Chapter 8: The Truth About My Twins
I didn't speak for nearly a minute.
I simply stared at my name.
Holly Bennett.
It was printed beneath the embryo designation as though someone had already decided what would happen to my future.
Dr. Patel enlarged the document.
"This record needs independent verification.""
I shook my head.
"Why does it say the embryo was designated for me?""
Megan was crying silently.
I turned toward her.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"Don't lie.""
"I'm not.""
"Then explain why your eggs were used in Rebecca's treatment, why another embryo was transferred to Vanessa's facility, and why my name is on the record.""
Megan looked at the floor.
"I don't know.""
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked at Dr. Patel.
"Can someone use my name to claim an embryo?""
"Not lawfully without proper authorization.""
"Then why did they do it?""
Dr. Patel studied the document.
"I suspect someone wanted to establish you as the intended beneficiary of the stored embryo. But we need the original contract to understand the arrangement.""
I remembered my father's letter.
Your consent was always supposed to come first.
He had known something.
He had anticipated that someone might try to take control.
I reached for the photograph of my father.
"Was he trying to protect me from Wes?""
Dr. Patel nodded slowly.
"I believe so.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Perhaps he feared you wouldn't believe him.""
I looked at Megan.
She wiped her eyes.
"He tried to tell you once.""
I frowned.
"When?""
"At his house. A few months before he died.""
I remembered that evening.
I had gone to visit him after another unsuccessful treatment.
He'd made tea.
He'd sat with me in the kitchen.
He had asked whether Wes was still treating me well.
I'd laughed and told him not to worry.
Then he'd taken my hand and said, "Holly, sometimes the people who promise to build a future with you are the ones you need to watch most carefully.""
I'd become upset.
I'd told him he was being unfair.
I'd defended Wes.
My father had gone quiet.
Now I understood the sadness in his eyes.
"Why didn't he try again?"" I whispered.
Megan shook her head.
"He didn't want to destroy your marriage without proof.""
I looked at her.
"And you?""
She lowered her head.
"I was afraid of losing Wes's friendship.""
I stared.
"Friendship?""
She nodded.
"He helped me when I was struggling financially. He paid some of my bills. He told me I was important to the family.""
I felt something twist inside me.
"He used you.""
"I know.""
"He used my father.""
"I know.""
"And you helped him use me.""
Megan covered her face.
"I know.""
I turned away.
A nurse came in to check the twins.
She looked at the room full of documents and stopped.
"Is everything okay?""
I forced a smile.
"Yes. We're just discussing some paperwork.""
She checked Lily's temperature.
Then she lifted Emma carefully.
"Your girls are doing beautifully.""
I looked at them.
They were perfect.
No laboratory report could change the way they curled their fingers around mine.
No secret could erase the months I had carried them.
I reached out and touched Emma's cheek.
"You're safe," I whispered.
The nurse smiled.
"They seem to know your voice already.""
I nearly cried.
After she left, Dr. Patel made a phone call to the hospital's legal department.
She explained the records, the unauthorized transfers, and the possible misuse of my medical identity.
Then she turned toward me.
"Holly, there's something else I need to explain.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"The genetic results Wes received were not reliable.""
I frowned.
"Because the labels were switched?""
"Yes. The sample attributed to Wes was actually associated with another identification number. The laboratory later discovered the discrepancy.""
"Then why did he believe the twins weren't his?""
"Someone sent him an incomplete report.""
I stared.
"Who?""
"We're trying to identify the sender.""
I looked at Megan.
She shook her head.
"I didn't send it.""
I believed her this time.
Or at least, I wanted to.
Dr. Patel continued.
"The hospital has requested a fresh, properly documented paternity test. We can also arrange genetic testing to establish the relationship between you and the girls if you wish.""
I looked at my daughters.
"Will it change anything?""
"No," she said gently.
"It will only establish biological relationships. It won't change your legal rights or the fact that you carried and delivered them.""
I nodded.
"Then I want the tests.""
Dr. Patel wrote something down.
"All right.""
My phone rang.
Wes.
I stared at the screen.
For a moment, I considered ignoring him.
Then I answered.
"What?""
"Holly, I need you to stop.""
I looked at the documents.
"Stop what?""
"Digging through records.""
I laughed.
"You forged my signature.""
"I didn't forge anything.""
"The clinic has the access logs.""
He went quiet.
Then he said, "You don't know what your father agreed to.""
"Then show me.""
"I've told you already.""
"No. You've told me what you want me to believe.""
He sighed.
"Vanessa has the original contract.""
"Why does she have it?""
"Because she was helping me.""
"Helping you steal an embryo?""
His voice sharpened.
"Don't use words you don't understand.""
I looked at Dr. Patel.
She was listening.
