Chapter 6 - The Matching Heartbeats
Baby B’s heart rhythm normalized after treatment.
Claire’s fetus developed similar arrhythmia hours later.
That similarity terrified Eleanor.
But doctors cautioned:
Genetically related infants can share predispositions.
It did not prove secret experiment or intentional harm.
Independent DNA results arrived.
Sarah’s newborn was biologically related to Ethan and Claire.
Probability of Ethan paternity greater than 99.99%.
Claire genetic maternity consistent.
Even more striking:
Comparison between newborn and fetal cell-free DNA markers strongly suggested near-identical monozygotic origin, pending definitive testing after birth.
Baby B was not Sarah’s biological child.
She had carried Bennett embryo without Bennett consent.
Ethan sat alone for twenty minutes after receiving result.
He had another biological daughter.
Already born.
And he had never consented to her existence.
Claire cried when told.
Sarah cried too.
Legal questions were immediate and painful.
Sarah was gestational carrier under fraudulent intended-parent arrangement.
She had believed anonymous lawful parents existed.
She had carried and delivered child lovingly.
Ethan and Claire were genetic parents but had never agreed transfer.
No one would simply “take baby” because DNA result.
Courts and child advocates would determine temporary custody in child’s best interest.
That was why Claire had whispered:
“Don’t let her take the baby.”
Who was “her”?
Ethan assumed Eleanor.
Claire corrected.
“Dr. Keene.”
Before accident Claire had received message supposedly from Keene demanding Sarah and newborn return to St. Catherine for “mandatory identity reconciliation.”
Claire believed clinic might seize records or pressure Sarah before independent testing.
She told Eleanor she would not allow it.
Then Claire became weak from prescribed fetal medication plus dehydration.
Eleanor tried administer next dose.
Anna intervened.
Wheelchair accident followed.
Claire’s warning “don’t let her take the baby” referred female clinic lawyer? Keene male. Need adjust. Claire said “her” referring to Catherine? Better identify as Dr. Elaine Porter, who sent message? Let’s use Dr. Elaine Porter. But why would she take baby? She asked Sarah bring baby back to Brookhaven. Let's make.
Claire had received message from Dr. Elaine Porter demanding newborn return to Brookhaven for urgent identity verification.
Claire feared Porter might manipulate evidence.
Thus “her” meant Elaine Porter.
Ethan asked:
“Why didn't you just say Elaine?”
“I was barely conscious.”
Fair.
Then Eleanor’s final line:
“There was never supposed to be a Baby B.”
What did she mean?
Eleanor said Catherine called her weeks earlier and explained split embryo.
According Catherine, Bennett consent permitted storage of only one viable derivative after split review.
No second transfer.
Therefore Baby B should never have existed as transferred pregnancy.
Not wishing child dead.
Referring to unauthorized medical process.
But why had Eleanor not told Ethan immediately?
She wanted proof first.
Again.
She feared accusation against clinic where her own sister worked and where she once sat advisory board.
She worried family would sue before facts known.
She tried control information.
Claire had forced issue by bringing Sarah home.
Then Ethan asked Sarah whether she wanted keep baby.
Sarah looked devastated.
“I want her safe.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
“I know.”
Sarah had been told intended parents were a married couple who could not carry pregnancy.
She had prepared emotionally to relinquish infant.
Then nobody arrived after birth.
Agency contact stopped answering.
Sarah took baby home.
Now she learned intended parents had never even known.
She did not know what she wanted anymore.
Nobody pressured her.
Then Detective Brooks found agency.
Bright Path Surrogacy.
Owner:
Monica Keene.
Dr. Martin Keene’s wife.
And according to financial records, Bright Path had received $92,000 for Sarah’s pregnancy from a trust account with no named parents.
Signer:
ELEANOR BENNETT.
May you like
Ethan stared at his mother.
“Tell me you didn't pay for this.”
