Chapter 4: The Child They Wanted
The photograph slipped from my fingers.
For a few seconds, I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
It was my son.
There was no question.
The tiny hospital bracelet around his wrist.
The blue blanket wrapped around him.
The small birthmark near his shoulder.
Elijah.
But the picture had been taken before I had ever held him.
Before I had heard his first cry.
Before Daniel had stood beside me in the delivery room, tears in his eyes, promising me that our family was finally complete.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had been inside this house.
Someone had known about my baby before he was born.
I turned the photograph over again.
The words stared back at me.
*He was never their first choice.*
My mouth went dry.
"Their?""
I looked at Daniel.
"What does that mean?""
He didn't answer.
That terrified me more than any lie could have.
"Daniel.""
His eyes stayed fixed on the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
I almost laughed.
"Where did I get this?""
My voice rose.
"Someone left it in my baby's room.""
His face tightened.
"Someone was inside the house?""
"Don't change the subject.""
"I'm not.""
"You are.""
I stepped closer.
"You keep acting like you're scared, but you won't tell me why.""
Daniel looked toward the nursery door.
Then toward Elijah.
His expression softened for one brief second.
And I hated that it almost made me trust him again.
Almost.
"Naomi, there are things about your family you don't know.""
I shook my head.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
"Because it's true.""
"No.""
I held up the photograph.
"This isn't about my family anymore. This is about my son.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"I know.""
"Do you?""
The question hit him.
His eyes dropped.
And that was when I knew.
Whatever secret he was protecting...
It wasn't just about Rachel.
It wasn't just about my father.
It involved Elijah.
A cold wave moved through me.
"What does my baby have to do with this?""
Daniel stayed silent.
I grabbed his arm.
"What does my baby have to do with this?""
"Naomi.""
"Answer me!""
My voice echoed through the nursery.
Elijah stirred in his crib.
Immediately, I stepped away and lowered my voice.
I hated that even now, even with my world collapsing, my first instinct was protecting him.
Daniel watched me.
Then he whispered:
"Your pregnancy wasn't supposed to happen.""
The room went completely still.
I stared at him.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Naomi—"
"No.""
I shook my head.
"No, choose your next words carefully.""
"I mean there were complications.""
"Every pregnancy has complications.""
"Not like this.""
My hands began to shake.
"What are you saying?""
Daniel looked away.
"I’m saying someone was very interested in whether you would have a child.""
A horrible feeling settled in my stomach.
"Who?""
He didn't respond.
"Who, Daniel?""
Before he could answer, my phone rang.
The sound made both of us jump.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a voice.
A woman's voice.
Older.
Familiar.
My heart stopped.
"Naomi.""
I gripped the phone.
"Rachel?""
Daniel's face changed.
"Don't.""
I ignored him.
"Rachel, where are you?""
Her breathing was uneven.
Like she had been running.
Like she was afraid.
"I don't have much time.""
My eyes filled with tears.
"You're alive.""
A pause.
Then quietly:
"Yes.""
I covered my mouth.
Twelve years.
Twelve years of believing she was gone.
"You let us think you were dead.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
Silence.
Then:
"Because I wanted to come home.""
Her voice broke.
"But I couldn't.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was standing completely frozen.
"Why couldn't you?""
Rachel didn't answer immediately.
When she spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Because of what they did.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who is they?""
Another pause.
Then:
"The people who chose Elijah.""
My blood ran cold.
I looked at my sleeping son.
"Rachel...""
"Naomi, listen to me.""
Her voice became urgent.
"You need to leave that house.""
"What?""
"Take Elijah and leave.""
"Why?""
"Because they know I contacted you.""
I turned toward the window.
The curtains moved slightly.
A breeze.
Nothing else.
But suddenly, I felt like we weren't alone.
"Who are they?""
Rachel breathed into the phone.
"Daniel knows.""
My eyes moved to my husband.
He looked away.
"Daniel?""
"Ask him about the Carter Foundation.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"Ask him about the children.""
The call started breaking up.
"Rachel, wait.""
"Naomi, whatever happens—"
Static.
Then her voice returned.
Clear.
Terrified.
"Do not let them take Elijah.""
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Naomi.""
I turned.
"What is the Carter Foundation?""
He didn't answer.
"Tell me.""
"It was your father's charity.""
"I know that.""
"Then you know enough.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"I know what everyone wanted people to believe.""
I held up the phone.
"Now I want the truth.""
Daniel walked toward the window.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then:
"Your father helped families who couldn't have children.""
I waited.
"That sounds like a good thing.""
"It started that way.""
The way he said it made my skin crawl.
"What happened?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Some families couldn't have children naturally.""
"Okay.""
"And some people were willing to pay anything to change that.""
I felt sick.
"Daniel.""
"The foundation connected wealthy donors with medical research.""
"What kind of research?""
He didn't answer.
I already knew I wouldn't like it.
"What kind of research?""
"Fertility.""
The word hung in the air.
"That's all?""
"No.""
He looked at Elijah.
"Not all the children were born through normal circumstances.""
My breathing stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Your father believed he was creating a legacy.""
"A legacy?""
"He believed certain families deserved certain futures.""
The room tilted.
"No.""
"Naomi—"
"No.""
I stepped back.
"My father would never.""
Daniel looked at me sadly.
"You loved your father.""
"Yes.""
"And that's why this is hard.""
I felt tears forming.
"You're lying.""
"I wish I was.""
The nursery door suddenly creaked.
Both of us turned.
A shadow moved in the hallway.
Daniel immediately stepped in front of me.
Someone was there.
"Who's outside?"" I whispered.
No answer.
Daniel walked toward the door.
"Stay here.""
I grabbed his arm.
"Don't.""
He looked at me.
For the first time all night, I saw something real in his eyes.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
He slowly opened the door.
The hallway was empty.
But something was sitting on the floor.
A small wooden box.
Daniel froze.
I recognized it instantly.
My father had owned one exactly like it.
He kept important documents inside.
Old letters.
Family records.
Things he never wanted anyone to touch.
Daniel picked it up.
His hands were shaking.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
"Open it.""
"Naomi—"
"Open it.""
Slowly, he lifted the lid.
Inside was a stack of papers.
The first page had a title.
I walked closer.
And the moment I saw the words, my entire body went numb.
Because at the top of the document was written:
*Carter Foundation Infant Selection Program.*
Below it was a list of names.
Hundreds of names.
Families.
Dates.
Children.
And near the bottom...
A name I recognized.
My own.
*Naomi Carter.*
Beside it was a note written in red ink.
*Successful match confirmed.*
I looked at Daniel.
"What did my father select?""
He didn't speak.
I flipped the page.
And the next line destroyed everything I thought I knew about my life.
*Candidate: Elijah Carter.*
*Biological parents: Naomi Carter and Daniel Carter.*
*Status: Approved.*
But underneath it...
Someone had written a final message.
A warning.
May you like
Three words.
*Second attempt failed.*
