Chapter 11: The Third Embryo
I called Claire before Daniel had even driven away.
"He's claiming there's another embryo.""
"Did he explain?""
"He says Diane has kept one in storage.""
Claire was silent for a moment.
"That may be the third embryo from your original IVF cycle.""
I sat down.
"But Dr. Carter said two were transferred.""
"Correct. The records showed three viable embryos originally. Two were transferred. The third was supposedly discarded or no longer viable.""
"Supposedly?""
"That's what we need to verify.""
I looked through the window.
Daniel's car had disappeared.
"Can Diane use it?""
"Not legally without the required consent. But I want to make sure it's still stored and that nobody has accessed it.""
Claire contacted Dr. Carter.
Within an hour, the three of us were on a video call.
Dr. Carter looked concerned.
"I reviewed the original storage records after receiving your attorney's request.""
"Was there a third embryo?"" I asked.
"Yes.""
"Was it destroyed?""
She looked down at her notes.
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is it?""
"It was transferred to a private storage facility three years ago.""
"Who authorized that?""
"The request was submitted under the name of the clinic's former administrator.""
"Martin Wells?""
Dr. Carter nodded.
"However, the authorization also contains Diane's payment information.""
Claire leaned forward.
"Can you freeze any further activity?""
"Yes. I've already requested an administrative hold pending verification of ownership and consent.""
I looked at her.
"Could someone have used it?""
"Not according to the records currently available to us. There is no confirmed transfer.""
I released a breath.
At least one thing had not happened yet.
But another question remained.
"Why would Diane keep it?""
Dr. Carter answered carefully.
"Possibly because she wanted to preserve the option of another transfer.""
I stared at the screen.
"Without my consent?""
"That's what the documents suggest.""
Claire immediately began making notes.
"We'll seek a court order protecting the embryo while the consent dispute is investigated.""
I nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary.""
After the call, Claire looked at me.
"Amara, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The trust's third-child provision.""
I frowned.
"What third-child provision?""
Claire opened a document.
"The trust was designed to accommodate additional descendants. If a third child was born through the same reproductive arrangement, the trust could distribute a larger portion of the assets among the three children.""
I stared at her.
"So Diane wanted another child because of the money?""
"Potentially. But there's a separate clause.""
She pointed to the bottom of the page.
"If a third beneficiary is born, the trust's current guardian retains administrative authority for an additional ten years.""
I understood immediately.
"She wanted to keep control.""
Claire nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
Three children.
One financial arrangement.
And a woman who believed she could manufacture a family according to the terms of a legal document.
That evening, I visited Vanessa.
She was staying with Rebecca.
Her pregnancy was now visibly advanced, and she looked exhausted.
She opened the door wearing a loose sweater.
"Amara.""
"Can I come in?""
She stepped aside.
Rebecca was in the kitchen.
On the coffee table lay several medical envelopes and a notebook.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Daniel told you?""
I nodded.
"About the third embryo.""
She sat down.
"I knew something was happening. I just didn't understand what.""
"What did you find?""
She opened the notebook.
"Diane had been making appointments at Westbridge. She told me she was arranging additional fertility support for my pregnancy.""
I frowned.
"But you're already pregnant.""
"Exactly.""
She removed a printed email.
"Look.""
The email was from Diane to a clinic coordinator.
The remaining genetic material must be preserved until we have confirmation that the second pregnancy is progressing normally. The third child will complete the family structure.
I read it again.
"She was planning another transfer.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Without telling me.""
I sat beside her.
"Did Daniel know?""
"Yes.""
I looked at her.
"How do you know?""
She opened another email.
This one was from Daniel.
I understand. But Amara cannot be involved. If she discovers the third embryo, she will stop everything.
My hands tightened.
I placed the paper on the table.
"He knew.""
Vanessa nodded.
"He knew about the third embryo before you did.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you leave him?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because I was pregnant, and I believed he was the only person who knew how to protect me from his mother.""
She wiped her cheek.
"I know how stupid that sounds.""
"It doesn't.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You spent years trying to have children with him. I spent years believing he had rescued me from being alone. We were both wrong.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Rebecca entered the room carrying a small box.
"I think you should both see this.""
She placed it on the table.
Inside were several photographs and old letters.
Vanessa picked up one photograph.
It showed Diane holding the twins in the hospital.
On the back was another handwritten message.
Richard would have been proud. Two boys, exactly as promised.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Where did you find this?""
