Chapter 11: The Doctor Who Changed Our Lives
Arthur stared at the photograph for nearly a minute.
Then he sat down.
"That's not Adrian.""
I looked at him.
"Who is he?""
"Dr. Adrian Whitmore.""
"Your family doctor?""
Arthur nodded.
"He delivered the triplets.""
Margaret covered her mouth.
I turned toward her.
"Why did you tell us there were three children if this man isn't one of them?""
She shook her head.
"I didn't say he was one of them.""
"You said his name was Adrian.""
"I said the third child's name was Adrian.""
Arthur took the photograph.
"That's what Daniel believed. But he never confirmed it.""
Emily leaned over the table.
"Then who is the third child?""
Nobody answered.
I looked at the photograph again.
The doctor stood beside my mother, holding a clipboard.
Something about the image bothered me.
I studied his face.
Then I noticed a small scar near his left ear.
I had seen that scar before.
On the man who had entered my garage.
The man who had asked for the USB drive.
The man who had told me Daniel married me for a reason.
I looked at Arthur.
"The man who came to my house.""
He nodded.
"That was Dr. Whitmore.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would a doctor be involved in all this?""
Arthur took a breath.
"Because he was the person who arranged the original procedure.""
Margaret stood.
"I never wanted him involved.""
Arthur turned toward her.
"Margaret, stop protecting him.""
She looked at him.
"I was protecting Daniel.""
"By letting him grow up believing he had no brothers?""
"He would have been destroyed.""
"He's dead!""
Arthur's voice echoed through the room.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Emily picked up the photograph.
"Why is there a doctor with the same name as the missing baby?""
Arthur stared at the image.
"Because Dr. Whitmore named his son after himself.""
I frowned.
"His son?""
Arthur nodded.
"Twenty years ago, he told us he had lost a child during childbirth. He was never specific about what happened.""
Margaret's face went pale.
"That's not possible.""
Arthur continued.
"He worked at the clinic where Nia received treatment. He had access to the records. He knew about Ethan's medical condition. He also knew about Vanessa's treatment.""
I felt cold.
"Are you saying he arranged both pregnancies?""
"I believe so.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying quietly.
"Why would he do that?""
Arthur answered.
"Because he wanted to create a family that belonged to him without anyone knowing.""
I stared at the photograph.
The old doctor had been present when the triplets were born.
He had been involved when my first daughter disappeared.
And he had apparently been involved when Lily was conceived.
"Where is he now?""
Margaret whispered, "Dead.""
Arthur shook his head.
"No.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded newspaper clipping.
It was an obituary.
*DR. ADRIAN WHITMORE, 74, PASSES AWAY AFTER LONG ILLNESS.*
The date was three years earlier.
I stared at it.
"Then who was in my garage?""
Arthur turned the clipping over.
On the back was a handwritten note.
*THE DOCTOR'S NAME WAS NEVER HIS REAL NAME.*
I felt a headache forming.
"Who wrote this?""
"Daniel.""
Emily suddenly pointed at the photograph.
"Wait.""
She took the picture from Arthur and examined the doctor's hand.
"What's that?""
A small gold ring.
It had a distinctive engraving.
Three interlocking circles.
I recognized it.
Ethan wore the same symbol on a necklace in one of his photographs.
Arthur stared.
"That's the Whitmore family crest.""
"No," Margaret whispered.
"That's the old clinic's symbol.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She took a shaky breath.
"The clinic was called Three Oaks. It was founded by Dr. Whitmore and two investors.""
"Who were the investors?"" I asked.
Margaret hesitated.
Then she named them.
"Your mother and my husband.""
I stared at Arthur.
"You invested in the clinic?""
He looked ashamed.
"Yes.""
"Did you know what they were doing?""
"No. Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"After Daniel was born.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then why didn't you report them?""
Arthur lowered his head.
"Because the clinic had already altered the records. They threatened to expose certain financial transactions that could have destroyed the family.""
I stepped back.
"So you let them continue?""
He didn't answer.
My phone rang.
It was my mother's number again.
I answered immediately.
"Mom, tell me the truth. Who is Dr. Whitmore?""
My mother sounded frightened.
"Did you find the photograph?""
"Yes.""
"Then you need to understand something. The doctor wasn't the third child.""
"I know.""
"He was the man who raised him.""
I froze.
"Raised whom?""
"Adrian.""
My heart pounded.
My mother continued.
"Adrian was born first. Daniel was born second. Ethan was born third.""
Arthur looked at me in disbelief.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
My mother heard him.
"Arthur, you knew the records were changed.""
Arthur slowly shook his head.
"Adrian was the doctor?""
"No," my mother replied.
"Adrian was the first child. The doctor gave him his name and raised him as his son.""
I felt sick.
The third child was Ethan.
The first child was Adrian.
Daniel was the middle child.
And the man who had been helping Ethan was the eldest brother.
My mother continued.
"Adrian grew up believing his biological parents had abandoned him. When he discovered the truth, he wanted revenge.""
"Is he alive?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
My mother lowered her voice.
"He's the man who has been standing beside Ethan.""
I looked at the photograph.
The old doctor.
The man in the garage.
The man with the scar.
I suddenly remembered the voice from the phone.
It wasn't Ethan.
It was the doctor.
My mother whispered, "Nia, there's one more thing. Daniel didn't survive because we rescued him.""
"Then who did?""
"The person who arranged the accident.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why would someone save him?""
"Because they wanted Daniel to believe he owed them his life.""
The line crackled.
Then my mother said, "You need to find the original birth register. It's in the clinic's basement.""
"Where is the clinic?""
"Three Oaks closed years ago. But the building is still there.""
I asked for the address.
She gave it to me.
Then she added:
"Don't go through the front entrance. Adrian has cameras there.""
The call ended.
I looked around the room.
Arthur was pale.
Margaret was crying.
Vanessa was holding Emily.
And I suddenly realized something.
"Why did Daniel put the key in Lily's hand?""
Arthur looked up.
"Because the key doesn't open the compartment in the wall.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
He pointed to the silver key on the table.
"Daniel told me it opens something at Three Oaks.""
I picked it up.
A tiny inscription was visible near the handle.
Three words.
*ROOM SEVEN. BASEMENT.*
I turned toward the door.
"Then that's where we're going.""
Arthur grabbed my arm.
"Nia, you don't understand. If Adrian is alive, he will already know your mother has contacted you.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Lily sitting in the back seat of a car.
My little girl was crying.
Beneath the picture were four words.
*BRING THE KEY. ALONE.*
I screamed.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*YOUR HUSBAND IS WAITING.*
