Chapter 2: The Children’s Custody
1430 Words
The medical suite at the Garcia estate was carpeted in thick pile, its curtains drawn tight.
Alyssa lay on the oversized nursing bed.
The family doctor had barely left when the door opened.
Nicholas came in wearing the same dark gray suit from the day before, his tie loosened.
He did not sit. Standing at the foot of the bed with his hands in his trouser pockets, he gave her a brief glance。
“The surgery went well. Both fetuses are stable for now。”
Alyssa said nothing.
She stared at the light overhead。
“After the children are born, we’ll divorce。”
He said it in the same tone he used to announce layoffs in a boardroom.
Beneath the blanket, Alyssa’s fingers moved. They touched the wedding ring she had not put back on。
“I’ll cover the medical expenses. The estate will handle your prenatal care and nursing arrangements. You don’t need to worry about anything。”
“Are you finished？”
Nicholas looked at her。
“I asked whether you’re finished。”
“One more thing。” He stepped half a pace closer。 “Until the children are born, you will remain Mrs. Garcia in public. Don’t create trouble for the group。”
At last, Alyssa turned to face him.
Her complexion was wan, her lips chapped, dark circles shadowing her eyes. Yet when she looked at him, her gaze was steadier than his。
“You want a divorce? Fine. When will the papers be delivered？”
Nicholas stopped。
“The lawyers are preparing them。”
“Then tell them to hurry。”
“Why are you in such a rush？”
Alyssa did not answer. Bracing herself against the edge of the bed, she tried to sit up. The pull in her abdomen made her wince, but after two attempts, she forced herself upright。
“Why am I in a rush? Nicholas, you stand at the foot of my bed—not to ask how badly I’m hurt, but to inform me that we’re getting divorced, then demand that I keep pretending we’re a married couple。”
“What do you think this is? Signing one contract, then renewing another？”
Nicholas’s expression did not change. His voice lowered slightly。 “You can consider it my way of preserving your dignity。”
“Dignity。” Alyssa repeated the word.
She said nothing more.
Footsteps sounded beyond the door, leather soles striking the wooden floor in an even rhythm.
Evelyn Garcia entered first in her wheelchair, pushed by the butler.
Two men in dark suits followed behind her—one carrying a briefcase, the other a folder.
The Garcia family lawyers.
Evelyn wore a deep-purple cardigan, her silver hair neatly arranged, a jade brooch pinned at her collar. At eighty-two, her back remained perfectly straight.
The wheelchair stopped beside Alyssa’s bed. Evelyn did not look at Alyssa’s face. Her eyes went first to Alyssa’s abdomen。
“She looks pale. Have the doctor add another round of nutritional infusions。”
The butler nodded and made a note。
“Evelyn，” Alyssa said.
Only then did the old woman lift her eyes。 “It’s good that you’re awake. There are several things I need to make clear。”
One of the lawyers opened his briefcase, removed a document, and handed it to Evelyn with both hands.
Evelyn accepted it without opening it。 “The family trust has established independent accounts for both children. Once they are born, they will each be entitled to a three-percent share in Garcia Group. The assets will be supervised by the trust’s management committee。”
Alyssa looked at the document。
“Their daily care and guardianship arrangements must be approved by a vote of the family council。”
“What does that mean？”
“It means where the children are educated, who looks after them, and where they live will not be decided by you alone。”
Alyssa placed a hand over her abdomen, her palm resting against the bandages. She could feel the faint movement within。
“Nor will it be decided by Nicholas alone。”
Evelyn did not respond. She tipped her chin toward the door.
The butler pulled it open.
Victoria stood outside.
She had changed into a pale-blue dress. The bandage on her forehead was gone, leaving only a faint pink mark.
Victoria entered. Her eyes went first to Nicholas, then to Alyssa. She offered a restrained, proper smile。
“Alyssa, I came to see how you were doing。”
Alyssa said nothing.
Evelyn glanced at Victoria, her voice even。 “The lawyers and I have agreed that should Alyssa prove unable to fulfill her caregiving responsibilities in the future, Victoria will serve as the alternate guardian and assume the children’s daily care。”
Alyssa looked at Nicholas.
He stood where he had been, hands still in his pockets. He neither spoke nor objected。
“Nicholas。”
He heard her and turned his head。
“Did you hear what your grandmother just said？”
“She is making arrangements for the family。”
“She’s saying that if I can’t raise my children, the woman who ran me down gets to raise them。”
Victoria’s expression shifted for a moment. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt before slowly relaxing. The composed smile returned to her face.
Nicholas frowned。 “Alyssa, don’t let your emotions affect the children。”
“Am I affecting them, or are all of you deciding their lives for them？”
Alyssa reached for the trust document and turned to the last page. There was a section for the Garcia family council’s seal, with five signature lines left blank. One was labeled: Spousal Confirmation.
She closed the document and returned it to the lawyer。
“Counselor。”
The lawyer looked up。
“If, after these children are born, I refuse to surrender custody, what does the Garcia family intend to do？”
The lawyer opened his mouth, then looked first at Evelyn and then at Nicholas.
No one answered for him。
“Will you go through the courts，” Alyssa continued， “or take some other route？”
Her voice was quiet, no different from usual. Yet in the overheated room, the question left everyone still.
Nicholas spoke first。 “Are you threatening the family？”
“I’m asking a reasonable question。”
“You have no right to negotiate terms with this family。”
“I am their mother。” Alyssa held his gaze。 “Is that enough of a right？”
Nicholas’s jaw tightened。
“Nicholas，” Evelyn cut in, unhurried。 “Let her calm down。”
“I am calm。” Alyssa shifted her gaze from Nicholas to Evelyn, then to the lawyers, before settling it at last on Victoria.
Victoria took half a step back。
“I will not sign that document。”
Alyssa lay back down, one hand covering her abdomen as she looked toward the thin blade of daylight filtering through the curtains。
“No matter how you divide the shares, arrange custody, or conduct your votes, I will not let any of you turn me into a machine built to deliver an heir。”
The room fell silent for several seconds.
Evelyn tapped two fingers against the armrest of her wheelchair。
“Adjust her nutritional plan。”
“Yes, ma’am，” the butler replied.
The wheelchair was pushed out, with the lawyers following behind.
At the door, Victoria looked back at Alyssa. Her lips moved, but no words came out. Then she turned and left.
Nicholas was the last to go.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, his back to her, as though he wanted to say something.
Alyssa waited.
He said nothing. He pulled the door shut behind him.
Only the monitor remained, beeping steadily in the room, counting the heartbeats of the two children who had yet to be born.
Then, from the corridor outside, someone began speaking quietly on the phone.
Nicholas。
“…Have Legal redraft the agreement. Add an exclusive custody clause。”
Alyssa heard him clearly.
An exclusive custody clause meant that if she signed it, she would not even have the right to fight.
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