Margaret called again before I could respond.<\/p>\n
Rebecca held up a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnswer. Speaker.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did.<\/p>\n
Margaret\u2019s voice came fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know where Richard is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictoria isn\u2019t answering me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s spoken with my attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret inhaled sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo she is involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a family argument anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice cracked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind her, I heard movement.<\/p>\n
Doors.<\/p>\n
Footsteps.<\/p>\n
Someone speaking faintly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCarter. Two attorneys. Security.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Rebecca.<\/p>\n
She mouthed: Keep her talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret began crying.<\/p>\n
Not loudly.<\/p>\n
Controlled, embarrassed tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard left sometime between four and five. His driver says he didn\u2019t call for the car. One of the garage vehicles is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis old Range Rover.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he take luggage?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went into his study because Carter was searching for something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the safe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen. Empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca typed a question to me.<\/p>\n
WHAT WAS NORMALLY IN IT?<\/p>\n
I asked.<\/p>\n
Margaret answered, \u201cFamily trust originals. Private banking records. Old contracts. Some personal papers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll gone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny passports?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter\u2019s voice sounded in the background.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, get off the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren, what is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Jessica.<\/p>\n
She sat across the conference room listening.<\/p>\n
This woman had been welcomed into Margaret\u2019s family while carrying the biological child created from me and Carter.<\/p>\n
Margaret had celebrated.<\/p>\n
She had unknowingly stepped into a conspiracy her husband apparently managed for years.<\/p>\n
Part of me wanted to tell her everything.<\/p>\n
Another part remembered Emma\u2019s first-hour-of-life comment.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the third attempt.<\/p>\n
People could be victims in one context and cruel in another.<\/p>\n
Both things could be true.<\/p>\n
I chose facts.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard helped Carter keep our embryos stored after I was told they were destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret stopped breathing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe authorized payments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Lauren.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also knew about Jessica\u2019s embryo transfers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then a whisper.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat transfers?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Rebecca.<\/p>\n
She nodded once.<\/p>\n
\u201cJessica\u2019s pregnancy did not happen naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret began to say something.<\/p>\n
Stopped.<\/p>\n
I continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe embryo she is carrying was created during my IVF treatment with Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n
A sound came through the phone.<\/p>\n
Not quite a sob.<\/p>\n
Not quite disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is genetically mine and Carter\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret whispered, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Richard knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind her, Carter said sharply, \u201cMom, end the call.\u201d<\/p>\n
She shouted back, \u201cBe quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
I had never heard Margaret Sterling shout at her son.<\/p>\n
The line went silent for several seconds.<\/p>\n
Then she asked, \u201cDid Carter know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGenetically.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Jessica?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is carrying him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret sounded confused.<\/p>\n
I understood.<\/p>\n
The legal and emotional categories did not fit ordinary vocabulary.<\/p>\n
Nothing about this fit ordinary life.<\/p>\n
She said, \u201cI need to sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca typed:<\/p>\n
ASK SAFE CONTENTS RELATED TO OAKFIELD.<\/p>\n
I asked Margaret whether Richard kept any fertility records in the safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink.\u201d<\/p>\n
She breathed shakily.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a blue file.\u201d<\/p>\n
My pulse changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat blue file?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw it once years ago. Richard told me it was Carter\u2019s medical planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid it say Oakfield?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica looked up sharply.<\/p>\n
Rebecca said, \u201cAsk when.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret, when did you see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe five years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
That matched the secret storage period.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter\u2019s voice returned, closer now.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, give me the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
She snapped, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then to me:<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was horrible about the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n
The confession came so suddenly that I nearly missed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept talking about a grandson. I thought it was harmless because everyone knew I loved Chloe and Emma.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren hear more than adults think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou treated them like placeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her silence admitted it.<\/p>\n
I continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not discussing that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFind out where Richard went.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not touch anything in the study.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPreserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not let Carter remove anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the background, Carter swore.<\/p>\n
Margaret heard him.<\/p>\n
So did I.<\/p>\n
Her voice hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is he trying to find?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Jessica.<\/p>\n
She mouthed:<\/p>\n
Notebook.<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cPossibly a notebook that belonged to Elaine Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret repeated the name.<\/p>\n
\u201cElaine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something shifted in her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did you say it like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard mentioned an Elaine years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat straighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret struggled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were arguing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard and Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter Emma was born. Maybe a year later.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heartbeat quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard said Elaine was becoming difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca and Aaron both looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifficult how?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret lowered her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cCarter said, \u2018Then pay her what she wants and close it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The conference room went silent.<\/p>\n
