Ryan had never met him.
“He knows about him,” Claire said. “Linda knows too. They wanted me to sign papers before he was born. Medical releases, financial forms, things they said were routine. I refused after a nurse pulled me aside and told me not to sign anything I didn’t understand.”
“Lakeside Women’s Clinic?” I asked.
Claire went quiet again. “Stay away from that clinic.”
A chill spread through me.
“Why?”
“I don’t have proof,” she said. “Not enough. But Linda has a cousin who works in administration there. When I refused to transfer my care, everything got worse. Ryan became obsessed with control. Appointments. Documents. Insurance. Then Linda started talking about what was best for the family.”
I looked at Dad.
His expression had gone still.
“What documents?” I asked.
“I kept copies,” Claire said. “Hidden. I was afraid to use them, but I kept them.”
