Chapter 7: The Pregnancy That Was Never a Miracle
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own breathing.
Vanessa.
The third embryo had been transferred to Vanessa.
The woman who had spent the afternoon standing beside Daniel, smiling beneath blue balloons and accepting congratulations for a pregnancy she believed was a miracle.
The woman who had just told me she had undergone fertility treatment using donor sperm.
And the woman who, according to the detective, had unknowingly carried an embryo created from my egg and Daniel's sperm.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
"No. Claire, I swear I didn't know.""
I turned toward Melissa.
She looked equally stunned.
I put the detective on speakerphone.
"Detective Collins, are you certain?""
"We're working with preliminary records, Ms. Bennett. However, the documentation suggests that a third embryo was transferred approximately seven months ago.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa is pregnant now.""
"That's consistent with the information we have.""
"Does she know?""
"Not according to the statement we received.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She covered her mouth.
Daniel hadn't simply hidden our children.
He had apparently arranged for another embryo to be used years later, without telling the woman carrying it.
"Detective, I need to understand something. Was this transfer authorized?""
"That's one of the questions we're investigating. The clinic has been asked to preserve all relevant records.""
"Did I authorize it?""
"No authorization bearing your name has been verified.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Then who signed?""
"We're examining the documents.""
The detective gave me instructions for an interview the following morning.
When the call ended, Rebecca sat down.
"Oh, Claire.""
I stared at the paperwork.
Three embryos.
Three lives.
Three decisions Daniel had made without telling me.
"Vanessa needs to know," I said.
Melissa nodded.
"Absolutely.""
Rebecca looked frightened.
"Daniel won't let her find out.""
I stood.
"He's not deciding that anymore.""
We returned to the estate just after five.
The party had ended.
The blue balloons still floated above the garden, but the tables were half-empty, the cake had been cut, and the white roses were beginning to wilt.
Vanessa was sitting alone in the conservatory.
Her shoes were beside her chair.
She looked up when we entered.
"Claire?""
I approached slowly.
"Can we talk?""
She glanced at Rebecca.
"Who's that?""
"My sister.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Rebecca?""
Rebecca nodded.
Vanessa looked between us.
"Daniel told me you had moved overseas.""
Rebecca gave a bitter smile.
"Daniel has told a lot of people a lot of things.""
Vanessa rubbed her stomach.
"What's happening?""
I sat opposite her.
"Vanessa, I need you to listen carefully. We received information from the investigator.""
Her face tightened.
"What information?""
I looked at Rebecca.
Then back at Vanessa.
"The embryo used in your pregnancy may have been created during my marriage to Daniel.""
Vanessa stared at me.
"What?""
"Using my egg and Daniel's sperm.""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"I know this is difficult.""
"No. That's impossible.""
She pushed her chair backward.
"Daniel told me we were using donor material. He showed me the clinic's paperwork.""
"That's why we need you to see the original records.""
Vanessa looked at Rebecca.
"Is this true?""
Rebecca nodded.
"I'm afraid it may be.""
Vanessa stood so quickly that her chair scraped against the floor.
"Daniel!""
She called his name.
No answer.
"Daniel!""
A door slammed upstairs.
He appeared at the top of the staircase.
"What now?""
Vanessa walked toward him.
"Come downstairs.""
"I'm busy.""
"NOW.""
He looked at her stomach, then at the people standing behind her.
His expression changed.
"What did you tell her?""
I answered.
"The truth.""
Daniel descended the stairs slowly.
"You don't know the truth.""
Vanessa held up the clinic paperwork.
"Did you use an embryo created during your first marriage?""
Daniel said nothing.
"Answer me!""
He looked at me.
Then at Vanessa.
Finally, he sighed.
"The situation was complicated.""
Vanessa began crying.
"Did you know?""
He rubbed his face.
"Yes.""
The single word shattered whatever remained between them.
Vanessa stepped backward.
"You knew I was carrying another woman's biological child?""
"She's not another woman. She's Claire.""
I stared at him.
"That's supposed to make it better?""
Daniel ignored me.
"Vanessa, I wanted us to have a family. I thought you would understand once the baby arrived.""
She shook her head.
"You let me believe we had created this pregnancy together.""
"We did.""
"With an embryo you stole from your first marriage?""
"I didn't steal anything.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"You forged documents.""
Daniel pointed at her.
"Stay out of this.""
"No, Daniel. I carried two of those embryos because you told me Claire had agreed. You told me she wanted nothing to do with the children.""
He looked at her coldly.
"You made your own decisions.""
Rebecca laughed through her tears.
