Chapter 7: The Secret Behind Ellie's Birth
I didn't drive straight to the hospital.
Nathan had told me not to bring Ellie.
That meant someone had access to information about our daughter that I didn't understand. And until I knew who that person was, I wasn't taking another risk.
"Rachel, take Ellie upstairs," I said.
Rachel looked at me.
"Claire, what's happening?""
"Someone is threatening my daughter.""
Her expression hardened.
"Then Ellie stays with me.""
I turned to Mark.
"Can you contact the police and tell them about Robert and the messages?""
"I'm already doing that.""
I took Ellie's little black shoes from beside the front door.
They were the same shoes she had worn to her father's funeral.
A small tear ran through the leather near the left toe.
I held them for a moment.
Those shoes had carried her toward a coffin everyone believed contained a dead man.
And somehow, my little girl had been the only person who knew the truth.
"Mommy?""
Ellie stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Are we going to Daddy?""
I knelt.
"Not yet, sweetheart.""
"Is Daddy still sick?""
"Yes.""
She looked down.
"Did I make him better?""
I pulled her into my arms.
"You helped him, baby. More than you know.""
She rested her head against my shoulder.
"Can I tell him something?""
"Of course.""
"Tell him I saved his hand.""
I kissed her forehead.
"I will.""
Rachel took her upstairs.
I waited until I heard the bedroom door close before calling the hospital.
Dr. Miller answered.
"Mrs. Harper?""
"I need to speak to Nathan.""
"He's awake, but he's still very weak.""
"I know. He told me not to bring Ellie.""
There was a pause.
"Then I think you should come alone.""
"Doctor, what's happening?""
"Your husband has made a serious allegation.""
"Against whom?""
"Someone he says has been visiting him for months.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"He hasn't given us a name.""
I closed my eyes.
"Is Margaret there?""
"No. Security removed her earlier.""
"Daniel?""
Another pause.
"Dr. Price was here approximately twenty minutes ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"Was he alone with Nathan?""
"He requested a private consultation.""
"Did you let him?""
Dr. Miller lowered her voice.
"Mrs. Harper, I need you to come here.""
I grabbed my keys.
When I arrived at St. Mary's, two police officers were standing outside Nathan's room.
One of them recognized me.
"Mrs. Harper?""
"Yes.""
"I'm Detective Samuel Carter. We've been trying to contact you.""
I looked through the glass.
Nathan was awake.
His eyes were open, but he looked exhausted.
"What happened?""
Detective Carter glanced at his colleague.
"Your husband says someone tampered with his medication.""
"Who?""
"He believes it was Dr. Daniel Price.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Where is Daniel now?""
"He's being questioned.""
I stepped toward the door.
"Can I see Nathan?""
"Five minutes. We'll remain outside.""
I entered.
Nathan turned his head.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached for my hand.
"Claire.""
I leaned over him.
"Oh, Nathan.""
He squeezed my fingers.
"I'm sorry.""
I began crying.
"Don't you dare apologize.""
His eyes filled.
"I thought I would never see you again.""
I pressed my forehead against his.
"Ellie found you.""
He closed his eyes.
"I know.""
"She climbed into your coffin. She held your hand until you moved.""
A tear rolled down his cheek.
"My brave little girl.""
"She wants to see you.""
Nathan's expression changed.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
He looked toward the door.
"Because I don't know who can be trusted.""
I sat beside him.
"Then tell me what happened.""
He took a shallow breath.
"Margaret wasn't working alone.""
"I know. Robert said Daniel was involved.""
Nathan shook his head.
"Daniel was the person who gave them access to the medical program. But he wasn't the one making the decisions.""
"Who was?""
Nathan looked directly into my eyes.
"Someone who knew everything about our family.""
My fingers tightened around his.
"Who?""
He swallowed.
"Your sister.""
I stared at him.
"My sister?""
"Victoria.""
I pulled back.
