Once I was past the hospital doors, I stopped, leaned close to my assistant's ear.
"Get Lily's surgical reports. I'm not swallowing this. I'm going to make him pay."
My daughter's condition was serious.
Her already frail body had been drained of bone marrow. She needed rest and careful treatment more than ever.
I stayed at the hospital for days. Not a word from Thomas.
He didn't visit her once.
My assistant told me why: Tracey's brat had fallen ill again, and Thomas was at his bedside around the clock.
It wasn't until Lily's condition finally stabilized that I went to collect the agreement in person.
I went straight to that hospital room myself.
But the moment my fingers touched the door handle, I heard voices inside.
"Mr. Gilbert, your wife has been at the hospital with your daughter for days."
"Her assistant asked that you please sign the agreement as soon as possible."
Thomas's voice was flat, dripping with contempt.
"She's a Gilbert by blood. Why would I hand her over?"
"This whole mess is Vivienne's fault to begin with. Let her stew a few more days, and she'll come crawling back to apologize."
His assistant hesitated, then ventured carefully.
"And if... your wife pushes for divorce again?"
Thomas let out a derisive laugh, voice brimming with certainty.
"Even if she tries, she can't leave me. She can't leave the Gilbert family."
"Forget how much she loves me. Even if we divorced, who'd want her? Damaged goods dragging a kid around."
"Besides, with Douglas's condition... we might still need Lily."
The sound of my daughter's name knocked the air from my lungs. My hand clenched around the door handle.
Another voice rose from inside, syrupy and soft. Tracey.
"Thomas, I still... want to give Douglas a real place in the family."
Thomas's voice softened immediately.
"Alright, if that's what you want, I'll make it happen."
"Douglas deserves to be recognized. We'll hold a paternity recognition banquet and formally welcome him into the Gilbert family."
Tracey beamed, then put on a show of concern.
"But… won't your wife be angry? What if she takes Lily and leaves?"
Thomas shook his head without a shred of doubt.
"The marriage certificate is in my hands. No matter how angry she gets, she can't take our daughter anywhere."
I drew a long breath.
Forced every ounce of rage back down my throat.
Barging in now wouldn't do anyone any good.
I released the door handle and slipped away in silence.