"I was your sister-in-law. I trusted you.""
"And you were paid for your involvement.""
The room fell silent.
Rebecca's face drained of color.
"Paid?""
Daniel looked away.
I turned toward her.
"What is he talking about?""
Rebecca shook her head.
"I never accepted money.""
Daniel smiled without humor.
"Perhaps you should check the accounts.""
Rebecca stared at him.
Then she pulled out her phone.
Her fingers moved rapidly.
A few seconds later, she looked up.
"I don't understand.""
"What?"" I asked.
"There's a deposit.""
She turned the screen toward us.
A payment of $25,000 had appeared in an old account she had barely used.
The transaction was dated two years earlier.
Rebecca looked horrified.
"I never saw this.""
Daniel folded his arms.
"That money was for the inconvenience.""
"You transferred money into my account without my permission?""
"You're welcome.""
Rebecca's hands began trembling.
Vanessa looked at him.
"How can you stand there and talk about money?""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Because someone has to be practical.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"I am carrying a baby.""
"Exactly.""
"Your baby?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said something that made the room go completely silent.
"Biologically, yes. And if you stop turning this into a scandal, we can still have the family we planned.""
Vanessa looked at me.
Then at her stomach.
"Did you ever intend to tell me?""
He didn't answer.
She removed her wedding ring again.
This time, she threw it onto the floor.
"I want you out of the house.""
Daniel laughed.
"You're being emotional.""
"No. I'm finally thinking clearly.""
He stepped toward her.
"Vanessa, listen—"
"Don't come near me.""
She backed toward the doorway.
"I want a lawyer. I want independent medical advice. And I want every document you've ever signed about this pregnancy.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
She looked directly at him.
"Neither did I when I married you.""
He turned toward me.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?""
I shook my head.
"No, Daniel. I wanted a husband who told the truth.""
He gave a bitter laugh.
"You always wanted everything to be perfect.""
"Actually, I only wanted to be included in decisions about my own children.""
His face tightened.
Then he pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
I didn't move.
"Not until I see Oliver and Sophie.""
"They're sleeping.""
"Then I'll wait.""
"You have no rights here.""
I looked at him.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
He took a step closer.
"You think some paperwork is going to change anything? Those children know me as their father. They know Vanessa as their mother. You're a stranger to them.""
The words hurt.
But not because they were true.
Because Daniel had spent four years making sure they would become true.
I looked at him.
"Then why did Sophie call me Mommy?""
He had no answer.
A few minutes later, Rachel brought the children downstairs.
Oliver was rubbing his eyes.
Sophie held a stuffed rabbit.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Mommy Claire!""
I crouched.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
She walked over and handed me a folded piece of paper.
"I made this.""
It was a drawing.
Two little children stood between a tall man and a woman with brown hair.
Above them were four words written in uneven letters.
*OUR FAMILY TOGETHER AGAIN.*
I felt tears slide down my cheeks.
"That's beautiful.""
Sophie smiled.
"Can you keep it?""
"Forever.""
Oliver approached.
"Are you coming tomorrow?""
I looked at Rachel.
Then at the children.
"I hope so.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Children, upstairs.""
Sophie frowned.
"But I want to talk to Claire.""
"Now.""
Oliver took her hand.
They walked toward the staircase.
Before disappearing, Sophie turned.
"Don't forget my birthday.""
I smiled through my tears.
"I won't.""
When they were gone, Vanessa approached me.
"I need to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"If the baby is biologically yours...""
She struggled to finish.
I gently touched her arm.
"We don't know everything yet. And whatever the results show, you are the woman carrying this baby. Nothing changes the fact that you deserve honesty and proper medical care.""
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
"Would you hate me if I wanted to keep the baby?""
I looked at her for a long moment.
"No.""
Her eyes filled.
"Even after everything?""
"Vanessa, you didn't forge my signature. You didn't hide the children from me.""
She started crying.
"I don't know how to be part of this family anymore.""
I glanced toward the stairs.
"Neither do I.""
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Detective Collins.
We have reviewed additional clinic records. Please do not confront Daniel again until we speak tomorrow. There is evidence of another unauthorized transaction.
I read it twice.
Another transaction?
I typed back.
What transaction?
His response arrived immediately.
The third embryo was not the only one transferred after your divorce.
I looked at Rebecca.
She read the message over my shoulder.
Her face went white.
"Claire...""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She pointed at the final page of the original clinic file.
There were four embryo identification numbers.
Not three.
Four.
May you like
And beside the fourth number was a handwritten notation.
Transferred — recipient unknown.
