Chapter 4 - HIS MOTHER'S WAR
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Beckett read the letter twice.
The first time, he was furious.
The second time, he became dangerous.
"They're questioning your fitness."
Violet snatched the pages back.
"I can read."
The document described her apartment as financially unstable housing.
It referenced Celeste's premature birth.
It noted Violet's lack of extended family nearby.
It suggested that the Valiant family had both the resources and legal standing to ensure the child's future.
Violet went pale.
"They're going to try to take her."
"No."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"How?"
"Because I won't allow it."
Violet's laugh was sharp.
"That's supposed to comfort me? Your mother did this without you knowing."
Beckett pulled out his phone.
Violet grabbed his wrist.
"Don't call her while you're holding my baby."
He looked down.
Celeste was asleep against his chest.
His anger vanished from his face immediately.
"You're right."
He handed Celeste back.
Then he called.
Eleanor answered.
"Good morning, Beckett."
"Withdraw it."
No greeting.
No explanation.
His mother's voice remained cool.
"I assume you're referring to the notice."
"You have thirty minutes."
"Don't be childish."
"Twenty-nine."
Violet stared.
Eleanor sighed.
"That woman concealed your child."
"Her name is Violet."
"She disappeared while carrying a Valiant heir."
"She didn't know she was pregnant when she left."
"According to her."
Beckett's eyes became ice.
"Careful."
"You've known about the infant for less than twenty-four hours. You are emotional."
"And you're about to discover what happens when I'm emotional."
"Beckett."
"Withdraw the filing."
"We need a DNA test."
"Violet has already agreed to one."
Violet looked at him.
She hadn't.
Beckett saw the look.
He covered the microphone.
"You don't have to."
"You just told her I agreed."
"I was strategically lying."
"That's still lying."
"We can discuss my moral deterioration later."
He returned to the call.
Eleanor continued.
"You have no idea what Violet wants."
"I know exactly what she doesn't want."
"And what is that?"
"My money."
Violet's expression changed.
Eleanor laughed faintly.
"Everyone wants money."
"That's because you never learned the difference between money and love."
Silence.
Beckett had never spoken to his mother that way.
Neither had anyone else.
"You are jeopardizing this family over a woman who abandoned you."
"No."
He looked at Celeste.
"I'm protecting my daughter from a woman who thinks she owns everyone with my last name."
Eleanor's voice hardened.
"I am trying to protect your future."
"My future is currently seven pounds and asleep in Violet's arms."
Violet looked down quickly.
Beckett continued.
"Withdraw the notice, or I remove Valiant & Pierce from every company account before lunch."
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
Then he hung up.
Violet stared at him.
"You just threatened your mother."
"Yes."
"With hundreds of millions of dollars in legal contracts."
"Approximately eighty-two million over five years."
"Beckett."
"What?"
"Normal families argue over Thanksgiving."
"We've never been normal."
Celeste stirred.
Violet walked toward the kitchen.
Beckett followed.
"Will you agree to a paternity test?"
She turned.
"You think she's not yours?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because eventually lawyers, hospitals, schools, insurance companies, and government agencies are going to care about documentation more than certainty."
Violet hated that he was right.
"And I want my name on her birth certificate," he said.
Something vulnerable entered his voice.
"Not because she's property."
He looked toward the bedroom.
"Because I'm her father."
Violet leaned against the counter.
"There will be conditions."
"Name them."
"No cameras."
"Agreed."
"No press statement."
"Agreed."
"You don't announce her as the Valiant heiress like she's corporate inventory."
His jaw tightened.
"Agreed."
"And you don't use your money to make decisions for me."
"Define that."
"Beckett."
"I'm serious. Medical care?"
"We discuss it."
"Security?"
"Why would we need security?"
He gave her a look.
She sighed.
"Discuss it."
"Housing?"
"No."
"Violet—"
"No."
He glanced around the small apartment.
"Your front door can be opened with a screwdriver."
"That's dramatic."
"I tested it when you went to the bedroom."
Her mouth fell open.
"You tried to break into my apartment while already inside it?"
"I evaluated the lock."
"You're insane."
"It's a terrible lock."
She pressed fingers to her forehead.
"I forgot how exhausting you are."
Something crossed his face.
"I didn't."
The words were quiet.
Violet looked at him.
Beckett glanced away first.
His phone rang.
It was Amelia.
He answered.
"Speak."
"Eleanor withdrew the filing."
Violet's shoulders dropped.
"But there's another problem," Amelia said.
Beckett's expression sharpened.
"What?"
"There are photographers outside the hospital."
"Why?"
"They're asking whether Violet Laru secretly gave birth to your daughter."
Beckett became motionless.
Violet heard every word.
Her face went white.
"How do they know?"
Amelia hesitated.
"The story went live seven minutes ago."
"Source?"
"Anonymous."
Beckett looked at the custody notice lying on the table.
His mother's signature stared back at him.
"Get security here."
"Already moving."
Beckett ended the call.
Violet hugged Celeste closer.
"No."
"Violet."
"No. I am not turning my daughter's life into your circus."
"You think I want this?"
"Someone from your world leaked it."
"Which means the danger came from my world."
He walked to the window.
Three black SUVs had appeared outside.
"So my world is going to fix it."
Violet shook her head.
"Don't say that like you're rescuing us."
He turned.
"I'm not."
For the first time that morning, Beckett looked genuinely afraid.
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"I'm trying to protect you from the consequences of having ever loved me."
And Violet had no answer for that.
