Chapter 11: The Backup Family
The room felt smaller.
I stared at Robert.
"Insurance?""
He nodded.
"That's the word she used.""
Rebecca opened her laptop.
"Can you explain exactly what she requested?""
Robert looked uncomfortable.
"Patricia wanted three embryos created. She said Daniel and his wife were desperate for a child, and she wanted additional options available.""
"But I was Daniel's wife," I said.
"Why would she need another option?""
Robert looked at the documents.
"She believed you might eventually discover the fertility results. She wanted an embryo available that could be transferred to another woman if your marriage ended.""
James's jaw tightened.
"So Patricia planned Vanessa's pregnancy before Daniel even divorced Sarah?""
Robert nodded.
"According to the payment records, yes.""
I felt nauseated.
For years, Patricia had told everyone I was the obstacle standing between Daniel and fatherhood.
But she had been preparing to replace me long before the divorce papers arrived.
Rebecca turned her laptop toward us.
"There is something else. The third embryo wasn't created simply as a backup.""
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed a handwritten instruction attached to the laboratory file.
Preserve the third embryo for Emily.
I frowned.
"Emily Reeves?""
Robert nodded.
"Patricia told me that Emily had expressed an interest in having a child using her father's preserved genetic material.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Why would Emily want that?""
Robert shook his head.
"She didn't. At least, not according to the records I reviewed later.""
James leaned back.
"So Patricia created an embryo using her late husband's genetic material and intended to transfer it to his daughter?""
Robert nodded reluctantly.
Rebecca looked horrified.
"That would have required explicit informed consent and extensive legal and medical review. It was never authorized.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The third embryo.
The one Patricia had recently attempted to transfer using my identity.
Suddenly, another possibility occurred to me.
"Why did Patricia want the embryo transferred into my name?""
Robert looked down.
"She may have believed you would be easier to manipulate than Emily.""
James stood.
"That's enough. We need to take these records to the authorities.""
Robert nodded.
"I've already agreed to provide a formal statement.""
I gathered the copies.
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me.
"Did Daniel know Patricia was planning all this?""
Robert hesitated.
"Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"He knew about the third embryo?""
"Yes.""
"He knew about Emily?""
Robert nodded again.
"And he knew Patricia wanted to keep the arrangement secret.""
I closed the folder.
There was nothing left to ask.
Daniel hadn't been an innocent man manipulated by an overbearing mother.
He had participated.
He had helped create the deception, and Patricia had helped him maintain it.
That evening, Vanessa called.
I almost didn't answer.
But something in her voice made me pick up.
"Sarah?""
"Yes?""
"I'm at the hospital.""
I stood immediately.
"What's wrong?""
"Nothing serious. The doctor wanted to check the baby after I experienced some cramping. Everything seems stable.""
I exhaled.
"Thank goodness.""
There was a long pause.
Then Vanessa said, "Daniel came to see me.""
"What happened?""
"He brought flowers. He apologized. He said his mother made all the decisions about the embryos.""
I shook my head.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
"Did you tell him?""
"Yes. I asked him about the payment records.""
I froze.
"How did you find out?""
"Emily sent me copies.""
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"He told me he never knew Michael's sample had been used. Then I showed him the signed instruction.""
"What did he say?""
"He said Robert forged it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, Robert has agreed to testify.""
"I know. But that's not why I'm calling.""
"What is it?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Daniel told me something else.""
I waited.
"He said that after you divorced him, he discovered you were pregnant.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"He claimed he saw a medical notice from your new clinic. He said he knew about the twins before they were born.""
I sat down slowly.
"That's impossible. He never contacted me.""
Vanessa continued.
"He said he wanted to reach out, but Patricia convinced him that you had moved on and that contacting you would create problems.""
I remembered the first ultrasound.
The first time I heard two heartbeats.
The day James held my hand while I cried with happiness.
Daniel had known.
He had known I was finally going to become a mother.
And he had still chosen to remain silent.
Vanessa whispered, "Sarah, there's more.""
"What?""
"He told me he had someone follow you after the divorce.""
My blood ran cold.
"Why?""
"He wanted to know whether you were pregnant with his children.""
I gripped the phone.
"Vanessa, my boys aren't his.""
"I know. But Sarah, he didn't believe that.""
I heard her begin crying.
"He told me he has photographs of you leaving the fertility clinic with James. He said he always suspected you had lied about the twins' father.""
I stared at the wall.
Then Vanessa said something that changed everything.
"He also told me he has been keeping those photographs because he planned to use them in court.""
I felt James's hand settle on my shoulder.
"What court?"" I asked.
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
"Daniel wants to challenge your children's birth records.""
