Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I didn’t touch the envelope.
Not immediately.
Because something inside me was screaming that once I opened it, nothing would ever be the same.
Claire watched me carefully.
Ethan looked nervous.
That alone told me this was important.
“You knew about this?”” I asked Ethan.
He looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer hurt more than I expected.
“You had this for three years?””
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
I grabbed the envelope.
“You don’t get to decide what I can handle.””
I opened it.
Inside were copies of hospital documents.
Medical records.
A letter.
And a photograph.
My fingers froze when I saw the picture.
Two newborn babies.
Side by side.
I looked up.
“What is this?””
Claire’s expression softened for the first time.
“My daughter was born two hours before Ava.””
I looked back at the photo.
The babies looked almost identical.
Same tiny fingers.
Same hospital blankets.
Same room.
My throat tightened.
“No.””
Claire stepped closer.
“The hospital made an error.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Is this true?””
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
His eyes filled with guilt.
“Part of it is.””
I felt anger rising.
“Part of it?””
Claire spoke quietly.
“The hospital mixed up information during an emergency situation.””
I shook my head.
“But Ava is my daughter.””
“Yes.””
Claire’s answer surprised me.
“She is.””
I stared at her.
“Then what are you saying?””
She looked down.
“My daughter was not switched with Ava.””
A strange silence filled the room.
I blinked.
“Then why are you here?””
Claire looked at Ethan.
“Tell her.””
He didn’t move.
“Tell her what happened.””
I looked between them.
“What are you both hiding?””
Ethan finally spoke.
“When Claire’s daughter died, the hospital investigated.””
“And?””
“They found missing records.””
My heart sank.
“Missing?””
“Yes.””
Claire walked toward the table.
“Someone removed information from the file.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she looked at Ethan.
That was enough.
My face went cold.
“Ethan.””
He closed his eyes.
“I didn’t do it.””
“Then why does she keep looking at you?””
He stayed silent.
Claire answered.
“Because he knows who did.””
I stepped away from both of them.
My husband.
The woman he cheated with.
Both standing in my kitchen talking about a secret involving my daughter.
I felt like I was trapped in someone else’s nightmare.
“Who?””
Ethan finally whispered:
“Melissa.””
The name hit me again.
My former best friend.
The person I trusted more than anyone before everything changed.
“No.””
Claire looked at me.
“She was there that night.””
I shook my head.
“She was my friend.””
“Exactly.””
I stared at Claire.
“What does that mean?””
She took a deep breath.
“It means she had access.””
“Access to what?””
“The hospital records.””
My hands started trembling.
“Why would Melissa do that?””
Nobody answered.
Because none of them knew.
Or because they knew too much.
Then my phone buzzed.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
One message.
My blood turned cold.
*Stop digging into Ava’s birth. You already lost one friend because of the truth. Don’t lose your family too.*
I showed them the screen.
Ethan immediately stood.
“Lauren, you need to leave.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
His face changed.
Because he recognized something.
“What?””
He whispered:
“That number…”
“What about it?””
May you like
He stared at the phone.
“That’s Melissa’s old number.””
