Chapter 8: The Fourth Embryo
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the four embryo identification numbers.
Three had already changed our lives.
Oliver and Sophie were living at the Whitmore Estate.
Vanessa was carrying a third child.
But the fourth embryo had disappeared into a trail of altered records and false signatures.
Who had carried it?
Where was that child?
And why had Daniel gone to such lengths to conceal everything?
At 7:15 the next morning, Rebecca arrived at my house carrying two coffees and a thick envelope.
She looked exhausted.
"I found something.""
I opened the door.
"What?""
She handed me the envelope.
"Copies of every letter I sent you.""
I took it.
There were seventeen.
Seventeen letters addressed to my old apartment, my workplace, and eventually my new house.
Some had been returned.
Others had never reached me.
Each contained a handwritten note.
Please call me.
I need you to know the truth.
The children are beautiful.
Claire, I'm sorry.
I sat down.
Rebecca placed the coffees on the table.
"I wrote that last one after Sophie took her first steps.""
I looked up.
"You saw them?""
"Every few months, at first. Daniel allowed supervised visits.""
"Why did he stop?""
"Because I asked to see you.""
She stared at her coffee.
"He told me I was becoming a problem.""
I opened another letter.
The final one was dated eighteen months earlier.
I don't know how much longer I can keep quiet. Daniel has started talking about another child. I think he's planning to use the remaining embryos. Claire, if you ever receive this, please know I tried.
I looked at her.
"You knew there was another embryo?""
"I suspected. I didn't know there were two.""
I swallowed.
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
Rebecca's eyes filled.
"Because I had no proof. And because Daniel had convinced the agency that I was emotionally unstable. He threatened to use my medical history against me.""
I reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry.""
She shook her head.
"We can be angry about that later. Right now, we need to find the fourth child.""
At nine, we met Detective Collins and a forensic document examiner at a government office.
The detective was a middle-aged man with a calm voice and a habit of listening without interrupting.
He spread several documents across the conference table.
"We've confirmed that four embryos were created during the original treatment cycle.""
I nodded.
"Two became Oliver and Sophie.""
"Correct.""
"The third was transferred to Vanessa.""
"According to preliminary evidence, yes.""
"And the fourth?""
He turned over a document.
"The fourth embryo was transferred approximately three years ago.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"To whom?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Could it have been destroyed?""
"It could have been, but the documentation doesn't support that conclusion.""
He showed us a transfer authorization.
My name appeared at the bottom.
Again, the signature was almost identical to mine.
The examiner pointed to a small detail.
"Notice the final letter in the surname. The stroke direction is inconsistent with the original signature.""
I stared at the paper.
"So it's forged?""
"That's our preliminary opinion.""
The detective nodded.
"We also discovered that the payment for this transfer came from a company associated with Daniel Whitmore.""
"Who was the recipient?""
He looked at his notes.
"An individual registered as a private gestational carrier.""
"Name?""
"Emily Carter.""
Rebecca frowned.
"Do you know her?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
The detective opened another folder.
"Emily Carter's identity appears to have been created using several pieces of legitimate personal information. However, the address listed on the agreement belongs to an abandoned property.""
"Then who was she?""
"We're still investigating.""
He paused.
"But there's another interesting detail.""
He slid a photograph across the table.
It showed a woman leaving a medical building.
She was wearing a dark coat and carrying a large handbag.
I stared.
I knew her.
I had seen her before.
Not at the clinic.
Not at the Whitmore Estate.
At my workplace.
"That's Laura.""
The detective looked up.
"Laura who?""
"Laura Mitchell. She used to be Daniel's executive assistant.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"You're sure?""
I nodded.
"She worked with Daniel for almost six years. She attended business dinners, arranged travel, and handled his personal appointments.""
The detective wrote down the name.
"Did you know her well?""
"Not particularly. But I remember she left the company shortly before our divorce.""
Rebecca's face changed.
"Claire, she used to visit the estate.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"After the twins were born. Sometimes Daniel would ask me to wait in the kitchen while he spoke with her.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did you ever see her with the children?""
"Once.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why would Daniel use his assistant as a gestational carrier?""
The detective closed the folder.
"That's what we'd like to ask her.""
He gave us another document.
It was an employment record.
Laura Mitchell had left Whitmore Holdings four years earlier.
Her departure had been recorded as a voluntary resignation.
But the date was unusual.
It was the same week the fourth embryo transfer had supposedly taken place.
The detective leaned forward.
"Ms. Bennett, did your former husband ever mention Laura?""
I shook my head.
"Not after she left.""
"Did you know they were close?""
"Not really.""
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
"Claire, I think Laura was in love with Daniel.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"She told me once that she had feelings for him. I thought she was joking.""
I remembered a dinner party from years earlier.
Laura had arrived wearing a red dress.
Daniel had introduced her as his assistant.
She had complimented his watch, poured his wine, and laughed at every joke.
At the time, I hadn't thought much about it.
Now I remembered the way she looked at him.
The detective gathered the papers.
"We'll contact her. In the meantime, I recommend that neither of you approach Daniel without legal representation.""
We left the office just before noon.
I called my attorney, who had already begun reviewing the divorce settlement and the reproductive records.
Then Rebecca and I drove to the Whitmore Estate.
Vanessa had agreed to meet us.
She was sitting in the kitchen with a glass of water.
Her eyes were swollen.
"I haven't slept," she said.
"Neither have we," Rebecca replied.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Did they find out who carried the fourth embryo?""
"Not yet.""
She nodded.
Then she opened a drawer and removed a small notebook.
"I found this in Daniel's desk.""
I looked at it.
"What is it?""
"His appointment calendar. I think he forgot to take it when he left.""
