Chapter 10: The Babies They Tried to Steal
The hospital receptionist repeated the name.
"Mrs. Parker, the patient was registered as Amelia Reed.""
Victoria dropped her phone.
Robert closed his eyes.
Margaret began sobbing.
And Daniel took a step backward.
I looked around the garden.
"Who is Amelia Reed?""
Nobody answered.
I turned toward Robert.
"You know her?""
He nodded slowly.
"Amelia was Marcus Reed's wife.""
Victoria shook her head.
"No. Marcus told me she died three years ago.""
Robert looked at her.
"She disappeared three years ago. That isn't the same thing.""
I felt a cold wave move through me.
"Why is her name connected to my pregnancy?""
The hospital employee was still on the line.
"Mrs. Parker, we have a physician who would like to speak with you. There are discrepancies in the records, and we believe you should come in as soon as possible.""
I agreed.
Then I hung up.
Rachel immediately stepped forward.
"I'm taking you.""
I nodded.
But before we could leave, Robert raised his hand.
"Wait.""
He looked at Daniel.
"Tell them.""
Daniel shook his head.
"There's nothing to tell.""
Robert's voice hardened.
"Amelia was the original donor.""
Margaret gasped.
I looked at him.
"What?""
Robert continued.
"Three years ago, Amelia and Marcus were undergoing fertility treatment. They created several embryos. One was frozen after their treatment was interrupted.""
Ethan frowned.
"Why would that have anything to do with Claire?""
"Because Marcus had access to the clinic records.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at the ground.
Robert continued.
"Marcus discovered that Daniel had been secretly arranging fertility procedures. He offered him access to the stored embryos in exchange for a share of Parker Holdings.""
My stomach tightened.
"So the embryo wasn't created from Margaret's egg?""
Robert shook his head.
"No. The document was altered to make it appear that way.""
I looked at the report again.
The donor code.
The initials.
The forged signatures.
Everything had been part of a larger scheme.
But there was one question I couldn't ignore.
"Why would Marcus want to give me Amelia's embryo?""
Robert looked at Daniel.
"Because Daniel wanted a child who would inherit the Parker fortune.""
Ethan shook his head.
"That makes no sense. Daniel already had an embryo created with Claire's egg.""
Robert nodded.
"Yes. But he was worried that the marriage wouldn't survive. He wanted a backup plan.""
I stared at my husband.
"You were planning my pregnancy like a business transaction?""
Daniel looked at me.
"I wanted a family.""
"No. You wanted control.""
He lowered his head.
Robert continued.
"Marcus arranged for the embryos to be transferred under false identities. Victoria was used to impersonate Claire. The clinic records were changed. And when Amelia discovered what had happened, she confronted Marcus.""
Victoria whispered, "What happened to her?""
Robert looked toward the entrance.
"She disappeared shortly afterward.""
The garden fell silent.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Did you know?""
He nodded.
"Marcus told me she'd gone away.""
"Did you believe him?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Ethan stepped closer.
"Did you help him?""
Daniel finally looked up.
"I didn't hurt her.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"I helped him move the records.""
My mother began crying again.
I closed my eyes.
The man I'd married had been involved in a conspiracy involving stolen identities, stolen embryos, forged medical records, and a missing woman.
And he had done it all while sleeping with my twin sister.
I looked at Rachel.
"Let's go.""
But before we could move, Victoria grabbed my hand.
"Claire, wait.""
I pulled away.
"What?""
She was crying.
"I need you to know something.""
I stared at her.
"Not another secret.""
"This one is different.""
She pressed a hand against her stomach.
"When Marcus told me I was pregnant, I believed he loved me. I believed he wanted a family.""
Her voice broke.
"But when I found out he was still married to Amelia, I tried to leave.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you call me?""
"Because I was ashamed.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Then I found out Daniel had been using my identity. I realized he was going to blame everything on me.""
I said nothing.
Victoria continued.
"That's why I came to your baby shower. I wasn't only trying to expose Daniel. I wanted someone to know what Marcus had done.""
I stared at her.
"You could have told me privately.""
"I know.""
"You could have told me before you became involved with my husband.""
She nodded.
"I know.""
For a moment, we stood facing each other.
Two identical women.
One carrying a baby.
The other carrying another.
