Chapter 5: The Third Embryo
"Mom, what did you do?""
Daniel's voice was barely recognizable.
Patricia backed toward the fireplace.
"Nothing. I don't know what that report means.""
"Three embryos were created. Two used Michael's samples. What happened to the third?""
"I don't remember.""
"Don't lie to me!""
Vanessa suddenly gripped the edge of the sofa.
"Daniel, stop shouting.""
He turned toward her.
"I'm trying to understand what's happening!""
"So am I! I'm carrying a baby whose biological history nobody can explain!""
I moved my twins closer to the hallway.
They had been unusually quiet, watching the adults argue.
Ethan whispered, "Mommy, can we go now?""
I kissed his hair.
"Yes, sweetheart. We'll leave soon.""
But I couldn't walk away yet.
Not while Patricia was still hiding the truth.
I called Rebecca again and put her on speaker.
"Sarah," she answered, "are you with Daniel and Patricia?""
"Yes. We need you to explain the third embryo.""
There was a pause.
"Did you find the incident report?""
"Yes.""
"Then you need to understand that the clinic discovered an irregularity during the genetic screening process.""
Daniel stepped closer to the phone.
"What irregularity?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Mr. Mitchell, is that you?""
"Just answer the question.""
"The laboratory records show that the specimen used for the third embryo did not match the sample originally assigned to your treatment cycle.""
"Whose sample was it?""
"I can't disclose another patient's private medical information without proper authorization.""
Patricia interrupted.
"Rebecca, you need to stop. This is an internal matter.""
Rebecca's voice became sharper.
"Mrs. Mitchell, I have already reported the irregularities to the clinic's compliance department. I am no longer protecting anyone.""
A murmur spread through the room.
Daniel looked at his mother.
"You knew?""
Patricia shook her head frantically.
"I was trying to help you. That's all.""
Rebecca continued.
"There's another issue. The original authorization for the embryo transfer was signed by someone claiming to be Sarah Mitchell. However, the identification verification was completed using an expired document.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Who submitted it?""
Silence.
Then Rebecca said something that made the entire room turn toward Daniel.
"The person who collected the authorization packet was Daniel Mitchell.""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Daniel shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
"I have the collection receipt," Rebecca replied.
"Your signature is on it.""
Patricia suddenly stepped between Daniel and the phone.
"Enough! You don't understand what was happening back then.""
I stared at her.
"Then explain it.""
She looked around at the guests.
Her carefully planned baby shower had become a public interrogation.
Finally, she spoke.
"Daniel was desperate. He wanted a child. Vanessa wanted a child. I knew Michael had preserved samples, and I thought using them would solve everything.""
Daniel's face twisted.
"You told me those were anonymous donor samples!""
Patricia looked at him.
"I couldn't tell you the truth.""
"Why?""
"Because you would have refused!""
Vanessa let out a broken laugh.
"So you lied to everyone?""
Patricia reached for her.
"Vanessa, I did this because I wanted you to have a beautiful family.""
Vanessa stepped away.
"You didn't give me a family. You made decisions about my body and my child without telling me the truth.""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"I didn't know the samples came from Michael.""
I looked at him.
"But you knew the consent form wasn't signed by Sarah.""
He said nothing.
"Didn't you?""
His silence was answer enough.
I remembered the years I had spent sitting in clinic waiting rooms, clutching Daniel's hand while he promised we'd get through everything together.
I remembered the negative tests.
The injections.
The bills.
The nights he had turned away from me because I wasn't pregnant.
And now I knew that while I was blaming myself, he had been hiding the truth.
My voice was quiet.
"You made me believe I was broken.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Sarah...""
"You watched me cry over something you knew wasn't my fault.""
"I was ashamed.""
"Then you should have been ashamed of your actions, not my body.""
Ethan tugged my sleeve.
"Mommy, Daddy Daniel looks sad.""
Daniel heard him.
His expression softened.
"Hey, buddy. What's your name?""
Ethan hid behind my leg.
I immediately stepped between them.
"Don't.""
Daniel looked wounded.
"They're my children too, Sarah. We were married. We went through all those treatments together.""
I stared at him.
"They're not yours.""
His face hardened again.
"Then who is their father?""
Before I could answer, Rebecca spoke through the phone.
"Sarah, there's something important about the third embryo. The clinic's records indicate it was never transferred.""
"Where is it now?""
"It was transferred to another storage facility after the original clinic closed its embryology department.""
"Can you tell me whose name is on the storage agreement?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Yes. But I need you to understand something first.""
"What?""
"The storage agreement was renewed every year by the same person. And that person isn't Patricia.""
I looked at Daniel.
His eyes widened.
Rebecca continued.
"The account belongs to a woman named Emily Reeves.""
Patricia dropped into the nearest chair.
Daniel whispered, "Emily?""
Vanessa looked between them.
"Who is Emily Reeves?""
May you like
Daniel didn't answer.
I already suspected the answer was going to be worse than anything we had heard that afternoon.
