Chapter 3: The Third Embryo
Vanessa didn't respond to Daniel's messages.
She stood beside my car, staring at her phone as though the words might rearrange themselves into something less frightening.
I reached for her elbow.
"Let's go somewhere quiet.""
She nodded.
We drove to a small café two blocks from the hospital.
It was nearly empty.
A young waitress brought us coffee and a glass of water. Vanessa didn't touch either.
She placed her phone on the table.
"Read them again.""
I did.
The third embryo isn't missing. It was never supposed to be part of your pregnancy.
And if you find out who the third embryo belongs to, you'll understand why my mother paid for everything.
I looked at her.
"What does he mean by who it belongs to?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Could it be a different embryo from another patient?""
"I thought they were all created during your marriage.""
"They were.""
She pressed her hands against her forehead.
"Then why would he say it belongs to someone else?""
I took out the original storage statement.
There were three embryo identification numbers.
The first two appeared on the transfer authorization.
The third had a handwritten notation beside it.
*Special preservation — restricted release.*
I had never seen that notation before.
"Look at this.""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Special preservation?""
"I don't know what it means.""
She pointed toward the number.
"Can we call the clinic?""
I dialed Lauren's number.
She answered after two rings.
"Northstar Fertility, this is Lauren.""
"It's Sarah Morgan. I'm with Vanessa Hayes. We need information about the third embryo listed on my original storage account.""
There was a pause.
"Mrs. Morgan, I've been expecting your call.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because our compliance department has located a separate record connected to that embryo.""
"What's in it?""
"I can't release it without the proper authorization. But there is a notation indicating that the embryo was placed under a separate legal hold.""
Vanessa leaned toward the phone.
"Who requested that?""
Lauren hesitated.
"Your former mother-in-law, Patricia Hayes.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Patricia.
Always Patricia.
"What was the reason?"" I asked.
"The record references a private family arrangement.""
Vanessa stared at me.
"What kind of arrangement?""
Lauren lowered her voice.
"Mrs. Morgan, I think both of you need to come to the clinic. There are documents that should be reviewed in person.""
I agreed to an appointment that afternoon.
When I hung up, Vanessa looked exhausted.
"I need to tell you something.""
I waited.
"When Daniel and I started dating, he told me his first marriage ended because you were unable to have children.""
I nodded.
"I know.""
"He said he had been devastated. He said you refused treatment and blamed him for everything.""
I stared at her.
"That's not true.""
"I know that now.""
She took a breath.
"He also told me that after the divorce, you wanted nothing to do with him. He said you had signed away every claim to the embryos.""
I looked down at the document.
"I never signed that.""
"I believe you.""
She paused.
"Do you know what hurts the most?""
"What?""
"Daniel told me he understood how painful infertility could be because he'd lived through it once. He said he wanted to make sure I never experienced the humiliation you put him through.""
I felt a cold anger settle in my chest.
"He used my suffering to make himself look like a victim.""
Vanessa nodded.
"And I believed him.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached across the table.
"Sarah, I want you to know that I never asked for your embryos.""
"I know.""
"I didn't know they belonged to you.""
"I believe you.""
Her eyes filled.
"Thank you.""
I squeezed her hand.
"Don't thank me for believing the truth.""
The fertility clinic was located in a modern medical building with glass walls and polished floors.
Lauren met us at reception.
She looked more nervous than she had during our previous meeting.
"This way, please.""
She led us into a conference room.
A man in a navy suit was waiting inside.
He introduced himself as Martin Cole, the clinic's compliance director.
"Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you for coming.""
I sat down.
"What did you find?""
Martin opened a folder.
"We reviewed the original storage records, the transfer request, and the subsequent payment authorizations. We also examined the electronic access logs.""
Vanessa leaned forward.
"Was the transfer illegal?""
Martin folded his hands.
"Our investigation has identified serious discrepancies, including a consent form that does not match the original signature on file.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Can you confirm that I never authorized the transfer?""
"Based on the records available to us, we have no valid consent from you.""
Vanessa looked down.
Martin continued.
"We have also identified an unusual instruction concerning the third embryo.""
He turned the page.
"According to the original agreement, all three embryos were to remain in storage unless both genetic contributors provided written authorization for a transfer or disposal.""
I nodded.
"That's what I remember.""
"But a separate request was submitted approximately eleven months after your divorce.""
"By whom?""
Martin looked at the document.
"Patricia Hayes.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"What did she request?""
