Chapter 6: The Truth About the Twins
I didn't answer immediately.
I couldn't.
Evelyn Carter's words kept repeating in my head.
The babies you gave birth to may be the only reason your husband agreed to marry you in the first place.
I looked at Claire.
She had heard every word.
"Who are you?"" I finally whispered.
"My name is Evelyn Carter. I worked with Richard Bennett for twenty-three years.""
"How do you know about my marriage?""
"Because Richard asked me to investigate something before he died.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Investigate what?""
"Wesley.""
Daniel stood beside the bed, listening carefully.
Evelyn continued.
"Your father-in-law loved his son, Holly. But he didn't trust him with money. He believed Wesley had become increasingly obsessed with the inheritance.""
"Why?""
"Because Wesley had accumulated considerable debt.""
I blinked.
"What debt?""
"Business loans. Private loans. Several failed investments. Richard discovered that his son had been borrowing money against assets he didn't own.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
I could see him writing something down.
Evelyn continued.
"When Richard realized Wesley was in serious financial trouble, he created the trust. He wanted to ensure that his grandchildren would receive the inheritance directly.""
"But why would Wes marry me for that?""
"Because your father-in-law believed Wesley would eventually try to produce an heir and gain influence over the trust.""
I shook my head.
"That's insane. We wanted children because we loved each other.""
Evelyn was silent for a moment.
Then she said, "Holly, I don't want to hurt you unnecessarily. But I have evidence that Wesley began discussing the inheritance with his mother long before your first fertility treatment.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"How long?""
"Eleven years ago.""
My marriage had lasted ten years.
I stared at the wall.
"You're telling me he knew about this before we even got married?""
"Yes.""
Claire took the phone from my hand.
"Then why didn't Richard tell Holly?""
Evelyn answered calmly.
"Because Richard was trying to gather enough evidence to prove that Wesley intended to manipulate the trust. He didn't want to accuse his son without proof.""
"What happened?""
"Richard died before he could finish.""
I took the phone back.
"What does this have to do with the fertility clinic?""
Evelyn exhaled.
"That's why I need you to authorize the release of your treatment records. I believe Margaret arranged a payment to the clinic to influence the final treatment.""
My stomach tightened.
"Influence it how?""
"I don't know yet. But I have a copy of a message sent by Margaret to a clinic administrator.""
"What message?""
"She asked whether the embryos could be transferred without informing the patient of a change in the laboratory records.""
I stared at the phone.
The room seemed to disappear around me.
"Change what records?""
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"That's what we need to establish.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Mrs. Carter, do you have the message?""
"Yes. I'll send it to you.""
A notification appeared on my phone.
It was a screenshot of an email.
The sender was Margaret Bennett.
The recipient was someone named Dr. Alan Foster.
The subject line read:
*Final Embryo Transfer — Confidential*
I opened it.
Dr. Foster,
Please confirm that the final transfer will proceed according to our previous discussion. Wesley must not become aware of the additional laboratory documentation until the trust arrangements are complete.
The financial transfer has been made as agreed.
Margaret.
I read it again.
Then again.
My hands began trembling.
"What does this mean?""
Daniel studied the screenshot.
"It means we need the clinic's original records. This email alone doesn't establish what happened.""
Claire looked furious.
"They paid someone to change something during her treatment.""
"We don't know that yet," Daniel replied.
I turned toward him.
"Then find out.""
He nodded.
"I will.""
Later that afternoon, I completed the medical records authorization.
The hospital social worker also visited to explain the custody situation.
Her name was Denise.
She sat beside my bed and listened while I explained the paperwork Margaret had brought.
When I finished, she opened her folder.
"Holly, I want you to understand something. Your mother-in-law cannot simply take your children because she has a document signed by your husband.""
"Even if he says I'm unstable?""
"An allegation isn't proof. We will document your current condition, your recovery, and your ability to care for the babies. Any custody dispute must be handled through the appropriate legal process.""
I felt my shoulders relax slightly.
"Can she come back?""
"She can request a visit, but you can tell the hospital staff if you don't want her in your room.""