Both trapped in a family built on lies.
Then Victoria whispered, "I'm sorry.""
I looked at her stomach.
I thought about the child inside her.
A child who had done nothing wrong.
And I finally understood that protecting my baby didn't require me to hate hers.
"I don't know if I can forgive you," I said.
She nodded.
"But I won't punish your child for what you did.""
Victoria broke down.
I turned away before I changed my mind.
At the hospital, a doctor named Dr. Bennett met us in a private consultation room.
He placed three files on the table.
"Mrs. Parker, I understand this has been a very difficult day.""
"Just tell me what's happening.""
He opened the first file.
"Your current prenatal records were altered. However, we have recovered the original records from the fertility clinic.""
He explained that two embryos had been transferred under different patient identities.
One had been created using my eggs and Daniel's sperm.
The other had been created using a donor egg from Amelia Reed and Marcus's sperm.
The embryos had been transferred on separate dates.
But the clinic's administrative records had been deliberately manipulated.
I stared at him.
"So which embryo am I carrying?""
He opened the second file.
"Your current pregnancy is consistent with the embryo created from your own egg and Daniel's sperm.""
I felt my breath catch.
"Daniel's?""
He nodded.
"Yes. Based on the original genetic records, he is the biological father.""
I looked at Rachel.
She squeezed my hand.
I began crying.
Not because Daniel deserved another chance.
Not because I wanted our marriage back.
But because after weeks of uncertainty, I finally knew the truth about my baby.
Then the doctor continued.
"Your sister's pregnancy is more complicated.""
I looked up.
"Why?""
"The embryo transferred to her was created from Amelia Reed's egg and Marcus Reed's sperm. It is biologically unrelated to you.""
I frowned.
"Then the test saying the baby belonged to Robert Parker?""
"Fabricated.""
I closed my eyes.
Another lie.
Another attempt to control our lives.
Dr. Bennett placed the final file on the table.
"There is one more matter.""
I looked at him.
"Please.""
He showed me a genetic comparison.
"Your husband and his twin brother are identical twins. Their genetic profiles are extremely similar, which can make ordinary paternity testing difficult. However, the original embryo records establish the biological source of your pregnancy.""
I nodded.
Then I noticed another name.
Amelia Reed.
"What happened to her?""
The doctor's expression changed.
"We received a call from a woman claiming to be Amelia Reed. She says she has been trying to correct these records for three years.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where is she?""
"She is downstairs.""
I looked at Rachel.
Then at the doctor.
"Bring her in.""
A few minutes later, the door opened.
A woman entered.
She was in her late thirties, with tired eyes and a pale face.
She carried a folder against her chest.
She looked directly at me.
"Claire?""
I nodded.
"I'm Amelia.""
I couldn't find the words.
She sat down.
Then she placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a younger Amelia holding a newborn baby.
I stared at the photograph.
"Is that your child?""
She nodded.
"My daughter.""
I looked at the baby.
Then at Amelia.
"What happened to her?""
Amelia began crying.
"Marcus told me she died.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
"He said she had a medical emergency after birth. He showed me documents. A death certificate. A hospital report.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"But three months ago, I received a message from someone at the clinic. They told me the records were false.""
I stared at her.
"Where is your daughter now?""
Amelia looked directly at me.
"That's why I'm here.""
She opened her folder.
Inside were photographs, medical records, and a birth certificate.
The child's name was listed as Lily Reed.
But the adoption paperwork showed something else.
A different surname.
Parker.
I felt my heart stop.
"Why is your daughter's surname Parker?""
Amelia looked toward the door.
Then she whispered:
"Because Robert Parker adopted her.""
I stared at the photograph.
Robert had been dead for three years.
But the paperwork showed that the adoption had been completed shortly before his disappearance.
I looked at Amelia.
"Where is she now?""
Amelia took a trembling breath.
"She's alive.""
Then she placed another photograph on the table.
It showed a young woman standing outside a university building.
Dark hair.
Hazel eyes.
A tiny scar above her left eyebrow.
My stomach dropped.
She looked exactly like me.
And exactly like Victoria.
Amelia looked between us.
"Your father-in-law didn't just fake his death to investigate the company.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What else did he do?""
Amelia leaned closer.
"He knew your family had been hiding a child for years. And he knew that one day, that child would come looking for her biological mother.""
