Chapter 14 - The Pregnancy That Started Everything|
Ethan asked me to give him one hour before I made any decisions about him.
I gave him thirty minutes.
We sat in a private conference room at the hospital, with Detective Ruiz listening from the other side of the glass. Ethan looked as though he had aged ten years since the accident.
“Eight months ago,” he began, “Richard told me someone was trying to gain access to the family trust through a false heir claim.”
“Your response was to start an affair?”
“No. My response was to investigate the clinic.”
“Then explain Vanessa.”
He looked down.
“I met her before I understood what Richard was doing. I was attracted to her. I told myself my marriage was already damaged because we had stopped talking about having children after the miscarriage.”
“That doesn't excuse what you did.”
“I know.”
“Did you tell her you were separated?”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt more than another lie would have.
He continued.
“After she became pregnant, I learned that Richard had arranged the introduction through Victor Hale. I suspected the pregnancy was part of a plan to create a rival heir. I should have told you immediately. Instead, I tried to keep both of you close while I figured out who was manipulating the situation.”
“You thought you could control the truth by controlling the women involved.”
His silence was enough.
“Did you know Vanessa was being threatened?”
“Not at first. When I found out, I moved her to a protected apartment. I was taking her to meet Marcus when the crash happened.”
“And the baby?”
Ethan's expression softened.
“If the child is mine, I will take responsibility. But I won't use the baby to claim power or hurt you.”
I wanted to believe that was true. I also knew that love could make a person overlook evidence.
Detective Ruiz entered with a new report.
The paternity test in the stolen medical file had been performed using samples that did not match the identities listed. Someone had submitted a sample under Ethan's name and another under Vanessa's, but the laboratory could not confirm whether either sample belonged to them.
“The result was manipulated,” Ruiz said. “Someone wanted Ethan to believe the baby was his—or wanted the family to believe it wasn't.”
“Who had access?” I asked.
“Richard, Victor, and two clinic administrators. One administrator has vanished. The other is dead.”
Ethan stood slowly.
“Richard isn't just trying to take the trust. He's creating a succession crisis.”
My phone rang.
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“Claire, I got a letter from the clinic. It says the baby may have a rare genetic condition, and I need to undergo another test.”
“Don't go there.”
“They say it's urgent.”
“Send me the letter.”
She did.
The clinic's address was printed at the bottom.
May you like
It was the same abandoned facility where my father had worked.
Someone was using our children to bring us all back to the place where the lies began.
