Chapter 5 - What Evan Purchased
Claire finally talked.
Not completely.
Enough.
Six months before IVF, Evan discovered Margaret’s history while researching family medical risks.
At first, responsible.
Then excessive.
He contacted a private genetics company called Helixor Reproductive Analytics.
They offered something Halcyon Fertility did not officially advertise:
expanded embryo ranking.
Not merely screening for known serious monogenic disorders.
Risk scoring.
Traits.
Predispositions.
Probabilities.
Claire described glossy presentations.
Percentages.
Charts.
Promises wrapped in disclaimers.
Evan loved it.
“He said if science gave us choices, we had a responsibility to make the best one.”
Marianne stared.
“Best?”
“Healthiest.”
“Those aren't always the same word.”
Claire cried.
“I know that now.”
Did she?
H-14 received the highest score.
H-17 ranked poorly because of MTR-9.
Then transfer morning H-14 failed after thaw.
Clinic staff recommended postponement.
Evan refused.
He had waited too long.
Paid too much.
He demanded H-17.
“Why not another embryo?”
Claire looked down.
“There weren't any.”
“What?”
Marianne remembered being told six embryos remained.
Lie.
Most had failed testing or development.
Only H-14 and H-17 were viable.
Evan chose H-17 because he believed Helixor could later “manage” the risk.
How?
Claire hesitated.
Then:
“They said the marker might not express.”
“Might?”
“Yes.”
“And the birthmark made you think it had?”
Claire nodded.
Marianne’s anger cooled into something worse.
Contempt.
“You looked at a healthy newborn and decided a mark on her skin meant she had failed a test.”
Claire sobbed.
“I panicked.”
“Evan?”
“He knew what it meant.”
“No. He believed he knew.”
Then Rebecca uncovered the money.
Evan paid Helixor $180,000.
Not listed in the surrogacy agreement.
Not disclosed to Marianne.
Three payments.
The final payment occurred two days before delivery.
Description:
Outcome Assurance.
Marianne stared.
“What outcome?”
Claire claimed she didn't know.
Evan did.
When confronted, he said it was insurance.
Rebecca checked.
No insurer.
No policy.
Just a private contract.
Then they obtained one page.
If designated live birth fails agreed phenotypic confirmation criteria, Client may invoke Secondary Placement Protocol.
Marianne read it twice.
“Phenotypic confirmation?”
Appearance.
Observable characteristics.
Birthmark?
Maybe.
“Secondary placement?”
Nobody knew.
Then Claire walked in.
Saw the page.
Nearly collapsed.
“You weren't supposed to find that.”
Marianne looked at her.
“What is Secondary Placement Protocol?”
Claire shook her head.
“Ask Evan.”
“I’m asking you.”
Tears ran down Claire’s face.
“He told me it meant another IVF attempt.”
“Does it?”
“I thought so.”
Rebecca’s phone rang.
She listened.
Then slowly looked at Marianne.
“No.”
“What?”
“Secondary Placement has nothing to do with IVF.”
“What does it mean?”
May you like
Rebecca placed the document down.
“It means Helixor had already arranged another newborn.”