I continued.
"Did you know Megan donated eggs to Rebecca?""
Silence.
Then Wes said, "Who told you?""
I closed my eyes.
"That's not an answer.""
"Rebecca needed help. Megan volunteered.""
"Did you tell me?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because it had nothing to do with you.""
I laughed.
"Nothing to do with me? My sister donated eggs to the woman you had a child with while I was trying to become pregnant.""
He exhaled.
"Holly, Rebecca's situation was complicated.""
"Everything in your life is complicated.""
"Listen. I need you to understand that I didn't abandon the girls.""
"You left the hospital.""
"I needed to protect them.""
"From what?""
He lowered his voice.
"From the truth.""
I stared at the phone.
"What truth?""
He paused.
Then he said, "The twins are not the only children connected to this family.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"Ask Megan about the third embryo.""
I turned toward my sister.
She looked frightened.
"Wes, what did you do?""
He ignored me.
"Vanessa is going to tell you everything soon enough.""
"Tell me what?""
He hung up.
I lowered the phone.
Megan looked as though she might faint.
"What?"" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Holly, I swear I don't know.""
"Then why did he mention the third embryo?""
She pressed her lips together.
"I thought it had been destroyed.""
"Why?""
"Because Rebecca told Dad it was no longer viable.""
I stared.
"Did you ever see a destruction certificate?""
"No.""
"Did you sign one?""
"No.""
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"Can you find out whether that embryo still exists?""
She nodded.
"We've already requested the storage facility's records.""
"How long?""
"Today, if they cooperate.""
I looked at the clock.
It was nearly five.
I had been in the hospital for more than a day.
I should have been sleeping.
I should have been recovering.
Instead, I was uncovering a secret that seemed to grow larger every time someone opened a folder.
Then my phone vibrated.
An email.
The sender was Northbridge Reproductive Storage.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: BENEFICIARY VERIFICATION REQUIRED.*
I opened it.
There was a scanned document attached.
The message said the facility had received a legal inquiry concerning an embryo stored under my name.
They needed confirmation of my identity before proceeding with a scheduled medical consultation.
I looked at Dr. Patel.
"What consultation?""
She read the email.
Her expression changed.
"There shouldn't be one.""
I scrolled down.
The appointment was scheduled for the following morning.
The requesting party was Vanessa Cole.
The intended patient was listed as Holly Bennett.
I felt sick.
"Why would Vanessa schedule an appointment for me?""
Dr. Patel shook her head.
"She had no authority to do that.""
I opened the attachment.
It was a consent form.
My name appeared at the bottom.
The signature looked exactly like mine.
But I had never signed it.
There was a handwritten note beneath the signature.
*Beneficiary has been informed of the genetic implications and agrees to proceed.*
I stared.
"Genetic implications?""
Dr. Patel took the document.
Then she looked at the medical reference number.
"Holly, this is not a routine storage release.""
"What is it?""
She hesitated.
"It's a request for an embryo transfer consultation.""
My mouth went dry.
"Someone is trying to arrange a pregnancy using an embryo under my name?""
Dr. Patel nodded.
"That's what this appears to be.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"Who would do that?""
Before she could answer, a notification appeared.
A video message.
From Vanessa.
I opened it.
She was sitting in a bright room, wearing a white blouse.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Hello, Holly. I know you're probably angry. But I think it's time you understood why Wes left.""
She paused.
Then she smiled.
"Your husband didn't leave because he stopped loving you.""
I felt my fingers tighten around the phone.
"He left because he discovered that the children you gave birth to weren't the children he had been promised.""
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa leaned closer.
"And there's another reason.""
She reached beside her.
Then she lifted a framed photograph.
It showed a little girl with dark hair.
The same girl from the photograph outside the hospital.
Sophie.
Vanessa continued.
"Your father made a promise to Wes. A promise involving all three children.""
I swallowed.
"What promise?""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"He promised that when you finally became pregnant, Wes would be allowed to have the family he had always wanted.""
The video ended.
I sat frozen.
Then Dr. Patel took the phone from my hand.
"Don't watch that again.""
I looked at her.
"Is she lying?""
Dr. Patel studied the screen.
"I don't know.""
I shook my head.
"Then what do I do?""
She placed the phone on the table.
"We find the original agreement.""
I looked at the document.
My name.
My forged signature.
The embryo transfer request.
And suddenly I remembered something.
My father had always kept his important documents in a small red box.
When he died, Megan had helped our mother sort through his belongings.
I had asked where the box was.
She'd told me it had been empty.
I turned toward her.
"Megan.""
She looked up.
"What?""
"Where is Dad's red document box?""
Her face changed.
May you like
For a second, she looked terrified.
Then she whispered, "Wes has it.""
