The shoes belonged to Dr. Hargrove, the doctor with the silver watch. He had been present throughout my labor, but now, standing near the bed, his presence felt ominous. I could see the polished leather of his shoes and hear the soft rustle of his coat as he moved.
“Everything is in place,” Dr. Hargrove said quietly, addressing someone who had entered behind him. I recognized the voice—Linda. My heart skipped a beat.
“Good,” Linda replied, her tone cold and business-like. “I want her out of the picture by the end of the day. Mark needs to focus on his career, and this new child… it’s a distraction.”