She opened it to a page dated three years earlier.
Several entries had been highlighted.
One read:
L.M. — transfer consultation.
Another:
E.C. paperwork — legal review.
And a third:
Fourth placement — confidential.
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Laura Mitchell.""
Vanessa nodded.
"That's what I thought.""
She turned another page.
There was a handwritten note.
No direct contact with Claire. If she discovers the arrangement, emphasize voluntary relinquishment.
I stared at the words.
Daniel had planned for me to discover the truth.
He had simply prepared a different lie for every possible situation.
Vanessa closed the notebook.
"There's something else.""
She walked to the kitchen counter and picked up a small white envelope.
"Daniel left this inside the study safe.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A newborn baby wrapped in a hospital blanket.
On the back, someone had written:
Our fourth miracle.
I stared at the handwriting.
Daniel's.
My hands began shaking.
"Where did you find this?""
"In a folder marked family legacy.""
I looked at the baby.
The photograph was dated three years earlier.
A small hospital bracelet was visible around the baby's wrist.
I leaned closer.
There was a name printed on it.
*ETHAN WHITMORE.*
Rebecca whispered.
"Another child.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know about him?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
I turned the photograph over again.
The words blurred.
"Who is Ethan's mother?""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"I think Laura is.""
My phone rang.
Detective Collins.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
"Ms. Bennett, we located Laura Mitchell.""
My heart started pounding.
"Where is she?""
"At a residential address outside Boston. We haven't interviewed her yet.""
"Did you tell her why you're looking for her?""
"Yes.""
There was a pause.
"She has agreed to speak with us.""
"Does she have the child?""
The detective hesitated.
"She has a child registered as Ethan Mitchell.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Is he three years old?""
"Approximately.""
"Then he could be the fourth embryo.""
"Possibly.""
I swallowed.
"Can I meet him?""
"Not yet. We need to establish the facts first.""
I nodded.
"Understood.""
Then the detective added something.
"There's another issue. Laura has requested that we ask you a question before the interview.""
"What question?""
He paused.
"She wants to know whether you remember signing a document giving her permission to raise your fourth child.""
I looked at Rebecca.
Then at Vanessa.
I had never met Ethan.
I had never authorized anyone to raise him.
And I certainly hadn't signed any such document.
"Tell her I never signed anything.""
The detective was silent.
Then he said:
"She expected you to say that.""
The call ended.
Vanessa sat down.
"Claire, what does this mean?""
I looked at the photograph of the little boy.
"It means someone has been telling Laura a different story, too.""
That afternoon, we met Laura Mitchell at the detective's office.
She entered wearing a cream sweater and black trousers.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked older than I remembered, but her eyes were unmistakable.
When she saw me, she stopped.
"Claire.""
I nodded.
"Laura.""
She looked at Rebecca.
Then at Vanessa.
"You're all here.""
I sat opposite her.
"Tell me about Ethan.""
Laura lowered herself into the chair.
For a moment, she stared at her hands.
Then she said:
"Daniel told me you had agreed to let me raise him.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would I do that?""
"Because you didn't want another child.""
I felt my jaw clench.
"That's a lie.""
Laura nodded slowly.
"I know that now.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed a baby lying in a hospital bassinet.
"I carried him. I gave birth to him. And for three years, Daniel has told me he was mine to raise because you had voluntarily given up your rights.""
I looked at her.
"Did you believe him?""
"At first.""
"Why?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because I loved him.""
The admission hung between us.
Rebecca looked away.
Laura continued.
"I was his assistant for years. I knew about your treatments. I knew how much you wanted a child. And when Daniel told me the embryos were no longer yours because you had signed them over, I believed him.""
She wiped her eyes.
"I thought I was helping him build a family.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Where is Ethan now?""
"With my mother.""
"Why?""
Laura swallowed.
"Because Daniel recently told me he wanted to take him.""
"Take him where?""
"To live with him.""
I looked at her.
"Why now?""
Laura's face changed.
"He said the family was finally going to be complete.""
I felt cold.
"Complete?""
She nodded.
"Daniel told me he was planning to bring all four children together.""
I leaned forward.
"Why?""
Laura hesitated.
Then she opened her handbag again.
This time, she removed a thick legal document.
"I found this in Daniel's study.""
She placed it on the table.
It was a draft of a family trust.
Four children were listed as potential beneficiaries.
Oliver Whitmore.
Sophie Whitmore.
Ethan Mitchell.
And an unborn child.
Vanessa's baby.
But there was something else.
A fifth name appeared beneath them.
Mine.
Claire Bennett.
I stared at the page.
"Why am I listed?""
Laura looked directly at me.
"Because Daniel has been telling everyone that you're going to sign a settlement agreement.""
"What settlement?""
She turned the document over.
There was a paragraph describing a payment in exchange for my permanent relinquishment of any parental claims.
The proposed amount was $500,000.
I almost laughed.
Half a million dollars to disappear from the lives of four children.
I looked at Laura.
"When did he prepare this?""
"Last month.""
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?""
She lowered her eyes.
"Because I was afraid he'd take Ethan.""
I understood that fear.
I had lived inside it without knowing.
Then Laura reached into her bag one last time.
She removed a folded letter.
"There's something else I need you to read.""
The handwriting was Daniel's.
The letter began:
If Claire ever discovers the truth, make sure she understands that she has no legal claim to any of the children.
But the final paragraph contained a sentence that made me stop breathing.
The real reason I needed all four children registered under my name is that only one of them is my biological heir.
I looked up.
"What's he talking about?""
Laura's voice trembled.
"That's why I agreed to meet you.""
May you like
She pointed to the family trust.
"Because Ethan isn't the only child whose biological parentage Daniel has been hiding.""
