Chapter 7
I forwarded everything.
That evening, Rebecca called.
“The clinic has agreed to preserve the relevant records while we establish what happened.”
“Can they confirm whether the embryos were actually destroyed?”
“Not yet. There are inconsistencies in the archived paperwork.”
My heart began pounding.
“What kind of inconsistencies?”
“One storage record doesn’t match the disposition report.”
I closed my eyes.
“Rebecca…”
“I know what you’re thinking. But we need evidence before reaching conclusions.”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.
After ending the call, I sat beside the living room window.
For the first time since the accident, I wasn’t thinking about Alistair’s mistress.
I was thinking about a little boy with blue eyes.
A little boy who had reached toward my husband and called him Daddy.
And I was terrified of what I might discover.
Three days later, Paige Bennett appeared outside my office.
I was returning from lunch when I saw her standing near the entrance.
She wore jeans and a pale blue sweater.
Without the hospital lights and tears, she looked even younger.
She recognized me immediately.
“Jacqueline?”
I stopped.
“Paige.”
She glanced around nervously.
“Can we talk?”
I considered walking past her.
Then I noticed that her hands were shaking.
“Come upstairs.”
Inside my office, she sat across from me.
Neither of us spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Paige looked down.
“I know who you are.”
“That’s interesting. I didn’t know who you were until last week.”
She flinched.
“I’m sorry.”
I folded my hands.
“What do you want?”
She took a trembling breath.
“Alistair told me you were separated.”
I said nothing.
“He said your marriage was over. He told me you stayed legally married because you handled his business affairs and the divorce would complicate the company.”
“Did he?”
“He said you knew about me.”
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the lies were becoming exhausting.
“Paige, I was sleeping beside him the night before his accident.”
Her face drained of color.
“No.”
“He kissed me goodbye that morning.”
She covered her mouth.
“I didn’t know.”
I studied her.
“How long have you been together?”
“Almost five years.”
Five years.
He had begun seeing her while we were still undergoing fertility treatment.
“Does he support you financially?”
“Yes.”
“Does he pay for your apartment?”
She nodded.
“And Matty?”
Her expression changed.
“Please don’t involve my son in this.”
I leaned forward.
“How was Matty born?”
Paige blinked.
“What?”
“Did you undergo fertility treatment?”
Her face went completely still.
“How do you know that?”
My pulse quickened.
“Please answer the question.”
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“I couldn’t conceive naturally. Alistair arranged treatment at a clinic in Minneapolis.”
May you like
“Which clinic?”
She told me.
