Chapter 3: The Woman in the Ultrasound
Daniel’s house looked completely different when I arrived.
The same expensive furniture.
The same perfect decorations.
But the warmth was gone.
It felt like someone had walked through the house and removed every happy memory.
Daniel was sitting at the kitchen table.
In front of him were several papers.
Medical documents.
Photographs.
Receipts.
Evidence.
I sat down.
“What happened?””
He pushed a folder toward me.
“I found this behind her clothes.””
Inside were ultrasound pictures.
Every single one had a name printed at the top.
Not Claire Harrison.
A woman named Emily Parker.
I stared at the images.
“Who is Emily?””
“I don’t know.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“But I’m going to find out.””
Before I could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He almost ignored it.
Then he answered.
“Hello?””
His expression changed.
“Who is this?””
I watched him listen.
Then his face became pale.
“Wait… what?””
He stood up.
“Where are you?””
A few seconds later, he hung up.
“Daniel?””
He looked at me.
“That was Emily.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What did she say?””
He grabbed his keys.
“She said Claire ruined her life.””
We drove to a small coffee shop across town.
Emily was already there.
She looked exhausted.
Her hands shook as she held her coffee cup.
When she saw Daniel, she immediately stood.
“You have to understand, I never wanted this.””
Daniel stared.
“Wanted what?””
Emily looked at me.
Then back at him.
“Your wife hired me.””
The words hit like a punch.
Daniel’s face hardened.
“For what?””
Emily swallowed.
“To pretend.””
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
“Pretend what?””
Emily looked down.
“Pregnancy.””
Daniel stepped back.
“No.””
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“You’re lying.””
Emily shook her head.
“I wish I was.””
She opened her bag and removed a contract.
“I was desperate. I needed money.””
Daniel took the paper.
His hands trembled as he read.
“What is this?””
“A payment agreement.””
“For what?””
Emily whispered:
“For letting Claire use my medical records.””
I covered my mouth.
The truth was worse than we imagined.
Claire hadn’t just created a fake pregnancy.
She had built an entire story.
But why?
Emily looked at Daniel with sympathy.
“She told me you couldn’t survive another disappointment.””
Daniel looked confused.
“What?””
“She said you wanted a family more than anything. She said if you found out she couldn’t have children, you would leave her.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“That’s insane.””
Emily nodded.
“I know.””
Then she said something else.
Something that changed everything.
“She wasn’t trying to fake a baby.””
Daniel looked up.
“What do you mean?””
Emily hesitated.
“She was trying to fake a miracle.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Why?””
Emily looked terrified.
“Because she already had a plan for what would happen after the baby was born.””
“What plan?””
Emily looked toward the window.
May you like
Then she said:
“She was going to disappear.””
