Chapter 5: The Photograph From the Fertility Clinic
I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
It showed me standing outside the fertility clinic, holding a folder against my chest.
I remembered that day.
It had been one of the worst appointments of my life.
Another failed embryo transfer.
Another doctor telling me we needed to discuss our options.
But the photograph had been taken from across the parking lot.
Someone had been watching me.
"Wes," I whispered.
"Who took this?""
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"That's not important.""
"Who took it?""
"Someone who was trying to protect our family.""
Claire stepped forward.
"You've been following your own wife?""
Wes looked irritated.
"Stay out of this, Claire.""
"She's lying in a hospital bed after major surgery. You abandoned her, and now you're showing her surveillance photographs?""
"That's enough.""
I looked at him.
"Why did you say there's something about my pregnancy I don't know?""
He hesitated.
Then he looked at the babies.
"Your pregnancy changed everything.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"Before you got pregnant, I thought we had more time.""
"More time for what?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"To figure out how to handle the inheritance.""
I shook my head.
"That money belongs to the girls.""
"Yes. And my mother understands how important that is.""
"Your mother?""
He nodded.
"She has experience managing investments. She knows how to protect the estate.""
"Then why did you have to make me look mentally unstable?""
Wes didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I pushed the photograph away.
"Get out.""
"Holly—"
"Get out of my room.""
He stared at me for a moment.
Then he leaned toward the bassinet.
"At least let me see my daughters.""
I watched him look at Emma and Lily.
He didn't touch them.
He didn't kiss their foreheads.
He simply stood there, staring as if they were two expensive objects he had finally received.
"Beautiful girls," he murmured.
Then he turned toward me.
"Please think about the arrangement. My mother can take care of them while you recover.""
I stared at him.
"They're not going anywhere.""
His expression hardened.
"Don't make this difficult.""
Claire moved toward the door.
"Security will be happy to help you leave.""
Wes looked at me one last time.
"You're making a mistake.""
Then he walked out.
The door clicked shut.
I started crying.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I finally understood that the man I'd spent ten years loving had become someone I didn't recognize.
Claire sat beside me.
"He's hiding something.""
"I know.""
"Something bigger than the money.""
I nodded.
I picked up the photograph and examined the back.
There was a small handwritten note.
Subject observed entering clinic. Confirmed appointment. Report to MB.
MB.
Margaret Bennett.
I handed it to Claire.
She took a picture of it.
"We're keeping everything.""
A few minutes later, Daniel called again.
I told him about Wes's visit and the photograph.
He became unusually quiet.
"Holly, I need you to answer something honestly.""
"Okay.""
"Did you and Wes ever use an anonymous sperm donor during your fertility treatments?""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Did the clinic ever discuss donor conception?""
"Yes, but we never used a donor. Wes insisted we use his samples.""
"Are you absolutely certain?""
"Of course. I was there for every appointment.""
Daniel sighed.
"Then we need to investigate something.""
My hands tightened around the phone.
"What?""
"I found a payment made to the fertility clinic from an account connected to Margaret.""
I stared at Claire.
"What payment?""
"Thirty-five thousand dollars. It was made shortly before your final successful treatment.""
My mouth went dry.
"Why would Margaret pay my fertility clinic?""
"I don't know. But the payment description refers to a laboratory procedure.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense. Wes paid for the final treatment.""
"Did you see the invoice?""
I tried to remember.
Wes had handled most of the paperwork. He'd told me he had everything organized and that I should focus on staying healthy.
"No," I whispered.
"Then we need those records.""
After the call ended, Claire paced the room.
"Thirty-five thousand dollars. An anonymous payment. Surveillance photographs.""
She stopped.
"Holly, what if they changed something during the treatment?""
I felt sick.
"No. They wouldn't.""
"Maybe not. But we need answers.""
I looked at my daughters.
They were sleeping peacefully.
Emma's little mouth moved as if she were dreaming.
Lily had one hand curled beside her cheek.
I kissed each of their foreheads.
Whatever the truth was, it wouldn't change that they were mine.
The next morning, Daniel arrived at the hospital carrying a leather briefcase.
He looked exhausted.
"I've been reviewing the trust documents all night.""
He placed several papers on the table.
"I also contacted the fertility clinic's records department.""
"Did they give you anything?""
"Not yet. They need the appropriate authorization.""
I frowned.
"Can't I request my own medical records?""
"Absolutely. We'll handle that.""
He opened the briefcase.
"First, I want you to see this.""
It was a letter written by Richard Bennett.
The handwriting was uneven, but the words were clear.
To my first grandchild,
If you are reading this, then I have finally become a grandfather. I hope your mother is holding you close. I hope your father has learned that love is not ownership, and that money should never become more important than family.
I stopped reading.
Daniel waited.
I continued.
I created this trust because I know my son. Wesley has always believed that being entitled to something is the same as deserving it. I want you to have opportunities he never understood.
But there is one person I want you to meet before anyone makes decisions about your future.
Her name is Evelyn Carter.
I looked up.
"Who is Evelyn Carter?""
Daniel turned to the final page.
"She was your father-in-law's business partner. She was also appointed as the independent representative of the trust.""
"Where is she?""
"That's the interesting part.""
He pulled out another document.
"She filed a notice with the trust administrator yesterday.""
My heart began pounding.
"What did it say?""
Daniel turned the page toward me.
It was a formal request for an emergency review of the inheritance arrangement.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Evelyn Carter.
And beside it was a handwritten message.
*I have been waiting ten years for these children. Please tell Holly I need to speak with her immediately.*
I stared at the words.
"Why would she be waiting for my children?""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Because Richard suspected his son would eventually try to take control of the inheritance.""
I swallowed.
"Did he tell Evelyn something?""
Daniel nodded.
"Apparently, he left her a second letter. One that wasn't included in the trust documents.""
Before I could ask anything else, my phone rang.
An unfamiliar woman spoke when I answered.
"Is this Holly Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Evelyn Carter. I believe your father-in-law wanted us to meet.""
"Why?""
Her voice trembled.
"Because I know what happened to the embryos at your fertility clinic.""
I stopped breathing.
"What?""
She continued.
"And I know why Margaret paid that thirty-five thousand dollars.""
May you like
Then she said the words that made my entire body go cold.
"Holly, the babies you gave birth to may be the only reason your husband agreed to marry you in the first place.""