"Please don't let her near the girls without me.""
Denise wrote it down.
"I'll make sure your preference is documented.""
For the first time in two days, I felt someone was listening.
That evening, I received a call from Wes.
I almost rejected it.
Then I answered.
"What do you want?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Holly, we need to talk.""
"We've talked enough.""
"Have you been speaking to Evelyn Carter?""
I froze.
"How do you know her?""
He laughed bitterly.
"Because my father trusted her more than he trusted me.""
"Did you know about the email your mother sent to the fertility clinic?""
Silence.
Then:
"What email?""
I couldn't tell whether he was lying.
"Don't play games with me, Wes.""
"I'm not.""
"Why did your mother pay the clinic thirty-five thousand dollars?""
His breathing changed.
"Holly, listen. Whatever you think you know, it's not what happened.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
He didn't answer.
I looked at Emma and Lily.
"Did you know about the inheritance before we got married?""
Another silence.
Then he said, "My father had a trust. Yes.""
"Did you marry me because you wanted a child?""
His voice became defensive.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Answer me.""
"Holly, I loved you.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He sighed.
"Do you know what it was like watching you spend ten years trying to get pregnant? Do you know what it did to me?""
I felt something break inside my chest.
"I was the one taking injections. I was the one having surgeries. I was the one crying in bathrooms.""
"And I was the one paying for everything!""
I stared at the phone.
There it was.
The resentment he'd hidden for ten years.
"Is that why you left?""
"No. I left because things have become impossible.""
"Because I found out about the money?""
"Because you don't understand what you're risking.""
I lowered my voice.
"What am I risking?""
He hesitated.
Then he said something that made my skin crawl.
"Your daughters' future.""
I looked at them.
"They're my daughters too.""
"Then stop letting other people interfere.""
"Your mother wants to take them.""
"She wants to protect them.""
"From me?""
Wes said nothing.
Then his voice softened.
"Holly, sign the temporary arrangement. Let Mom help. We'll figure everything else out later.""
I closed my eyes.
"No.""
"Holly—"
"No. You abandoned me while I was unconscious. You signed papers behind my back.
You accused me of being unstable. And now you want me to sign away control of my own children?""
"You're making this personal.""
I almost laughed.
"It's my marriage and my children. How could it not be personal?""
He hung up.
I sat quietly for several minutes.
Then a message arrived from Daniel.
*The clinic has responded. They located the original laboratory records. There is a discrepancy involving the final embryo transfer.*
My hands went cold.
Another message appeared.
*The clinic also confirmed that Margaret Bennett requested access to your treatment file.*
Then my phone rang again.
This time, it was Evelyn.
"Holly, I need you to listen carefully.""
"What happened?""
"I've just spoken with the former laboratory director.""
"And?""
Her voice shook.
"The embryo transfer you were told was unsuccessful during your previous treatment may not have been unsuccessful at all.""
I sat up.
"What?""
Evelyn continued.
"According to the records, one embryo was transferred during that cycle. But the clinic's billing system shows that the procedure was canceled.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Why would they cancel it?""
"Because someone instructed them to change the records.""
"Who?""
Evelyn paused.
Then she gave me a name.
"Margaret Bennett.""
I stared at the wall.
For ten years, I'd believed my body had failed me.
I'd cried over negative tests.
I'd blamed myself for every unsuccessful treatment.
I'd apologized to Wes for not being able to give him a family.
And now someone was telling me that one of those failures might have been manufactured.
"Was I pregnant?"" I whispered.
Evelyn took a breath.
"The former director believes the embryo may have implanted.""
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
"But I never had a positive test.""
"That's the problem, Holly.""
"What problem?""
"The records show that a medication was administered after the procedure that could have interrupted an early pregnancy.""
My entire body went numb.
Then Evelyn said the sentence that changed everything.
"And according to the original laboratory file, the embryo transferred during that cycle was genetically connected to Wesley.""
I looked at Emma and Lily.
May you like
Then I heard Evelyn's final words.
"Your husband may have known you were pregnant once before—and he may know exactly what happened to that baby.""
