Chapter 5: The Test He Ordered Behind My Back
I read Vivian's message three times.
Ask him why he wanted a paternity test.
The hospital room suddenly felt smaller.
I placed the phone in Andrea's hand.
"Can she do that?""
"Do what?""
"Make Marcus question whether this baby is his?""
Andrea read the message.
"Anyone can make an accusation. That doesn't make it true.""
"But why would Marcus order a test?""
Eleanor sat beside me.
"Did he ever say anything about your pregnancy?""
I shook my head.
"Not until recently. He used to come to every appointment.""
"Recently?""
"About two months ago. He started asking when I had last seen my doctor. He wanted copies of my medical paperwork. He even asked whether the clinic had changed any of my records.""
Andrea looked up.
"Did he explain why?""
"He said he wanted to update the family insurance.""
Eleanor exchanged a glance with Andrea.
"What?"" I asked.
Andrea pulled out her phone.
"I'm going to ask our investigator to check whether Marcus arranged any private testing.""
I stared at the hospital blanket.
For seven months, I had carried this child believing we were preparing for a future together.
Now I was learning that my husband had secretly investigated the baby before even telling me he wanted a divorce.
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Hale? My name is Dr.
Samuel Porter. I'm calling from Westbridge Women's Medical Center.""
My heart began pounding.
"Why are you calling me?""
"We received an inquiry regarding a patient who attended our clinic yesterday. I cannot discuss another patient's confidential medical information.""
"Then what does this have to do with me?""
"Your name appeared on a document submitted with a request for additional authorization.""
I sat up.
"What document?""
There was a brief pause.
"A family medical consent form. It appears to contain your signature.""
My fingers went cold.
"I didn't sign anything.""
"That's what concerned us. The document was flagged because the authorization did not match the consent requirements in our system.""
Andrea immediately leaned closer.
"Doctor, this is Andrea Bennett, legal counsel representing Mrs. Hale. Can you preserve the submitted document and associated records?""
"Yes. We have already placed the request under review.""
"Was the document submitted by Marcus Hale?""
Another pause.
"I can't confirm the identity of the submitting party over this call. Our compliance department will respond through the appropriate legal process.""
"Thank you," Andrea said.
The call ended.
I looked at her.
"What was he trying to authorize?""
"We don't know yet.""
Eleanor stood and walked toward the window.
"I want Marcus's attorney contacted immediately.""
Andrea nodded.
But I was no longer interested in waiting.
I called Marcus again.
He answered on the second ring.
"What now?""
"Did you order a paternity test?""
Silence.
Then a frustrated sigh.
"Where are you getting these ridiculous ideas?""
"From Vivian.""
He cursed under his breath.
"She's trying to manipulate you.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
"I don't have time for this.""
"Did you question whether our baby was yours?""
He said nothing.
My eyes filled with tears.
"Marcus?""
Finally, he answered.
"I had questions.""
"What questions?""
"You've been acting strangely.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"Strangely?""
"You're always tired. You're constantly at appointments. You barely spend time with me.""
I looked at my stomach.
"I'm seven months pregnant.""
"That's not what I mean.""
"Then what do you mean?""
His voice lowered.
"I heard things.""
"What things?""
He hesitated.
"About your relationship with someone before we got married.""
I felt a strange coldness spread through my chest.
"Who?""
"Someone named Daniel.""
Daniel.
My older brother's best friend.
A man I had known since college.
Marcus had met him at our wedding.
"Daniel was engaged when we met," I said.
"You know that.""
"I know what you told me.""
"What are you accusing me of?""
"I'm not accusing you of anything.""
"Then why did you order a paternity test?""
He exhaled sharply.
"Because I needed certainty.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did Vivian tell you this?""
Another silence.
That was enough.
"She did, didn't she?""
"Vivian was only trying to protect me.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Protect you from your own child?""
"Don't twist my words.""
"Marcus, I have spent seven months protecting this baby. I went through every appointment believing you were standing beside me. And you were secretly looking for a reason to deny your own child.""
"Claire, you're being dramatic.""
The words made something inside me snap.
"No. I'm finally listening.""
I ended the call.
Eleanor wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
For the first time since the hotel, I allowed myself to cry.
Not because I wanted Marcus back.
Because I was grieving the father I had believed my child would have.
A little later, Andrea returned from the hallway.
She was holding a printed document.
"Claire, I think we've found something.""
She placed it on the bed.
It was a private laboratory request dated six weeks earlier.
The patient's name was Marcus Hale.
The requested service was a prenatal paternity test.
My eyes moved to the authorization section.
My name appeared beneath the line marked maternal consent.
But the signature wasn't mine.
I looked at Andrea.
"Can we prove this is forged?""
"Yes. We can compare it with your genuine signatures and request the laboratory's original submission records.""
Eleanor leaned forward.
"Who submitted it?""
Andrea turned the document around.
There was a handwritten note at the bottom.
Please keep results confidential from the mother until further notice.
The initials beside the note were V.C.
Vivian Cross.
I covered my mouth.
She hadn't simply been having an affair with my husband.
She had been involved in an effort to secretly investigate my unborn child.
"Why would she do this?"" I whispered.
Andrea looked uncomfortable.
"Possibly because the results would affect her financial plans.""
Eleanor suddenly straightened.
"Wait.""
She took the document and examined the date.
"Six weeks ago, Marcus asked me whether the trust could recognize an unborn child before birth.""
Andrea nodded.
"That's consistent with the trust's provisions.""
"But he also asked whether an unborn child could be excluded if paternity was disputed.""
The room went silent.
I looked at her.
"Could it?""
"Not simply because of an unsupported allegation," Andrea replied.
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
"Then he may have been trying to create a dispute before the child was born.""
I stared at the forged signature.
My husband had been building a legal argument against his own baby while smiling for photographs at our maternity appointment.
Then Andrea's phone vibrated.
She opened an email from the bank.
Her face changed.
"What is it?"" Eleanor asked.
"The blocked four-million-dollar transfer was only one part of the transaction.""
She scrolled.
"There was another payment scheduled for tomorrow morning.""
"How much?"" I asked.
"One point two million dollars.""
"To Vivian?""
Andrea shook her head.
"To a company called Cross Family Holdings.""
Eleanor stepped closer.
"Who owns it?""
Andrea looked up.
"Vivian Cross and one other person.""
"Who?""
She turned the screen toward us.
The second owner's name was Marcus Hale.
But the company registration date was what made my blood run cold.
It had been established eleven months earlier.
The same month Vivian said her relationship with Marcus began.
And its registered business address wasn't an office.
May you like
It was the address of the house Marcus had told me he was buying as an investment property.
The house he had refused to let me visit.
