Chapter 5 - The DNA EnvelopeThe truth about the twins was sitting inside an envelope Brandon never expected me to open.The next morning, I took the girls to my sister's house.
I didn't tell Melissa everything.
Not yet.
I was afraid saying it aloud would make it real.
Claire met me there.
She brought a brown envelope.
“This came from the clinic.”
I stared at it.
“What's inside?”
“A copy of the original genetic report.”
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Two names.
Two embryo numbers.
Two genetic profiles.
The first report listed Brandon's DNA.
The second did not.
I looked at Claire.
“Who is listed?”
“A donor profile.”
My throat tightened.
“So one of my daughters…”
“May not be biologically related to Brandon.”
The room spun.
Then Claire continued.
“There's something else.”
She placed another page beside it.
A correction request.
Signed by the clinic administrator.
Requested by Evelyn.
Reason:
Family privacy.
That phrase felt sinister now.
“Why would she change it?”
“We need to know.”
I stared at the report.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man spoke.
“Is this Mrs. Calloway?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Dr. Aaron Miles. I was the physician who handled your embryo transfer.”
My heart jumped.
“Why are you calling me?”
“Because I recently learned your records were altered.”
I stood up.
“What records?”
“The embryo records.”
I looked at Claire.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Dr. Miles hesitated.
“There was a mix-up.”
“What kind of mix-up?”
He lowered his voice.
“One embryo was labeled incorrectly.”
My body went cold.
“Which one?”
“We don't know.”
“What do you mean you don't know?”
“Because the original paperwork was removed.”
“By whom?”
Silence.
Then:
“Your mother-in-law.”
I sat down.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Doctor, you have to help me.”
“I've been trying to.”
“Then tell me everything.”
He exhaled.
“Your embryos were not the only ones involved.”
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“There was another couple undergoing treatment at the same time.”
“Who?”
“I can’t disclose that.”
“Was there an exchange?”
“We believe so.”
I felt as though the floor had disappeared.
“Then one of my babies could belong to someone else.”
“Possibly.”
The word was unbearable.
I whispered,
“And Brandon knows?”
Dr. Miles was quiet.
“I believe he suspected.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since before the girls were born.”
My eyes filled with tears.
That explained everything.
The distance.
The resentment.
The secrecy.
The way he looked at the twins sometimes.
I had thought he was tired.
Maybe he had been afraid.
But afraid of what?
“Doctor, why did no one tell me?”
“We were told the matter had been resolved privately.”
“By Evelyn?”
“Yes.”
Claire reached for my hand.
Then she pointed to the hallway.
Melissa was standing there.
She had heard everything.
Her face was white.
“You're telling me Brandon knew?” she whispered.
I nodded.
Melissa walked over.
She took the report.
Then she looked at me.
“And he still left you alone with them?”
I couldn't answer.
Because suddenly, the four-day fishing trip looked completely different.
Maybe Brandon hadn't simply wanted a break.
Maybe he wanted time away from children he wasn't sure were his.
Maybe he was planning something.
My phone buzzed.
A text from Brandon.
We need to talk before you make any more mistakes.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
One of those girls isn't mine.
I stopped breathing.
The room went silent.
Melissa whispered,
“Huy, don't answer him.”
But I was staring at the next message.
And if you take them away from me, I'll make sure the real father finds out where they are.
I looked at Claire.
“What real father?”
She didn't answer.
Because at that exact moment, another message arrived.
A photograph.
A man I'd never seen before.
Holding an ultrasound image.
Underneath it was a date.
The same date my twins had been transferred.
May you like
And written beneath the photograph were seven words.
He has been looking for his daughter.
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