Chapter 11: The Baby Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
Danielle stared at Detective Brooks.
“That's impossible.””
He placed another document on the bedside table.
“Your hospital records were altered, Mrs. Carter. We found the original maternity admission forms.””
I picked up the paper.
Danielle's name appeared at the top.
But the section identifying the mother of the newborn was blank.
Instead, a handwritten note appeared beside the signature line.
*SURROGATE DELIVERY — PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT.*
I looked at Danielle.
“Did you know about this?””
She shook her head.
“I carried Ava. I felt her move. I gave birth to her.””
“I believe you,” Detective Brooks said.
He opened another folder.
“However, the hospital's original records indicate that the pregnancy was registered under a different woman's name.””
“Whose?”” I asked.
He hesitated.
“Laura Bennett.””
Danielle covered her mouth.
I looked at the photograph again.
Laura holding Ava outside the maternity clinic.
“Are you saying Laura gave birth to Ava?””
Detective Brooks nodded.
“The medical records suggest that Laura delivered three children in total. The twins forty years ago, and a third child six years ago.””
I looked at Danielle.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Laura had another baby?””
“Apparently.””
I couldn't understand.
“Then why did Danielle carry Ava?””
Detective Brooks turned another page.
“There's evidence of an embryo transfer arrangement involving the clinic. We haven't established all the details yet.””
Danielle shook her head.
“No. I remember everything about my pregnancy. I had regular appointments.
I had scans. I gave birth naturally.””
The detective nodded.
“That's why we're investigating. Someone may have deliberately altered the genetic and medical records.””
I looked at the photograph.
Laura.
Ava.
Margaret.
And the hospital that had supposedly closed decades ago.
Everything connected.
“Where is Laura?”” I asked.
“We're trying to locate her.””
Danielle suddenly gripped my wrist.
“Michael, I remember something.””
“What?””
“Evelyn told me that Ava's birth certificate had been changed.””
I frowned.
“Changed how?””
“She said the original certificate was never filed. She told me not to ask questions because it would cause problems with the trust.””
I stared at her.
“What trust?””
Danielle looked toward Detective Brooks.
“The trust your father created for Ava.””
He nodded.
“We're reviewing it now.””
I felt a terrible suspicion growing.
“Could Ava be the beneficiary because of her biological parentage?””
“Possibly.””
Danielle looked down at her daughter.
“Then why would Laura give up another child?””
Nobody answered.
An hour later, Detective Brooks returned with news.
“We found Laura.””
I stood.
“Where?””
“At a small guesthouse outside the city. She's agreed to come in.””
“Is she safe?””
“She says she is.””
I looked at Danielle.
“We need to speak with her.””
Danielle nodded.
“I want to know the truth.””
Laura arrived shortly before sunset.
She looked older than she had sounded on the phone.
Her hair was streaked with silver.
Her eyes were red.
The moment she saw Danielle, she stopped in the doorway.
Neither woman moved.
Then Laura whispered, “My girl.””
Danielle began crying.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Laura approached slowly.
“I was afraid.””
“You knew I was alive.””
“Yes.””
“You knew I was married. You knew I had a daughter.””
Laura covered her mouth.
“I know.””
“Then why did you let us live like this?””
Laura sat down.
“Because Evelyn told me that if I came near you, she would have both children taken away.””
I looked at her.
“Both children?””
Laura nodded.
“Michael and Danielle. She said she had enough influence to make sure neither of you ever found out who I was.””
Danielle wiped her cheeks.
“And Ava?””
Laura looked at her.
“That's why I came back.””
“What does that mean?””
Laura reached into her handbag and removed an old photograph.
It showed a younger woman lying in a hospital bed.
Beside her was a tiny baby.
On the back was a date.
Six years earlier.
And beneath it, a handwritten name.
*AVA BENNETT.*
Danielle stared at the photograph.
“That's my baby.””
Laura nodded.
“I know.””
“Why does it say Bennett?””
Laura looked at her.
“Because I was the one who gave birth to her.””
Danielle began shaking.
“But I carried her.””
Laura nodded again.
“Evelyn arranged everything. She convinced the clinic to perform an embryo transfer using genetic material from Richard's family. She wanted an heir who would inherit his estate.””
I felt sick.
“Why would she use Danielle?””
“Because Danielle was legally connected to the Carter family trust. Evelyn believed that if the child was born through Danielle, the inheritance would be easier to control.””
I looked at Laura.
“Then why was she the biological mother?””
Laura lowered her eyes.
“Because the embryo came from my frozen genetic material.””
Danielle stared at her.
“You donated an embryo?””
Laura shook her head.
“No. I never agreed to any of it.””
She explained that after the twins were born, the clinic had preserved some of her reproductive material without her knowledge.
Years later, Richard and Evelyn used it.
The child was genetically connected to Laura.
But the embryo had been created using Richard's sperm.
Ava was therefore biologically Laura and Richard's daughter.
Danielle had been the gestational mother.
I looked toward my little girl.
She was asleep in the hospital bed.
The child I had raised.
The child who had called me Daddy since she learned to speak.
I didn't care whose genes she carried.
She was my daughter.
But there was something else I needed to know.
“Why did Evelyn try to kill Danielle?””
Laura's expression hardened.
“Because Danielle discovered that Richard intended to take Ava away when she turned eighteen.””
Danielle looked up.
“What?””
Laura nodded.
“Richard wanted his biological daughter back. He planned to use the trust to gain control over her inheritance and medical guardianship.””
I stood.
“She's six years old.””
“I know.””
“And he was planning this?””
“Yes.””
Laura reached into her bag again.
This time, she produced a small envelope.
“Your father gave me this before he died.””
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Michael,
I know the truth about Ava. I know what Richard and Evelyn have done.
But there is something I have never told you.
You are not the only person who has been protecting her.
I looked at Laura.
“What does that mean?””
She stared at Danielle.
Then she whispered:
“Your father knew someone inside the clinic had helped us.””
“Who?””
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
“Your biological sister.””
Danielle went still.
I looked at her.
“What?””
Laura nodded.
“Danielle discovered the truth before she married you. She had a twin sister who was born at the same time.””
Danielle's voice was barely audible.
“Where is she?””
Laura closed her eyes.
“She's been working at the hospital all these years.””
I stared at her.
“What's her name?””
Laura slowly opened her handbag and removed a hospital identification badge.
The photograph showed a woman in her late thirties.
The name beneath it read:
*DR. EMILY BENNETT — CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.*
Danielle stared at the badge.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“That's the doctor who signed my death certificate.””
