleanor Hayes hurried into the room carrying a medical bag.
She immediately examined Hannah while Daniel stood only a few feet away.
After several tense minutes, the doctor looked up.
“The baby is still stable.”
Daniel quietly exhaled.
“But...”
The single word tightened every muscle in the room.
“She has been under severe emotional and physical stress.”
Dr. Hayes looked directly at Daniel.
“If tonight had continued much longer, the outcome could have been very different.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
For the first time in years, he blamed himself.
He owned the mansion.
He employed every servant.
Yet a frightened pregnant woman had suffered under his own roof while he was away.
“That won't happen again,” he said.
Dr. Hayes nodded.
“She needs complete bed rest for at least forty-eight hours.”
“No work.”
“No stress.”
“And absolutely no confrontation.”
Daniel answered without hesitation.
“She'll remain here as my guest.”
Martin looked surprised.
“So will Ben,” Daniel added.
“He shouldn't be left alone tonight.”
Martin smiled with quiet relief.
As the doctor packed her equipment, Hannah slowly opened her eyes.
“Mr. Carver...”
“Daniel.”
She hesitated.
“Daniel... thank you.”
“You don't owe me thanks.”
“I do.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
His voice was almost regretful.
“I owe you an apology.”
Hannah looked confused.
“For what?”
Daniel stared out the rain-covered window.
“For not realizing sooner that someone under my protection was being hurt.”
Neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the slightly open bedroom door.
Claire.
She had heard every word.
And in that moment, something far more dangerous than jealousy took root inside her.
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She no longer wanted Hannah fired.
She wanted Hannah gone forever.
