Chapter 8: The Doctor’s Secret
I couldn’t move.
The image on the officer’s phone burned into my mind.
Mark.
My husband.
Standing beside Dr. Harrison.
The doctor who had monitored my pregnancy for seven months.
The doctor who knew every detail about my baby.
Every appointment.
Every scan.
Every fear.
“No,” I whispered.
The officer looked at me.
“Do you know this person?””
I nodded slowly.
“He’s my doctor.””
Daniel’s expression changed instantly.
“Emily, when was this taken?””
The officer checked the file.
“Two weeks ago.””
Two weeks ago.
That was the day Mark suddenly became interested in my medical appointments.
The day he insisted on coming with me.
The day he asked the doctor strange questions.
Questions I thought were just a nervous father.
“How much longer?””
“Is everything developing normally?””
“Are there any complications?””
I remembered.
And now every memory felt different.
Mark wasn’t worried.
He was calculating.
“Where is Dr. Harrison now?”” Daniel asked.
The officer looked serious.
“We’re trying to contact him.””
Mark suddenly spoke.
“You’re all making assumptions.””
I turned toward him.
“How long?””
He frowned.
“What?””
“How long have you been planning this?””
His face hardened.
“You’re confused.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m finally understanding.””
For the first time, Mark looked uncertain.
The officer asked him to remain where he was.
Mark ignored him.
“Emily, think carefully.””
I stared at him.
“You’re trying to scare me.””
“I’m trying to protect you.””
I almost smiled.
“Everyone who hurts me says that.””
The words hit him.
Good.
Because for years, he made me feel like I was the problem.
Now I wanted him to feel what it was like to be powerless.
Daniel walked beside me.
“Claire, what else do you know?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“There’s something I never told you.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course there was.
“What?””
She looked at Mark.
“He wasn’t just after the inheritance.””
My heart sank.
“What else?””
Claire took a breath.
“Your baby’s DNA.””
Silence.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“When your parents created the trust, they added another protection.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“The heir had to be biologically connected to the Carter family.””
I stared.
“I don’t understand.””
Claire lowered her voice.
“Mark needed proof that the baby would carry Carter blood.””
My hands shook.
“You mean he wanted a child because of the inheritance.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Mark.
The man who had painted a nursery.
The man who picked baby names.
The man who kissed my stomach.
Every moment felt like a lie.
“How could you?””
My voice was barely audible.
Mark looked at me.
And for a second, I saw something almost human.
Regret.
Then it vanished.
“You think I had a choice?””
I stared at him.
“You always had a choice.””
He shook his head.
“You don’t know what happened.””
“Then tell me.””
He looked around.
At the officers.
At Daniel.
At Claire.
Then back at me.
“My father built that company.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Your father destroyed it.””
Mark’s eyes turned cold.
“My family lost everything because of yours.””
I froze.
“What?””
He stepped closer.
“You think I wanted your money?””
His voice became quieter.
“I wanted what your family took from mine.””
Daniel immediately moved.
“Don’t go near her.””
Mark stopped.
Then he smiled.
A terrible smile.
“Ask your brother.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Again?””
Mark nodded.
“Ask him what your father did to my family.””
Daniel’s face changed.
And I knew.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life hidden from me.
Before I could demand an answer, the officer’s radio crackled.
A voice came through.
“We found Dr. Harrison.””
Everyone turned.
The officer lifted his radio.
“Where?””
A pause.
Then:
“He’s unconscious.””
My heart dropped.
“Is he alive?””
The officer looked at me.
“Yes.””
A silence.
“But there’s something else.””
“What?””
The officer swallowed.
“He was found with documents about your baby.””
My hand covered my mouth.
“What kind of documents?””
The officer looked at Mark.
May you like
Then at me.
“Documents showing someone planned to take custody of your child.””