I wrote the sentence down.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Richard say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said something about not paying for silence forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica\u2019s face drained.<\/p>\n
Her mother had taken money.<\/p>\n
Perhaps more than once.<\/p>\n
Perhaps she had later demanded more.<\/p>\n
Margaret continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked Richard what they were talking about. He said an employee dispute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you believe him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course.<\/p>\n
That was how these schemes survived.<\/p>\n
One plausible explanation at a time.<\/p>\n
Margaret suddenly whispered, \u201cCarter\u2019s coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen end the call.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease keep that baby safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The request stunned me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s with Jessica.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you asking me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I don\u2019t know who to trust anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The line went dead.<\/p>\n
Jessica stared at the table.<\/p>\n
For the first time since the meeting began, I saw genuine fear in her face.<\/p>\n
Not fear of prosecution.<\/p>\n
Fear for the pregnancy.<\/p>\n
I hated that I recognized it.<\/p>\n
Rebecca broke the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now have an independent witness placing Richard and Carter in conversation about Elaine years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret isn\u2019t exactly independent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLess implicated than others, so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aaron said, \u201cWe need to find Richard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s law enforcement\u2019s problem if evidence preservation is involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca had already begun typing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m notifying the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica\u2019s attorney stepped out to take a call.<\/p>\n
When he returned, his expression had changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCarter filed an emergency petition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPaternity and custody rights regarding the unborn child.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone spoke at once.<\/p>\n
I heard only fragments.<\/p>\n
Jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Gestational carrier.<\/p>\n
Genetic father.<\/p>\n
Intended parent agreement.<\/p>\n
Rebecca finally raised her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room quieted.<\/p>\n
She looked at Jessica\u2019s attorney.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat relief is he seeking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe claims Jessica has threatened to leave the state and deny him access.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never said that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is requesting an order prohibiting relocation before birth.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
Carter was moving quickly.<\/p>\n
He had lost control of the narrative, so he was trying to secure control of the pregnancy.<\/p>\n
Again.<\/p>\n
Jessica\u2019s lawyer continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe also submitted the intended-parent agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one based on forged consent?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did not disclose that issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s expression went cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Jessica.<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you planning to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated.<\/p>\n
That was enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCalifornia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother lives there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you going to tell anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
That explained his panic.<\/p>\n
The alliances were collapsing.<\/p>\n
Richard missing.<\/p>\n
Victoria cooperating with me.<\/p>\n
Jessica preparing to flee.<\/p>\n
Margaret questioning everything.<\/p>\n
Carter trying to use court orders to rebuild control.<\/p>\n
Aaron closed his notebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should assume every party is acting to protect themselves now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought they already were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow they\u2019ll be less subtle.\u201d<\/p>\n
My phone vibrated.<\/p>\n
Victoria.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know where your father is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother says his safe is empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I took one thing from it before I left.\u201d<\/p>\n
I went still.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA sealed packet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca leaned toward the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk what\u2019s inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s inside, Victoria?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stole a sealed packet without opening it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt had my name on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That changed the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was it dated?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSix years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same year as the fake destruction letter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does the outside say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victoria hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then read it.<\/p>\n
For Victoria, if the Sterling succession plan ever becomes contested.<\/p>\n
I looked at Rebecca.<\/p>\n
Aaron stopped writing.<\/p>\n
Even Jessica stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho wrote it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard\u2019s father.<\/p>\n
The man whose trust created the male-line succession provision.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe died before Emma was born,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen how could he know about an embryo plan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is the packet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Preserve the seal.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
She was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictoria, do not open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBring it to counsel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell Rebecca directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fair.<\/p>\n
Before hanging up, Victoria said, \u201cLauren?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather hated the male-heir clause.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why was it in his trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t his clause.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy great-grandfather wrote the original provision. Grandpa inherited it and spent years trying to neutralize it without triggering tax consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The story shifted again.<\/p>\n
The clause Richard had treated as sacred family tradition was apparently something his own father disliked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that have to do with the packet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Grandpa expected Dad to misuse it someday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice lowered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think he left instructions for what to do if he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret called again before I could respond. Rebecca held up a hand. \u201cAnswer. Speaker.\u201d I did. Margaret\u2019s voice came fast. \u201cLauren?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m here.\u201d \u201cDo you know where Richard is?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24447"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24482,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24447\/revisions\/24482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}