"That's impossible.""
Victoria was my younger sister.
She lived in Chicago and worked as an event planner. She had been at our wedding. She had held Ellie minutes after she was born.
She had cried when Nathan proposed.
She had called me every Sunday.
"Victoria had nothing to do with your company.""
"She wasn't involved in the business.""
"Then why?""
Nathan looked exhausted.
"Because she knew something about Ellie.""
I shook my head.
"Stop. What are you saying?""
Nathan closed his eyes.
"Claire, do you remember the night Ellie was born?""
"Of course.""
"You were in labor for nearly twenty hours.""
I nodded.
"You were bleeding. The doctors were worried. I was terrified.""
I remembered.
I remembered the bright hospital lights, the nurses rushing around, and Nathan holding my hand while I struggled to breathe through the contractions.
"What does that have to do with Victoria?""
Nathan stared at the ceiling.
"She was there.""
"She came after Ellie was born.""
"No.""
His voice cracked.
"She was there before.""
I frowned.
"She arrived at the hospital around midnight.""
Nathan shook his head.
"Claire, she was with us before the ambulance arrived.""
I felt a strange pressure in my chest.
I remembered that night differently.
I remembered being in pain.
I remembered Nathan leaving the room briefly to speak to a doctor.
I remembered hearing a woman crying in the hallway.
But I had been given medication.
I had been exhausted.
And there were parts of that night I couldn't clearly recall.
Nathan continued.
"Victoria had been staying with us. She told me she was having problems with her boyfriend.""
"Yes.""
"She was pregnant.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She went into labor that same night.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"You're saying Victoria had a baby?""
Nathan nodded.
"But the baby didn't survive.""
I covered my mouth.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she was terrified. She had no insurance, no stable relationship, and no one she trusted.""
I looked at him.
"Why are you telling me this?""
Nathan's eyes filled with tears.
"Because our daughter wasn't the only baby born that night.""
I couldn't move.
He reached for my hand.
"Claire, there was a mix-up at the hospital.""
I whispered, "No.""
"The nurses were overwhelmed. Two newborn girls were moved between rooms during an emergency. One of the babies was transferred to intensive care.""
"No.""
Nathan began crying.
"I found out three years ago.""
I stood.
"You're telling me Ellie isn't my biological daughter?""
Nathan shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"That's why I was investigating. I found irregularities in the hospital records. Someone had changed the original birth documentation.""
My voice rose.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know what was true.""
"You let me raise a child for four years without telling me there was a possibility—"
"She's our daughter, Claire!""
His voice was weak, but the emotion behind it was unmistakable.
"Biology doesn't change what she means to us.""
I began shaking.
"Then why would Victoria be involved?""
Nathan looked at me.
"Because she discovered the same records. And Margaret found out.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"Victoria approached Margaret. She told her that Ellie might be her biological daughter.""
I stepped backward.
"Why would she do that?""
Nathan's eyes darkened.
"Because she wanted money.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Victoria threatened to expose the hospital records unless Margaret paid her.""
"And Margaret?""
"She agreed.""
A terrible realization began forming.
"Then why did you become involved?""
"Because I found evidence that the hospital records had been deliberately altered.""
He gripped my hand.
"Claire, the person who changed those records wasn't a nurse.""
"Who?""
Nathan opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, the hospital room door swung open.
Detective Carter rushed inside.
"Mr. Harper, we need you to listen carefully.""
Nathan looked alarmed.
"What happened?""
The detective held up his phone.
"We just received confirmation from Chicago.""
I stood.
"What confirmation?""
He looked at me.
"Your sister Victoria Harper has been reported missing.""
Then he turned the screen toward Nathan.
"And her car was found abandoned outside Northbridge Neurological Institute.""
Nathan went completely still.
"She's here," he whispered.
I looked at him.
"Who?""
May you like
He squeezed my hand.
"The other person who knows what happened to our daughters.""
