Chapter 11: The Doctor's Second Patient
"You're not authorized to enter this room.""
Agent Collins stepped between the doctor and my bed.
Dr. Richard Vale stopped smiling.
"Agent, I'm her attending physician.""
"No, you're not.""
He glanced at the nurse.
"Could you give us a moment?""
The nurse looked confused.
Agent Collins raised her hand.
"Nobody leaves this room.""
Emily moved beside me.
I recognized Dr. Vale immediately.
He had examined me twice during my pregnancy. He'd been the one who assured me that everything was progressing normally.
He'd even attended the private dinner Victor organized for Daniel's birthday.
I remembered him raising a glass.
"To the next generation of Ashfords.""
At the time, I'd thought it was a harmless toast.
Now I wondered what he'd known.
"Doctor," I said, "why did you sign my pregnancy records?""
He adjusted his glasses.
"Because I am a licensed physician.""
"Did you falsify them?""
His expression hardened.
"That's an offensive accusation.""
Agent Collins placed a document on the counter.
"This is a copy of Celeste Morgan's medical file. It contains a paternity certification signed by you.""
Dr. Vale glanced at it.
"That's confidential medical information.""
"Not when it's evidence in an active federal investigation.""
He said nothing.
Agent Collins continued.
"We also found a payment of $85,000 from Silvergate Holdings to your private medical practice.""
Dr. Vale looked toward the door.
Two officers were standing outside.
"That was a consulting fee.""
"For what?""
"Medical advisory services.""
"What services?""
He straightened his tie.
"I won't answer questions without my attorney.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"That's your right.""
Then she held up another document.
"But perhaps you'll explain why your signature appears on a medical report dated three weeks before Sarah Bennett's pregnancy was confirmed.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Dr. Vale looked at me.
"Your pregnancy was confirmed at the appropriate time.""
"Then why is there a report from before that?""
He didn't answer.
Emily leaned forward.
"Did you know about the trust?""
The doctor's eyes flickered.
That was enough.
Agent Collins stepped closer.
"Dr. Vale, were you involved in the original inheritance arrangement?""
He exhaled.
"Victor hired me to oversee the medical requirements.""
"What requirements?""
"The family trust included a biological verification clause.""
I felt sick.
"Explain.""
"Any child born into the designated bloodline had to undergo genetic testing.""
"Why?""
"To establish eligibility.""
I looked down at my stomach.
"You've been planning to test my baby?""
"That was part of the agreement.""
"And you never told me?""
He remained silent.
Agent Collins opened another folder.
"There's a second issue. Celeste Morgan's pregnancy records indicate that her estimated conception date doesn't match the dates she provided.""
Emily frowned.
"So Daniel wasn't the father.""
Dr. Vale looked uncomfortable.
"I cannot discuss another patient's medical information.""
Agent Collins held up a document.
"Then perhaps you can explain this.""
It was a laboratory report.
The result showed that the alleged pregnancy confirmation had been generated using a patient number belonging to another woman.
I stared.
"Was Celeste ever pregnant?""
Dr. Vale swallowed.
"She was pregnant.""
"With Daniel's child?""
He didn't answer.
Agent Collins spoke firmly.
"Doctor.""
He finally looked at me.
"The pregnancy was real. The paternity report was not.""
Emily covered her mouth.
I closed my eyes.
Daniel had been deceived.
But he had still chosen to humiliate his pregnant wife.
The truth didn't make him innocent.
Agent Collins continued.
"Who was the biological father?""
Dr. Vale hesitated.
"I don't know.""
"Who ordered the false paternity report?""
He looked toward the door.
Then he said quietly:
"Victor.""
The room fell silent.
"Why?"" I asked.
"Because he wanted Daniel to believe the baby was his.""
"Why would that matter?""
Dr. Vale looked at me.
"Victor believed Daniel would only cooperate with the trust arrangement if he thought he was securing his own heir.""
I felt a wave of nausea.
"So Celeste was part of a plan to manipulate Daniel?""
"Yes.""
Emily shook her head.
"Then who was the baby's father?""
The doctor lowered his eyes.
"Victor's private records contain the answer.""
Agent Collins immediately took out her phone.
"Where are those records?""
"At the Ashford estate.""
"Where?""
"In a locked archive beneath the east wing.""
I looked at Emily.
The nursery.
The hidden compartment.
The private medical facility.
Everything led back to that part of the mansion.
Agent Collins called her team.
"Get a search warrant for the underground archive. Secure every medical record.""
Dr. Vale suddenly spoke.
"There's something else you need to know.""
Agent Collins turned.
"What?""
He looked at me.
"Victor didn't just want to control the trust.""
"Then what did he want?""
"He wanted a male descendant whose DNA could be used to challenge the original ownership agreement.""
I frowned.
"That makes no sense.""
Dr. Vale hesitated.
"The agreement was written before the current company structure existed. There is a clause allowing the founding family's male descendants to contest any transfer made without their consent.""
Agent Collins studied him.
"You're saying Victor intended to use Sarah's child to challenge the trust?""
"Yes.""
I looked at my stomach.
My baby wasn't supposed to be an heir.
He was supposed to be a weapon.
The doctor lowered his voice.
"And if the child is born before the trust is activated, Victor can attempt to claim the company through him.""
Emily gripped my hand.
"Then Sarah needs to stay away from the mansion.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"Agreed.""
But before she could continue, my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
"Why are you calling?""
His voice was frantic.
"Sarah, you need to listen. Dad has been released.""
Agent Collins immediately looked up.
"What?""
Daniel continued.
"He gave the investigators something. A statement about the original ownership records.""
"Why would they release him?""
"I don't know.""
"Daniel, where are you?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"At the mansion.""
I closed my eyes.
"Get out.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because Celeste is here.""
My stomach tightened.
"She's supposed to be in custody.""
"She's not alone.""
A crash sounded through the phone.
Then Daniel shouted.
"Sarah, there's someone else in the nursery!""
The call disconnected.
Agent Collins grabbed her radio.
"What someone?""
Before anyone could answer, the hospital lights flickered.
The nurse looked toward the ceiling.
Then the emergency lights came on.
A security alarm sounded somewhere down the corridor.
Agent Collins turned toward the officers.
"Lock down this floor.""
I heard hurried footsteps outside.
Then a man's voice shouted:
"Federal agents! Nobody move!""
Emily squeezed my hand.
"Sarah, what's happening?""
I looked toward the door.
And then I saw the nurse who had brought Dr. Vale into my room.
She was standing in the hallway.
May you like
But she wasn't wearing her hospital identification badge anymore.
She was holding a photograph of my unborn child.
