Chapter 5 - THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHThe first truth came from the photograph.
Madeline had accidentally dropped one from her folder.
I picked it up.
It showed me.
Four years earlier.
Standing outside a hospital.
Beside a man I didn't recognize.
I stared at the image.
“What is this?”
Madeline snatched it away.
But it was too late.
I recognized the man.
His name was Dr. Julian Hayes.
He had been the fertility specialist who treated me before Luke was born.
I had suffered from fertility problems.
Brandon and I had tried for years.
Then, unexpectedly, I became pregnant.
I had always believed it was a miracle.
Madeline knew that.
She had never trusted the timing.
“You think I cheated with my doctor?”
I asked.
Madeline's lips tightened.
“You were alone with him.”
“So were hundreds of patients.”
“Your husband was deployed.”
“He was my doctor.”
Madeline looked at Brandon.
“Tell her what you found.”
Brandon looked away.
I felt sick.
“What did you find?”
He finally spoke.
“Your medical records showed an embryo transfer.”
I froze.
“What?”
“You were supposed to have an IVF procedure.”
I stared at him.
“I know.”
“The clinic said the procedure failed.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Brandon looked at me.
“But four months later, you were pregnant.”
I understood.
The accusation.
He believed Luke had been conceived through another man.
But I had never known an embryo transfer had occurred.
Because I had not been awake during the procedure.
I turned toward Madeline.
“You knew.”
May you like
She smiled.
“I knew enough.”
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