"In Daniel's storage unit. He left several boxes there before moving into the new house.""
Vanessa removed a folded letter.
It was written by Richard Bennett.
The date was six months before his death.
She read aloud.
My dear Diane,
I know how much you want grandchildren. But I need you to understand that money cannot create a family. If Daniel and his wife are blessed with children, I want them to know they are loved, not treated as heirs.
The trust must remain under the care of the children's biological mother, provided she is willing and capable of raising them. No one should ever use my estate to pressure a woman into surrendering her children.
Vanessa stopped reading.
Her eyes filled.
I reached for the letter.
At the bottom was Richard's signature.
And beneath it, a handwritten note:
If Diane disregards these instructions, the entire trust should pass to the children under an independent administrator.
I looked at Claire's name on the document folder.
"This changes everything.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Diane never showed me this.""
"Because it destroys her entire argument.""
I carefully placed the letter back in the envelope.
Then Vanessa looked at me.
"Amara, I need to ask you something.""
"Go ahead.""
"If the boys are legally yours, and the trust belongs to them, what happens to my baby?""
I stared at her stomach.
Her unborn child had no part in any of this.
"I don't know yet.""
She looked down.
"I don't want my baby growing up in the middle of this family.""
I took her hand.
"Then we make sure the children aren't used against each other.""
She began crying.
"I wish we had met before all this happened.""
I gave her a small smile.
"So do I.""
The following morning, Claire filed an emergency request to preserve the remaining embryo and prevent any unauthorized reproductive procedure.
The court granted a temporary preservation order.
Diane's attorney was notified.
At 3:42 p.m., my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Ms. Bennett? My name is Evelyn Shaw.""
I froze.
The pediatric consultant from the hospital photograph.
"How did you get my number?""
"I obtained it through the legal correspondence concerning the Bennett children.""
"What do you want?""
"I need to speak with you about Diane.""
My stomach tightened.
"What about her?""
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"I was involved in the hospital assessment three years ago. I have information that may help you.""
"Why are you contacting me now?""
"Because I was instructed to keep quiet, and I have been living with that decision ever since.""
I looked at Claire, who was sitting across from me.
"Did you alter Vanessa's medical report?""
"No. I signed the original report stating that Isaiah's injury was accidental.""
"Then why was your name on the altered version?""
"Someone copied my signature.""
"Who?""
Evelyn paused.
Then she said:
"Martin Wells.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Martin told me he didn't do it.""
"He may have told you the truth about the embryo transfer. But he did alter the hospital record.""
I looked at Claire.
She immediately started writing.
Evelyn continued.
"I have the original assessment, and I also have a copy of the email Diane sent me afterward.""
"What did it say?""
"She instructed me to change my findings and classify Vanessa as a safeguarding risk.""
"Why would you agree?""
Her voice cracked.
"Because she threatened my medical license. She said she would report me for mishandling patient information.""
I closed my eyes.
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes.""
"Can you send it to my attorney?""
"Yes. But there's something else you need to know.""
I waited.
Evelyn took a breath.
"Vanessa wasn't the only woman Diane approached.""
My fingers went cold.
"What?""
"Before your embryos were transferred, Diane contacted another patient.""
"Who?""
"I don't know her full name. But she was undergoing fertility treatment at the same clinic.""
I stared at the wall.
"Why?""
"Because Diane originally wanted a different arrangement. One that would allow her to select the woman who carried the children.""
I couldn't speak.
Evelyn continued.
"That woman refused. Afterward, Diane approached Vanessa.""
I looked at Claire.
The plan had been even more calculated than we imagined.
"Do you know what happened to the other woman?""
"No.""
"Can you identify her?""
"I have a name in an old appointment record.""
I waited.
Then Evelyn said:
"Her name was Margaret Lewis.""
The call ended.
Claire immediately searched the name in the documents.
Then she stopped.
"Amara.""
"What?""
She turned the laptop toward me.
Margaret Lewis had been a patient at the same clinic.
And she had filed a formal complaint three years earlier.
The complaint had been withdrawn.
The reason was listed in a single sentence.
*Settlement reached with Bennett Children's Foundation.*
I stared at the screen.
Diane hadn't simply arranged one unauthorized transfer.
May you like
She had tried to arrange another before finding someone willing to cooperate.
And somewhere, there was a woman who might know exactly how the entire scheme began.
