Chapter 3: The Secret That Connected Three People
I stared at the document.
Donor specimen authorization.
The words seemed to move across the page.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Marcus.
Finally, I looked at Vanessa.
"What does this mean?""
Nobody answered immediately.
The silence was unbearable.
Marcus was the first to move.
He snatched the paper from the table.
"That's confidential medical information.""
Daniel stood his ground.
"Then you shouldn't have used it to deceive everyone.""
Marcus crumpled the corner of the document.
"You're finished, Daniel.""
"Perhaps. But I'm not the one who forged his wife's signature.""
I looked between them.
"Someone explain what I'm looking at.""
Daniel took a slow breath.
"Six months ago, Marcus approached me with a proposal.""
"What kind of proposal?""
"He wanted me to provide a sperm donation.""
My fingers went cold.
I stared at him.
"Why?""
Daniel glanced at Marcus.
"Because Marcus knew his condition made natural conception extremely unlikely. He wanted Vanessa to become pregnant, but he didn't want anyone questioning the child's paternity.""
I felt sick.
"So you agreed?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I initially refused.""
Marcus laughed.
"That's not what happened.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"You threatened to expose private information about me unless I helped.""
"What private information?""
Daniel ignored the question.
"Eventually, I agreed to meet with a fertility specialist. The clinic explained the legal and medical process. Nothing was supposed to happen without proper consent and documentation.""
I looked at the authorization form.
"Did you donate sperm?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to shrink.
I lowered myself into the nearest chair.
Marcus began pacing.
"This is none of Nia's business.""
I looked up at him.
"None of my business?""
My voice was quiet.
He stopped.
"You brought a pregnant woman into our home and announced that the baby was yours. You let me believe I was the reason we couldn't have children. You used my name on financial documents. And now you're telling me that your business partner donated sperm to help you have a child with your mistress?""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"You're twisting everything.""
Daniel interrupted.
"There's more.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
Of course there was.
There was always more.
Daniel removed another document from the folder.
This one was a consent agreement.
It listed the intended parents, the donor, and the clinic.
But one signature was missing.
Vanessa's.
I looked at her.
"Why isn't your signature here?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because I never went through with the clinic procedure.""
Marcus stopped pacing.
"Vanessa.""
She looked at him.
"You told me everything was arranged.""
"It was.""
"No, it wasn't!""
Daniel turned toward me.
"Vanessa was supposed to undergo treatment using the donor specimen. But before the procedure could be completed, she disappeared for several weeks.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Where did you go?""
She hesitated.
"Marcus told me to travel.""
"Where?""
"Chicago.""
Daniel shook his head.
"She wasn't in Chicago.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Careful.""
Vanessa looked down.
"I was staying with my sister in Atlanta.""
"Why?""
She swallowed.
"Because I found out Marcus had been lying to both of us.""
I looked at Marcus.
"What did she find out?""
Vanessa began to cry harder.
"He told me he was going to divorce you. He said the house was already being transferred and that we'd start a new life together once the baby arrived.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That's not what I said.""
"You showed me photographs of apartments! You told me we were going to move!""
He stepped toward her.
"Keep your voice down.""
She stood straighter.
"No. I'm tired of being told to keep quiet.""
For the first time, I saw something other than fear in her expression.
Anger.
Real anger.
She continued.
"After I found out about the financial problems, I called Daniel. He told me Marcus had been using money from the company to pay my expenses. He also told me that the fertility procedure had never been completed.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Then how did she become pregnant?""
Daniel's expression changed.
He glanced toward the documents.
"That's what I've been trying to establish.""
Marcus immediately answered.
"She's pregnant. That's all that matters.""
"No," Daniel said.
"It matters very much.""
He took out another sheet.
"This is the date of the first positive pregnancy test.""
I read it.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"That's almost three months ago.""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Daniel placed a second document beside it.
It was a laboratory report.
A date.
A specimen reference.
And a patient identification number.
I leaned closer.
"What is this?""
"An independent paternity investigation," Daniel explained.
"Vanessa agreed to testing after she realized Marcus was making claims about the baby's biological father.""
Marcus went rigid.
"You had a paternity test?""
Vanessa nodded.
"You wouldn't stop telling people the baby was yours.""
Marcus stared at her.
"How could you do that without telling me?""
She gave a bitter laugh.
"You had no problem lying to me.""
I looked at the report.
The results section was partially covered by Daniel's hand.
"What's the result?""
Daniel hesitated.
"There's a problem with the sample identification.""
"What does that mean?""
"It means the laboratory couldn't establish a reliable match between the specimen submitted and the reference sample provided by Marcus.""
I looked at Marcus.
He had gone pale again.
Daniel continued.
"The testing company requested a second collection. Marcus refused.""
"Why?""
Marcus slammed his fist against the table.
"Because I don't have to prove anything to you!""
I stood.
"Then why are you so afraid of a test?""
He looked at me.
For a moment, the old Marcus appeared.
The charming man who used to bring me coffee in bed.
The man who kissed my forehead before leaving for work.
The man who promised we would grow old together.
But that man had been hiding behind lies for years.
"I didn't want to hurt you," he said.
I shook my head.
"Don't insult me with that excuse.""
He stepped closer.
"Nia, we can talk about this privately.""
"No.""
"You're my wife.""
"That title didn't seem to matter when you brought Vanessa here.""
His face hardened.
"You're emotional. You're not thinking clearly.""
I looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm thinking more clearly than I have in nine years.""
I reached for my phone.
Marcus noticed.
"What are you doing?""
"Calling my attorney.""
He laughed.
"Your attorney?""
"Yes.""
"You think you can afford a divorce?""
I stared at him.
Then I smiled for the first time that afternoon.
"Marcus, I think you should be more worried about the documents Daniel brought.""
His expression changed.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Why did you bring all this here today?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Because I received a message this morning.""
"From whom?""
He pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Someone who has access to Marcus's financial records.""
He placed the phone on the table.
A message was displayed on the screen.
*If Nia finds out about the second account, Marcus will lose everything. Make sure she never sees the transfer records.*
I read it twice.
"Second account?""
Daniel nodded.
"An account Marcus opened using a company connected to your name.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What kind of money is in it?""
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Approximately $2.4 million.""
Marcus lunged for the phone.
Daniel pulled it away.
"Don't.""
I stared at my husband.
Two-point-four million dollars.
My name.
A forged signature.
A pregnant mistress.
A donor arrangement.
It was becoming clear that Vanessa wasn't the only person Marcus had been using.
But then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then another message appeared.
**Mrs. Bennett, my name is Dr. Helen Carter.
I was involved in your husband's original fertility investigation. I need to speak with you urgently. There is something missing from the medical records you received.**
I looked at the screen.
My heart began pounding.
I typed a reply.
What is missing?
The response came almost immediately.
*The original report was not the most important one. Your husband requested that we withhold a second result. And that result changes everything.*
I looked up.
Marcus was watching me.
For the first time that afternoon, he wasn't angry.
He was terrified.
Then another message arrived.
*Please don't confront him until you've seen the original sample identification. The second report contains a name you will recognize.*
I slowly lowered my phone.
"Marcus?""
He swallowed.
"What?""
I held his gaze.
"Whose name was on the second report?""
His lips parted.
But before he could answer, Daniel looked at the message on my screen.
His face turned completely white.
May you like
And he whispered:
"That's impossible. That sample was supposed to have been destroyed.""
