Chapter 8: The Man Who Raised My Sons
James walked into the mansion carrying the twins' stuffed bears.
He wore a navy sweater, dark jeans, and the same slightly crooked smile that had made me fall in love with him.
Ethan immediately ran toward him.
"DADDY!""
James crouched and caught him in his arms.
"There's my little man.""
Noah followed.
"Did you bring Bear-Bear?""
James held up the second stuffed animal.
"Would I ever forget?""
The boys giggled.
I watched James kiss both their foreheads before looking at me.
His smile faded when he noticed my expression.
"Sarah, what happened?""
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I looked toward Daniel.
He was staring at James as though someone had just taken something away from him.
James followed my gaze.
"Who's that?""
"My ex-husband.""
James nodded once.
"Ah.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"So you're James?""
"Yes.""
"Their father?""
James looked down at the twins.
"I'm their dad.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"I meant biologically.""
James didn't react.
"Then you'll have to ask Sarah about that.""
Daniel turned toward me.
"You never told me you remarried.""
"We've been divorced for four years, Daniel. I don't owe you updates about my life.""
Patricia gave a bitter laugh.
"Well, isn't this convenient? Sarah comes here with another man's children and expects us to applaud.""
James gently placed Noah on the floor.
"Ma'am, I don't know what happened before I arrived, but I would appreciate it if you stopped speaking about my wife that way.""
Patricia looked him up and down.
"Your wife?""
"Yes.""
"Do you even know what she did to my son?""
James glanced at me.
"I know enough to understand why she deserves better.""
The room became quiet.
Vanessa watched us from the sofa.
Her makeup had begun to run, and her hands were trembling.
James noticed her.
"Are you okay?""
She shook her head.
"Not really.""
I sat beside her.
"Vanessa, I'm sorry you had to discover everything this way.""
She stared at me.
"Did you know any of this before today?""
"No. I only discovered the forged consent documents after the clinic reviewed my records.""
She nodded slowly.
Then she looked at Daniel.
"You knew Sarah's medical results were normal.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa, we've already discussed this.""
"No. We haven't. You blamed her for something you knew wasn't her fault. Then you married me and told me a completely different story.""
He stepped closer.
"I wanted a fresh start.""
"With the truth?""
He didn't answer.
James placed a hand gently on my shoulder.
I knew that gesture.
It meant he was there, but he wasn't going to speak for me.
I stood.
"Daniel, I want you to understand something. I didn't bring my children here to prove anything to you.""
He looked at Ethan and Noah.
"Then why did you come?""
I considered the question.
"Because I refused to let your invitation make me feel ashamed of my life.""
For a moment, he looked genuinely confused.
I continued.
"Four years ago, I thought losing you meant losing my chance at happiness. I thought every negative pregnancy test was proof that I had failed as a woman. I believed your mother when she said I wasn't enough.""
Patricia crossed her arms.
"Oh, here we go.""
I ignored her.
"But I wasn't broken. I wasn't defective. I was married to a man who needed someone else to carry the blame for his own problems.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
James took my hand.
"And then I met someone who never measured my worth by whether I could give him children.""
Daniel looked at James.
"Did you know she had fertility problems?""
James answered without hesitation.
"I knew she'd been through a painful marriage. I also knew I wanted a life with her, whether we had children or not.""
The words made my throat tighten.
James continued.
"When Sarah told me she was pregnant with twins, I cried harder than she did.""
Ethan looked up.
"Daddy, you cried?""
James laughed.
"Like a baby, buddy.""
The boys giggled.
For the first time that afternoon, I felt completely at peace.
Then Vanessa spoke.
"James, can I ask you something?""
"Of course.""
"If you discovered that the child you were expecting wasn't genetically related to you, would you still love that child?""
James looked at her.
"Absolutely.""
"Even if the pregnancy came from something dishonest?""
He paused.
"That would be something the adults would need to deal with. The child wouldn't be responsible for any of it.""
Vanessa began crying.
I reached for her hand.
She squeezed mine.
"That's what I needed to hear.""
Daniel looked between us.
"Vanessa, don't let these people turn you against me.""
She slowly stood.
"Daniel, I don't need anyone to turn me against you. You've done that yourself.""
She picked up her purse.
Patricia rushed toward her.
"You cannot leave! You're carrying this family's baby!""
Vanessa looked at her.
"I'm carrying a baby. Not your family legacy.""
She walked toward the door.
Daniel followed.
"Vanessa, please. We can fix this.""
She stopped and turned around.
"Can we?""
He nodded desperately.
"Yes.""
"Then tell me the truth about the embryos. All of it. And tell me why you were so determined to hide the medical records.""
Daniel opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, Emily's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Then her expression changed.
"That's impossible.""
I frowned.
"What happened?""
Emily lowered her phone.
"The clinic just confirmed that the third embryo was never destroyed or discarded.""
Daniel stared at her.
"Where is it?""
Emily looked directly at him.
"Someone has already requested its transfer.""
Vanessa's face went white.
"Who?""
Emily turned the screen toward us.
The authorization request carried a familiar name.
Patricia Mitchell.
But beneath it was another name.
May you like
The intended recipient was not Vanessa.
It was Sarah Mitchell.
