Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Hospital Records
I didn’t sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same things.
The baby photo.
The test results.
The message.
Emily.
A woman I had never heard of until yesterday had somehow been connected to the day I was born.
By sunrise, I was sitting in my car outside the hospital where I was born.
I didn’t know why I came there.
Maybe I thought the building would remember something.
Maybe I hoped the walls would tell me the truth.
Instead, all I found was a cold entrance and strangers walking past me.
I almost left.
Then I saw the old records department sign.
I walked inside.
The woman behind the desk looked up.
“Can I help you?””
“My name is Ethan Carter.””
She smiled politely.
“How can I help you?””
“I was born here eighteen years ago.””
She looked at me.
“Okay.””
“I need my birth records.””
Her expression changed slightly.
“That information is private.””
“I know.””
I pulled out my identification.
“My father is Daniel Carter.””
The second she heard the name, her face became serious.
“Wait here.””
She disappeared into the back.
A few minutes later, an older woman returned.
She wore a hospital badge.
Her name was written clearly.
Dr. Sarah Whitmore.
“I heard you’re looking for records from eighteen years ago.””
“Yes.””
She studied my face.
“You look like someone I used to know.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked to a filing cabinet.
“I shouldn’t be showing you this.””
She pulled out a folder.
“Why?””
“Because some people spent a lot of effort making sure this file disappeared.””
My hands went cold.
She opened it.
Inside were copies of documents.
Birth information.
Medical notes.
And one photograph.
The same photograph.
Emily holding me.
I looked at Dr. Whitmore.
“Who was she?””
The doctor sighed.
“Emily Parker.””
“What was her connection to me?””
Dr. Whitmore hesitated.
Then she said:
“She was the person who saved your life.””
I frowned.
“Saved my life?””
“When you were born, you had breathing complications.””
I listened carefully.
“Your mother was unconscious after surgery. Your father was outside waiting.””
“Daniel?””
She nodded.
“He was terrified.””
I looked at the documents.
“Where does Emily fit?””
Dr. Whitmore looked down.
“She was there when something happened.””
“What?””
The doctor closed the folder.
“Your grandfather came to the hospital.””
My stomach tightened.
“Of course he did.””
“He demanded to see you.””
“Why?””
“He said he had concerns about your safety.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Safety.””
The doctor looked uncomfortable.
“He convinced some staff members that Claire was unstable.””
My fists tightened.
“And you believed him?””
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
She looked directly at me.
“I didn’t.””
The room went quiet.
“Then why didn’t you stop him?””
Her face showed regret.
“Because I was young. I was afraid of losing my job.””
I looked away.
Another person who knew.
Another person who stayed silent.
“What happened next?””
She opened the file again.
“Emily discovered what your grandfather was planning.””
“What was he planning?””
“To remove you from Claire’s custody.””
My breath caught.
“Did he?””
The doctor nodded.
“But Emily tried to stop him.””
“How?””
“She copied documents. She recorded conversations.””
My eyes widened.
“She had proof?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
The doctor looked toward the hallway.
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“She disappeared shortly afterward.””
I froze.
“Disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Two days after your birth.””
I stared at the photograph.
The woman holding me had vanished because she tried to protect me.
My phone suddenly rang.
Claire.
I answered immediately.
“Ethan, you need to come here.””
Her voice sounded terrified.
“What happened?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“The person who sent us the documents wasn’t your grandfather’s lawyer.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who was it?””
Claire took a shaky breath.
“It was Emily.””
I looked at Dr. Whitmore.
Impossible.
Emily was gone.
Dead, according to my father.
“Claire…”
May you like
Her voice cracked.
“She’s alive.””