I stared at the photograph.
Then I saw the date.
The photograph had been taken only two weeks earlier.
Amelia's voice trembled.
"She's been asking questions about her birth. She knows about Victoria. She knows about you.""
I looked at the door.
"What's her name?""
Amelia swallowed.
"Lily.""
Then she added:
"And she believes one of you stole her life.""
Three days later, Daniel was taken into custody for questioning over the forged medical records and financial transfers.
Marcus was located through the evidence Robert had provided.
Margaret agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
Ethan helped secure the Parker company accounts and arranged independent legal representation for me.
Victoria moved into a separate apartment while she prepared for the birth of her baby.
And I filed for divorce.
Daniel called me once.
I answered because I wanted to hear what he would say.
"Claire, I know I've made mistakes.""
I stood in the nursery, folding tiny white clothes.
"Mistakes?""
"I still love you.""
I looked at the crib.
At the little blanket Margaret had knitted.
At the ultrasound photograph on the shelf.
"Daniel, you didn't accidentally betray me. You planned it.""
He began crying.
"Can we start again?""
I closed my eyes.
"No.""
"Please.""
"Our baby deserves a father who tells the truth.""
"I can be that man.""
"Then prove it by respecting my decision.""
I ended the call.
For the first time in months, I felt no need to look at my phone again.
Six weeks later, my daughter was born.
I named her Grace.
She had Daniel's dark hair and my hazel eyes.
When the nurse placed her against my chest, I cried so hard I could barely speak.
Rachel stood beside me.
"She's beautiful.""
I kissed Grace's forehead.
"Yes, she is.""
Ethan visited the following morning.
He brought flowers and a small silver bracelet.
"Congratulations, Claire.""
"Thank you.""
He looked at Grace.
"She looks like you.""
I smiled.
"Let's hope she gets my stubbornness too.""
He laughed.
Then his expression became serious.
"Robert wants to see you.""
I looked up.
"Why?""
"He says there's something he needs to give you.""
I sighed.
"Another envelope?""
Ethan smiled sadly.
"Unfortunately.""
That afternoon, Robert arrived.
He placed a small wooden box beside my bed.
Inside was a letter addressed to me.
The handwriting belonged to his late wife.
I opened it carefully.
The letter explained that years earlier, Margaret had given birth to a daughter before marrying Robert.
That daughter had been adopted.
And that Robert had spent years searching for her.
But the final paragraph made my hands tremble.
If you are reading this, then Lily has finally found her way back to our family. Please don't let the mistakes of the adults become the inheritance of the children.
I looked at Robert.
"Why did you adopt her?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Because I knew she deserved a family.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I was afraid the truth would destroy everything.""
I looked down at Grace.
"Secrets destroyed everything anyway.""
Robert nodded.
"You're right.""
Then he placed one final photograph beside the letter.
It showed Lily standing with Amelia.
But there was someone else in the background.
A man.
I recognized him immediately.
Marcus.
Except he was holding a little girl by the hand.
And the date printed on the photograph was yesterday.
I looked at Robert.
"Where did you get this?""
His expression changed.
"From the investigator.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Marcus has another child?""
Robert nodded.
"And there's something else.""
He leaned closer.
"That little girl isn't Amelia's daughter.""
My heart began racing.
"Then whose child is she?""
Robert looked at Grace.
Then at me.
"She's Victoria's first daughter.""
I froze.
The daughter Victoria had believed she'd lost years ago.
The little girl who had supposedly died before she could even be held.
She was alive.
And Marcus had known where she was all along.
I looked at the photograph again.
There was a handwritten note on the back.
*Lily is not the only one who deserves to know the truth.*
I looked at Robert.
"Where is Victoria?""
He glanced toward the hospital door.
"She's on her way here.""
And just as he said it, my phone lit up.
A message from my sister appeared.
*Claire, don't let Robert tell you what to do with my daughter.*
A second message followed.
*Because the little girl in that photograph isn't the only child Marcus took from me.*
I looked at Grace sleeping peacefully in my arms.
Then at the photograph.
And I realized that although my marriage was over, the truth about our family was only beginning.
May you like
Because somewhere out there, another child was waiting for her mother.
And this time, I wasn't going to let anyone steal her identity.