"She requested that the third embryo be transferred into a separate storage account under the name of a person identified as a family beneficiary.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
Martin hesitated.
Then he turned the page toward us.
The name was printed in black letters.
*Olivia Hayes.*
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who is Olivia?""
Vanessa's face went white.
"My husband's sister.""
I remembered Daniel mentioning her once.
She was younger than him, had been married twice, and lived in Boston.
"Why would Patricia put an embryo in Olivia's name?"" I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Martin continued.
"To be clear, the third embryo was not transferred. The clinic rejected the request because the required consent was missing.""
I leaned back.
"So Patricia tried to use all three.""
"Yes.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Martin placed another document on the table.
"There's something else. The payment authorization for the first transfer and the request involving the third embryo were submitted through the same external account.""
"Patricia's?"" I asked.
He nodded.
"However, the electronic communications include another individual.""
"Who?""
He turned to a printed email.
The sender was Daniel.
The subject line read:
*Family Plan — Final Arrangements.*
I read the first paragraph.
Then I read it again.
Daniel had written that Vanessa should receive the two embryos immediately, while the third should remain available for a future transfer involving Olivia.
The email ended with a sentence that made my skin crawl.
Once the first pregnancy is established, we can tell Vanessa whatever is necessary. She'll understand when she sees the baby.
Vanessa pushed the paper away.
"Oh my God.""
I felt sick.
"What does Olivia have to do with this?""
Martin shook his head.
"We can't speculate. We can only confirm that the request was submitted and rejected.""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"I need to call her.""
Martin nodded.
"That is your decision.""
She walked toward the window and dialed.
I remained seated.
My mind was racing.
Why would Patricia and Daniel plan a second embryo transfer for Olivia?
Was Olivia unable to have children?
Had she known about the original embryos?
And why had Daniel believed Vanessa would eventually accept something so extraordinary?
Vanessa's call connected.
"Olivia?""
A pause.
"Yes, it's me.""
Another pause.
"Did Mom tell you about the embryos?""
Her face changed.
She turned away from the window.
"What do you mean you thought I already knew?""
I stood.
Vanessa pressed her free hand against her mouth.
"Olivia, listen carefully. Did you know where those embryos came from?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered, "They came from Daniel's first marriage.""
She listened.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Sarah never agreed to this.""
Another pause.
Vanessa looked at me.
Then she asked a question that made my blood run cold.
"Olivia, did you know Patricia was planning to have you carry Sarah's third embryo?""
She lowered the phone.
The call had ended.
"She hung up," Vanessa whispered.
I moved closer.
"What did she say?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"She said Mom told her the embryo was created using an anonymous donor.""
I stared at her.
"An anonymous donor?""
"Yes. Olivia has been struggling with infertility. Apparently, Mom offered to help her find an embryo donation arrangement.""
"But Patricia never had permission to donate mine.""
"I know.""
Vanessa sat down heavily.
Then she started crying.
Not the quiet kind of crying people do when they want to be comforted.
It was the kind that comes when someone realizes an entire part of their life has been built around a lie.
I sat beside her.
"Take a breath.""
She wiped her face.
"Sarah, what kind of people do this?""
I didn't answer immediately.
Because I had spent years asking myself the same question.
An hour later, we left the clinic with certified copies of the records.
Vanessa insisted on paying for lunch.
I told her she didn't need to.
She shook her head.
"Please. Let me do one normal thing today.""
We sat in a quiet restaurant near the medical building.
She ordered soup.
I ordered a sandwich.
Neither of us ate much.
Then she told me something I hadn't expected.
"Daniel and I were married for eleven months before he proposed.""
I looked up.
"That was quick.""
"He said he didn't want to waste time. He told me he had already lost years trying to have a family with you.""
I lowered my fork.
"Eleven months?""
She nodded.
"He said he knew immediately that I was different.""
I didn't know what to say.
"He also told me his mother had helped him through the divorce. She paid for his apartment, helped him get his business back on track, and even introduced us.""
I looked at her.
"Patricia introduced you?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"She contacted me through a fertility support group.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She said her son was looking for someone who wanted children. She knew I had been through unsuccessful treatments with my previous partner.""
I stared at her.
"She specifically looked for a woman who wanted children?""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"She said Daniel was desperate to become a father.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"That wasn't a coincidence.""
Vanessa looked confused.
"What do you mean?""
I leaned forward.
