Chapter 7: The Dead Man's Secret
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
Robert Hayes.
Daniel's father.
The man whose funeral I had attended five years earlier.
The man who had apparently known that Patricia was manipulating our medical records.
And now his name appeared on a genetic report connected to Vanessa's pregnancy.
I stared at Rebecca.
"How is that possible?""
Rebecca didn't answer immediately. She enlarged the document and examined the identification numbers.
"Sarah, I need you to understand that this is a preliminary report. We cannot assume the laboratory's interpretation is correct until the original samples are independently tested.""
"But Robert died five years ago.""
"I understand.""
"And Vanessa is carrying a baby created from an embryo associated with him?""
Rebecca removed her glasses.
"That's what this report appears to indicate.""
I felt sick.
Daniel had told Vanessa that she was carrying an embryo created from his previous marriage.
But the clinic's genetic records suggested something completely different.
There was only one way to establish the truth.
We needed to find out what Patricia had done with the original embryos, what Robert had contributed, and why someone had deliberately substituted one sample for another.
Rebecca printed the report.
"Don't contact Patricia. Don't confront Daniel. And absolutely do not share this document publicly.""
I nodded.
She continued.
"We'll request an independent genetic review and preserve the original laboratory samples.""
I looked at the report again.
"Can you explain why Robert's name would appear?""
"Not yet. But there's another issue.""
She pointed toward a reference number.
"This genetic profile appears to have been created before the first transfer into Vanessa.""
"Meaning?""
"Someone had already registered Robert's genetic material with the clinic.""
I swallowed.
"Could he have donated sperm?""
"Possibly. But we need the original medical history.""
I looked at the date.
The report had been generated seven months before Robert died.
Seven months.
That meant he had been involved in something long before the divorce.
And if Patricia had arranged it, then perhaps the entire story was much worse than I imagined.
That afternoon, Olivia arrived at Rebecca's office.
She looked frightened when she saw the report.
"Is that my father's name?""
I nodded.
She sat down.
"Why?""
Rebecca turned the document toward her.
"We're trying to understand that.""
Olivia read the page.
Her lips trembled.
"My father never told me he was involved in fertility treatment.""
"Did he ever discuss donating genetic material?"" I asked.
She shook her head.
"No. He was almost sixty when he died.""
I leaned forward.
"Did he have any medical conditions?""
Olivia looked confused.
"Why?""
"Because the report lists him as a genetic contributor.""
She stared at the page again.
Then she whispered, "There was something my mother told me after his funeral.""
"What?""
"She said Dad had agreed to help Daniel with his fertility problem.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How?""
Olivia looked down.
"She said he had provided a biological sample before he died. She described it as a private family arrangement.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Did your father know why the sample was being collected?""
"I don't know.""
"Did he consent to its use in an embryo?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't know that either.""
I stared at her.
"Olivia, did your father and Patricia have a good marriage?""
She laughed bitterly.
"Not toward the end.""
"Why?""
Olivia hesitated.
Then she reached into her purse and removed another envelope.
"My father gave me this before he died.""
Rebecca accepted it carefully.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Olivia, if you're reading this, I hope I've finally found the courage to tell you what happened.
Your mother believes she can control everything with money. She believes Daniel's future is more important than anyone else's dignity.
I made a mistake by agreeing to help her. I thought I was protecting my son. I did not understand that she intended to use my medical contribution without telling the people involved.
If you ever discover that my biological material was used without proper authorization, please make sure the truth comes out.
The letter ended with a sentence that made my hands tremble.
I never agreed to become the father of another child through deception.
Olivia began crying.
"He knew.""
Rebecca continued reading.
There was another page.
It contained a reference to a storage facility in Boston.
And a name.
*Dr. Evelyn Hart.*
"Who is she?"" I asked.
Olivia wiped her eyes.
"She was my father's private physician.""
Rebecca wrote the name down.
"We need to speak with her.""
The following morning, Rebecca arranged a meeting with Dr. Hart.
Her office was inside a private medical building near the Charles River.
She was in her late sixties, with silver hair and a serious expression.
When Rebecca showed her Robert's letter, she immediately recognized the handwriting.
"I wondered when someone would come asking about this.""
I leaned forward.
"What do you know?""
Dr. Hart folded her hands.
"Robert was diagnosed with a progressive medical condition. Before beginning treatment, he was asked whether he wanted to preserve biological material.""
Olivia looked startled.
"My father was ill?""
Dr. Hart nodded.
"He didn't want his family to know initially. He was worried about how Daniel would react.""
"Why Daniel?"" I asked.
She looked at Olivia.
"Your father believed Daniel was struggling with infertility and wanted to help him.""
Rebecca asked, "Did Robert authorize the material to be used for a future embryo transfer?""
Dr. Hart shook her head.
"No. He agreed to preservation. He specifically instructed that nothing could be released without his written authorization and the consent of any intended recipient.""
I felt a chill.
"Was Patricia aware?""
"Yes. She attended one appointment with him.""
"Did she pressure him?""
Dr. Hart looked uncomfortable.
"She wanted him to sign a broader authorization. He refused.""
Olivia's voice broke.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because Robert's medical records were confidential. I had no authority to disclose them.""
Rebecca placed a copy of the preliminary genetic report on the desk.
"Did you know his biological material had been transferred to Northstar Fertility?""
Dr. Hart studied the document.
Then she shook her head.
"No.""
She pointed to the laboratory reference.
"This is not the storage facility where Robert's material was preserved.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Are you certain?""
"Absolutely. I have the original preservation records.""
She stood and walked to a filing cabinet.
After several minutes, she returned with a sealed envelope.
Inside were copies of Robert's original consent forms.
One sentence had been highlighted.
*No reproductive use authorized. Preservation only.*
Olivia covered her mouth.
