Chapter 1: The Baby Who Wasn’t Mine
“Are you absolutely sure this is your baby?””
I had heard those words before.
But not like this.
Not in a hospital room with my newborn daughter sleeping three feet away from me.
Not with two police officers standing at the door.
And definitely not while Luke’s name was still saved at the top of my phone.
My name is Emily Carter, and six weeks earlier, I thought the worst thing that had ever happened to me was losing my marriage.
I was wrong.
The hospital room was strangely tense.
June was asleep in the bassinet beside my bed, her tiny fists curled beneath her chin. The steady green light from the monitor painted the walls in soft pulses. My husband, Luke, stood beside me, pretending everything was normal.
He had one hand on my shoulder.
I couldn't feel it.
I was too busy staring at Nurse Jasmine.
She was holding her phone with both hands.
Her face had gone completely white.
“Jasmine?”” I whispered.
“What's wrong?””
She looked at June.
Then at me.
Then back at her screen.
“I need to verify something,” she said.
Luke's jaw tightened.
“Verify what?””
Jasmine didn't answer him.
She walked toward the bassinet.
“Emily, when did you first see the baby?””
“After delivery,” I said.
“Maybe twenty minutes later.””
“Was anyone else in the room?””
“Luke.””
His fingers suddenly slipped from my shoulder.
Jasmine noticed.
“Anyone else?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
She swallowed.
“Are you certain?””
Luke stepped forward.
“Why are you interrogating my wife?””
Jasmine finally looked at him.
“Because the identification bracelet on this baby doesn't match the electronic record.””
The room went silent.
I stared at the bassinet.
“What?””
Luke laughed nervously.
“That has to be a computer error.””
Jasmine shook her head.
“The bracelet says Carter, Emily. Baby Girl Carter.””
She turned her phone toward me.
“The hospital record says Baby Girl Rachel Bennett.””
My heart stopped.
“Rachel… Bennett?””
Luke's face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
He knew that name.
I pushed myself higher against the pillows.
“Luke?””
He didn't answer.
“Luke, do you know a Rachel Bennett?””
“No.””
Too fast.
Jasmine looked between us.
Before she could speak, the hospital door flew open.
A woman in a pink coat rushed inside.
Her hair was disheveled, and tears streaked her cheeks.
She pointed at June.
“That baby shouldn't be here!””
My blood ran cold.
“Who are you?””
The woman looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
“I'm Rachel.””
Luke took a step backward.
Rachel saw him.
Her expression collapsed.
“You.””
Luke whispered, “Rachel, you need to leave.””
I stared at him.
“You said you didn't know her.””
“I don't.””
Rachel let out a broken laugh.
“You're still lying.””
Two police officers appeared behind her.
One held up his badge.
“Emily Carter?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Detective Harris. We need everyone to remain calm.””
I couldn't stop staring at Luke.
“Why are the police here?””
Detective Harris glanced at Jasmine.
Then at Rachel.
Then at Luke.
“We received evidence concerning a newborn identification incident at this hospital.””
My hands began to shake.
“What evidence?””
Rachel stepped closer to the bassinet.
“My daughter was born yesterday.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Rachel pointed toward June.
“They told me she died.””
The words struck me harder than anything else.
I looked down at my sleeping baby.
Rachel covered her mouth.
“She didn't die.””
Luke suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Emily, don't listen to her.””
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
His eyes widened.
For the first time since I had met him, Luke looked afraid.
Detective Harris noticed.
“Mr. Carter, I'd like you to stay where you are.””
Luke's face hardened.
“This is ridiculous.””
Jasmine spoke quietly.
“It isn't.””
She opened a second screen on her phone.
“I checked the delivery records.””
She looked directly at me.
“Emily, your daughter's identification bracelet was printed at 3:14 a.m.””
My stomach twisted.
“So?””
“Your daughter wasn't born until 4:02.””
I stared at her.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“No,” Jasmine said.
“It doesn't.””
Rachel began crying.
“I knew something was wrong. I knew it.””
I looked at Luke.
He was staring at the floor.
“Luke.””
Nothing.
“Look at me.””
Slowly, he lifted his eyes.
And in that instant, I knew.
Whatever was happening in that room wasn't a mistake.
It had started long before June was born.
Detective Harris stepped toward him.
“Mr. Carter, we need to ask you about your involvement in the newborn records.””
Luke's face went pale.
Then his phone rang.
May you like
He looked at the screen.
And the caller's name was *Eli*.