"Patricia knew about Daniel's fertility diagnosis. She knew I had been blamed for it. She knew the embryos existed.""
Vanessa stared at the table.
"You think she chose me because she knew I'd want a baby?""
"I think she chose someone she believed would be willing to go through fertility treatment without asking too many questions.""
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"She made me part of a plan.""
I nodded.
"And Daniel helped her.""
She looked down at her wedding ring.
Then slowly removed it.
She placed it beside her untouched soup.
That evening, Vanessa went to her sister's house.
I drove home to my apartment.
Ethan and Noah were asleep by the time I arrived.
My babysitter had left their dinner containers in the kitchen.
I kissed both boys on the forehead and tucked their blankets around them.
For a long time, I stood in the doorway.
I thought about how easily Daniel had claimed them at the baby shower.
He had looked at my sons and spoken as though biology automatically made him their father.
But he had never held them.
Never comforted them.
Never stayed awake when they had fevers.
Never celebrated their first steps or their first words.
He wanted the title without the responsibility.
I walked into my bedroom and placed the clinic documents in a drawer.
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman spoke.
"Sarah?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Olivia Hayes.""
I sat down.
"Hello, Olivia.""
Her voice trembled.
"I know you probably hate me.""
"I don't know you well enough to hate you.""
She let out a shaky breath.
"My mother told me the embryo came from a donor. She said everything was legal.""
I remained silent.
"I found out the truth an hour ago. Vanessa sent me the clinic documents.""
"What do you want to know?""
"Everything.""
I looked toward the twins' bedroom.
"Then you need to ask your mother.""
"I did.""
"And?""
Olivia began to cry.
"She told me you were a terrible person. She said you abandoned your embryos and that Daniel had every right to use them.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
She paused.
Then she said something that made my heart pound.
"Sarah, there's something else. I found a folder in my mother's safe.""
"What was in it?""
"Copies of your original fertility records. Your divorce settlement. And a document with your signature.""
I sat up straighter.
"What document?""
"I don't know how to explain it. It's an agreement about the embryos. It says you voluntarily transferred all reproductive rights to Daniel.""
My stomach dropped.
"That's forged.""
"I know. But there's a date on it.""
"What date?""
Olivia took a shaky breath.
"The document was signed six months before your divorce was finalized.""
I stared at the wall.
Six months before the divorce.
That meant someone had planned this long before Daniel told me he wanted to leave.
"Olivia, can you send me a copy?""
"I can.""
"Don't confront your mother again. Don't let her know you have the folder.""
"Why?""
"Because if she's been keeping these documents for years, she may have more than one version.""
Olivia was quiet.
Then she said, "Sarah, there's a photograph in the folder too.""
"What photograph?""
"Your medical file is open on a desk. My mother is sitting beside Daniel.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"When was it taken?""
"I don't know. But there's a calendar in the background.""
"What does it say?""
Olivia's voice broke.
"September 14.""
I went completely still.
September 14.
That was the date Daniel and I had our first fertility consultation.
The day Dr. Miller told us that my health was fine and Daniel's results were abnormal.
The day he began blaming me.
The day his mother had apparently already been sitting beside him, examining our private medical records.
I swallowed.
"Olivia, look at the photograph carefully. Is anyone else in the room?""
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
"My mother isn't alone.""
I heard paper rustling.
Then Olivia whispered the name.
"Sarah, the man standing behind her is Dr. Miller.""
My blood ran cold.
The doctor who had first diagnosed Daniel.
The doctor who had told me my body was healthy.
The doctor who had watched Daniel leave the office without arranging further testing.
Olivia continued.
"And there's something written on the back of the photograph.""
"What?""
She read it aloud.
Step One: Establish Sarah as the problem. Step Two: Secure the embryos before the divorce.
I couldn't breathe.
For four years, I had believed Daniel's cruelty began when he learned about his infertility.
But the photograph suggested something far worse.
He hadn't simply hidden the truth after the diagnosis.
Someone had planned to make me the scapegoat from the beginning.
And if Dr. Miller had been part of that plan, then the question was no longer just who had stolen my embryos.
It was who had helped them steal my entire life.
Olivia's voice trembled through the phone.
"Sarah, there's one more thing you need to know.""
I gripped the edge of the bed.
"What?""
She lowered her voice.
"My mother didn't just pay for Vanessa's pregnancy.""
May you like
A pause.
"She paid Dr. Miller to change the original fertility report.""