Dr. Hart looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
I stared at the document.
Patricia hadn't simply lied about my embryos.
She had apparently taken genetic material from her own dying husband and used it in a reproductive arrangement he had explicitly refused to authorize.
Rebecca looked at me.
"Sarah, this could explain the genetic discrepancy.""
"But how did Robert's material end up in Vanessa's pregnancy?""
Dr. Hart shook her head.
"That's what we need to investigate.""
Then she pointed to another page.
It listed the original storage facility's access history.
There were three authorized visitors.
Robert Hayes.
Dr. Evelyn Hart.
And Patricia Hayes.
But beside Patricia's name was a note.
*Access revoked — unauthorized removal attempt.*
Olivia stared at it.
"My mother tried to take it?""
Dr. Hart nodded.
"Two years before Robert died.""
I looked at the date.
That was before my divorce.
Before Vanessa.
Before the baby shower.
Patricia had been planning something for years.
And then Rebecca noticed the final entry.
The material had been transferred to Northstar Fertility six weeks after Robert's death.
The authorization was signed by a physician.
Dr. Evan Miller.
On the drive back to Connecticut, Olivia barely spoke.
I understood why.
She had just discovered that her mother had used her father's medical records, potentially misused his biological material, and involved her in a scheme she had never knowingly agreed to.
At a traffic light, she finally turned toward me.
"Sarah, do you think my father knew what Mom was planning?""
I considered the question.
"He knew enough to be afraid.""
She looked down.
"I wish I'd asked him more questions.""
"Don't blame yourself.""
"He tried to leave clues.""
I reached over and squeezed her hand.
"You found them.""
She nodded slowly.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered immediately.
"What's wrong?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Daniel came to my sister's house again.""
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. My sister is here.""
"What happened?""
"He brought a document and wanted me to sign it.""
"What document?""
"He said it was a routine medical authorization.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did you sign?""
"No.""
"Good.""
She began crying.
"Sarah, he said the clinic would cancel the baby's medical coverage if I didn't cooperate.""
I felt anger rise.
"That's nonsense. Don't sign anything.""
"I know. But he was so angry.""
I looked at Olivia.
"Did he leave?""
"Yes. But before he left, he said something.""
"What?""
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
"He said the baby belongs to the Hayes family, and I have no right to keep it from them.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, listen carefully. Your baby is not property.""
"I know.""
"Don't let him convince you otherwise.""
She went quiet.
Then she whispered, "Sarah, I think Daniel knows the truth about the embryo.""
"Why?""
"Because he told me something strange.""
"What?""
"He said, 'If my father had been honest, none of this would have happened.''"
I looked at Olivia.
Her eyes widened.
"Did he mention Robert?"" I asked.
"Yes.""
The traffic light turned green.
I pulled into a parking lot.
"Vanessa, can you repeat exactly what he said?""
She swallowed.
"He said, 'My father made his choice before he died. You need to stop digging into things that have nothing to do with you.''"
I looked at Olivia.
Her face had gone white.
"Sarah," she whispered.
I covered the phone.
"What?""
"My father told me something before he died.""
"What?""
"He said Daniel had discovered a secret about his parentage.""
I stared at her.
"His parentage?""
Olivia nodded.
Then Vanessa spoke through the phone.
"Sarah, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Daniel told me he wants to meet you tomorrow. Alone.""
I almost laughed.
"Why?""
"He says he has the original medical report. The one that proves everything.""
I looked at Olivia.
Then at the copies of Robert's consent forms.
"Tell him I'll meet him.""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"Yes.""
Because I was beginning to understand that Daniel wasn't simply afraid of losing his marriage.
He was afraid of what his father had left behind.
And tomorrow, I intended to find out why.
That night, Olivia called me at eleven.
Her voice was barely audible.
"Sarah, I found something else.""
"What?""
"I searched Dad's old email account.""
My heart began beating faster.
"What did you find?""
"An email to a lawyer. It was sent two days before he died.""
"Read it to me.""
She took a breath.
I need to amend my estate documents. Daniel is not aware of the full circumstances surrounding his birth. Patricia has known for years, and she has used that information to control him.
I sat up in bed.
"What circumstances?""
Olivia continued.
I am not his biological father. I raised him as my son, but Patricia had an affair before we married. I accepted Daniel as my child, and I never wanted him to feel unwanted.
I couldn't speak.
Olivia kept reading.
However, I refuse to let Patricia use my preserved genetic material to create a child under false pretenses. Daniel deserves to know the truth, and Sarah deserves to know that the infertility diagnosis was manipulated.
I closed my eyes.
The room seemed to spin.
Robert Hayes wasn't Daniel's biological father.
Yet his genetic material had apparently been used in the embryo associated with Vanessa's pregnancy.
Which meant the child Vanessa was carrying might not be genetically related to Daniel in the way anyone had been told.
But the most disturbing part was still ahead.
Olivia's voice broke.
"The email says there was another man.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
Then she read the name.
"Dr. Evan Miller.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
The fertility specialist who had altered my medical records.
The man who had witnessed the forged agreement.
The man who had transferred Robert's preserved biological material.
And apparently, the man who had fathered Daniel.
Olivia whispered, "Sarah, my mother knew Daniel wasn't Robert's biological son.""
I stared into the darkness.
Suddenly, the entire fertility scheme looked different.
Patricia hadn't merely been protecting Daniel's reputation.
She had been protecting a secret about his birth.
And she had been willing to sacrifice my marriage, Vanessa's trust, and even her dying husband's final wishes to keep it hidden.
But if Daniel discovered the truth, why had he continued following Patricia's instructions?
May you like
What did she have over him?
And what had Dr. Miller done to make sure neither of them ever spoke?
