Chapter 3

Fiona's POV

By the time the police arrived at the university building, Sean was still standing in the hallway, holding the baby.

He kept trying to explain himself, claiming he was just panicking, that I was his fiancée, and that we were going to build a life together anyway. But when the officers asked him for the exact time and location he found the baby, and why there was no initial police report, his answers became incredibly vague.

"In the alley behind our closed family clinic," Sean stammered. "I went there this morning to pick up some old boxes, and the baby was just... there."

The officer asked, "Why didn't you call 911 immediately?"

Sean looked at me. "I was afraid the baby would suffer in a state facility. Fiona has a medical background. I thought she could care for him first."

I spoke up. "I never consented to this."

Sean snapped at me, frustrated. "I know you're mad at me, but the baby is innocent!"

"If he's innocent, he deserves to go through the proper legal channels." I looked at the officer. "I suspect this man of identity fraud. He used my personal documents to forge a foster application and tried to sabotage my career."

Hearing this, the department head's face turned dead serious.

Sean panicked. "Fiona! Do you really have to take it this far?"

I handed my document folder to the officer. "I never authorized any agency to use my ID. The signature is blank because he came here to coerce me into signing it on the spot."

The officer took the file, reviewed it, and looked at Sean. "Who gave you these forms?"

Sean's lips trembled. "A local community volunteer."

Suddenly, I pointed to the edge of the baby's blanket. "The baby has a hospital band on."

Everyone looked.

Tucked inside the soft blanket was a tiny pink hospital identification band, printed with a serial number and the initials of a luxury private maternity retreat. Sean instinctively tried to shield the baby, but it was too late.

The officer saw the motion. "We are taking the baby to the hospital for an evaluation, and we will run a trace on the hospital ID. Mr. Sean, as the person who 'found' the infant, you need to come with us to give a formal statement."

Sean's face drained of color.

I went to the hospital to give my statement. My dad, Arthur, and my mom, Helen, rushed over as soon as they got my call. My mom grabbed my hands immediately. "You didn't sign anything, did you?"

"No, Mom."

My dad glared at Sean, his voice dripping with anger. "What the hell were you doing with my daughter's ID?"

Sean still tried to defend himself. "Sir, I was only doing it for the baby."

My dad let out a harsh laugh. "For the baby? So you decided to exploit my daughter?"

My dad was usually a mild-tempered man. He had always viewed Sean as the sweet boy next door. Not wealthy, but stable and hardworking.

In my past life, when I insisted on staying, my dad had opposed it. But he ultimately gave in because I cried and said I loved Sean.

Living this life again, I finally saw the deep disappointment and fear in my father's eyes.

He didn't look down on Sean for being poor.

He was just a father who finally realized someone was trying to turn his precious daughter into a stepping stone for another family.

The baby was taken into the ER. The doctor explained they would treat him under the safe-haven protocol and contact CPS. When Sean heard "CPS," his expression grew even worse.

Not long after, Hailey rushed in.

She was still in her nurse's uniform, her eyes puffy. Her first words weren't about the baby's health, but: "Sean, why are the police involved?"

I stood by the wall, raising an eyebrow.

Hailey acted as if she had just noticed me, squeezing out a fragile, apologetic smile. "Fiona, you're here too. Please don't misunderstand... Sean just has a heart of gold."

In my past life, Hailey was always like this.

Fragile, sweet, always playing the victim. She cried when she took my scholarship, saying she would study hard on my behalf. She cried when she claimed Caleb back, saying her years away from him were her life's greatest regret.

I stared at her. "You got here incredibly fast."

Hailey's eyelashes fluttered. "The hospital group chat was talking about an ER intake."

I replied flatly, "The baby literally just entered the ER. The news traveled to the inpatient ward that quickly?"

Hailey's face stiffened.

Sean immediately stepped in front of her, blocking my view. "Fiona, Hailey is a nurse. What's wrong with her caring about a patient?"

"Did I say there was something wrong?" I smiled slightly. "I was just curious."

The police officer paused his pen on his notepad, took a long look at them, and continued writing.

Watching Sean instinctively shield Hailey, the last trace of affection I had for him evaporated.

I had seen this exact protective posture in my past life.

Every time Hailey visited our house and her eyes welled up, Sean would stand in front of her. Back then, I had been so drained by housework that I would just turn down the stove in the kitchen, pretending not to hear his soft murmurs of comfort in the living room.

I used to lie to myself, thinking Sean was just a loyal, caring friend.

Now I knew the real word for it: favoritism.