Chapter 7 - The Man I TrustedI stared at the speaker.
That was my husband's voice.
Ethan.
My husband had been out of town that morning.
At least, that was what he told me.
The recording continued.
My mother's voice:
“Are you sure she'll cooperate?”
Ethan answered:
“She'll sign once she sees what you've prepared.”
I couldn't move.
Detective Cole stopped the recording.
“Rachel?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“You recognize his voice?”
“Yes.”
“When did you last speak to him?”
“This morning. He said he was in Cincinnati for work.”
Detective Cole looked at Mara.
“Get his travel records.”
I stepped into the hallway.
My hands were shaking.
I called Ethan.
He answered on the third ring.
“Rachel?”
“Where are you?”
There was a pause.
“Cincinnati.”
“Which hotel?”
Another pause.
“Why?”
“Because I need to know.”
He sighed.
“I'm at the Westbridge.”
I pulled up the hotel website.
There wasn't a Westbridge Hotel in Cincinnati.
“Try again.”
“What?”
“The name of the hotel.”
He didn't answer.
“Ethan.”
“Rachel, what is happening?”
“You tell me.”
I hung up.
Ten minutes later, Detective Cole returned.
“He isn't in Cincinnati.”
“Where is he?”
His face was grim.
“His phone is in Cincinnati.”
“And him?”
“His car is parked outside your parents' house.”
My stomach dropped.
We drove there.
Ethan was inside.
Sitting in the kitchen.
Talking to my mother.
He looked at me through the window.
Then stood.
“Rachel.”
I pushed through the door.
“What are you doing here?”
He looked frightened.
“I came because your mother asked me to.”
“You lied to me.”
“I didn't know what she was planning.”
“You were on the recording.”
“I know.”
I stared at him.
He stepped closer.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“She threatened me.”
“With what?”
He looked toward my mother.
“She has documents that could destroy my career.”
“What documents?”
His voice broke.
“Financial records.”
My mother interrupted.
“Enough.”
Detective Cole entered behind me.
Ethan immediately stopped speaking.
My mother stood.
“This is private family business.”
“No,” Detective Cole said. “It became criminal when a four-year-old child was assaulted.”
His eyes moved to Ethan.
“Mr. Hart, you're going to come with us.”
Ethan looked at me.
“I didn't throw the pan.”
“I know.”
His shoulders sagged.
“But you helped them.”
He looked down.
“I thought it would only be a custody scare.”
My entire body went cold.
“You knew?”
“I knew they wanted to create a reason for temporary custody.”
“How?”
“Your mother told me Emma had become dangerous.”
I almost laughed.
“She's four.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you believe her?”
Ethan looked at me.
“Because I didn't know the truth.”
“What truth?”
He hesitated.
“Emma isn't the beneficiary they told you she was.”
Detective Cole stared at him.
“What are you talking about?”
Ethan swallowed.
“They said Emma would inherit everything.”
“Everything?”
“Daniel Mercer's estate.”
My mother finally lost her calm.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Yes, I do.”
Then he turned to me.
“Rachel, your father wasn't your biological father.”
“I know.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You don't know the important part.”
He whispered:
“Daniel Mercer wasn't your biological father either.”
Silence.
Detective Cole frowned.
“Then who was?”
Ethan looked at my mother.
“She knows.”
My mother stepped backward.
Ethan continued.
“Daniel Mercer was only the donor.”
My stomach tightened.
“Donor for what?”
He answered:
“For the embryo they created.”
I stared at him.
“Created from whose DNA?”
My mother said nothing.
Ethan looked at me.
“Yours.”
The room seemed to vanish.
“What?”
“Your eggs were taken when you were twenty.”
I remembered the hospital.
A minor procedure.
A "routine cyst removal."
My mother had insisted on being there.
I suddenly felt sick.
“She used my eggs.”
Ethan nodded.
“To create a child.”
I looked toward my mother.
“You stole my own genetics...”
May you like
She said nothing.
“To make Emma.”
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