Chapter 10 - Adrian’s Mother
Adrian had never mentioned his mother’s role at Hawthorne.
Because Margaret Vale used professional surname.
Adrian’s legal surname Cole came from father.
Margaret Vale was genetic counselor.
She worked at Hawthorne’s predecessor clinic from 2008 to 2018.
Claire knew her only as counselor during fertility evaluation.
Neither Claire nor Ethan knew she was Adrian’s mother.
Did Adrian know Claire was her patient?
“Yes,” he admitted.
That was why first fake paternity report terrified him.
He thought his mother might have done something.
“What?”
Adrian struggled.
Margaret had history of boundary violations.
Not embryo swaps.
Not secret inseminations.
She had accessed records of acquaintances without clinical need.
Twice disciplined.
Charles Bennett learned in 2017 Margaret had accessed Bennett hereditary file B-17.
Why?
Margaret believed Adrian and Claire would reunite.
She resented Claire’s growing closeness with Bennett family after engagement ended.
She became obsessed with idea Bennetts had “taken” Claire from Adrian.
She searched family medical records.
No legitimate reason.
Charles hired Martin Shaw to investigate quietly.
That was M-7.
Why not report immediately?
Hawthorne disciplined Margaret and restricted access.
Charles feared public exposure of his own improperly routed investigation payment.
Everyone chose containment.
Margaret retired.
Then Claire became Hawthorne patient years later by coincidence? Not entirely.
Claire selected clinic from insurer directory.
Margaret no longer worked there officially.
But she still consulted part-time.
She saw Claire’s name in scheduling system.
She accessed record again.
That was documented.
Then disappeared from US eighteen months ago.
Current location believed Canada.
Could she forge paternity report?
Absolutely.
Did she?
Unknown.
Could she know Adrian DNA?
Yes.
As his mother she might have genetic data.
But fake report required no actual DNA.
Then Ethan asked:
“Why would she claim Claire’s baby belongs to her own son?”
Adrian answered quietly:
“Because she never accepted Claire left me.”
That sounded almost too simple.
But Margaret’s old emails showed fixation.
She had written Adrian repeatedly:
Claire made mistake.
Bennetts control her.
You two were supposed to have family.
Adrian had blocked her.
He showed proof.
So Adrian himself was not cooperating.
Then Claire asked:
“Is Margaret the person who came into house three extra times?”
Security image ring.
Adrian stared.
“My mother wears that ring.”
Square gold signet inherited from her father.
Body under coat could be woman.
Everyone had assumed man.
Margaret, sixty-four, tall, short gray hair, could fit.
Travel records:
Margaret entered US under her legal first surname:
Margaret Cole.
Three days before first unauthorized mansion entry.
Left weeks later.
Then returned for ballroom weekend.
Was she mysterious male guest?
No.
Prompt says male guest Eleanor glances toward. Could be Adrian/Jonathan. Margaret needn't be at ballroom.
Then investigators found hotel reservation.
Margaret Cole.
Same hotel.
But no footage of her entering ballroom.
She may have stayed upstairs.
Ethan said:
“She’s here.”
Police/security contacted room.
Empty.
On desk:
another fake paternity report.
This one:
ETHAN BENNETT — 0% PATERNITY.
Claire’s breath caught.
Below handwritten:
ASK CLAIRE WHAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 11.
Ethan turned toward wife.
Claire went pale.
“What happened February 11?”
She whispered:
“I was at Hawthorne.”
Ethan stared.
That date was eight weeks before they believed pregnancy began.
“Why?”
Claire looked at Adrian.
Then Eleanor.
“I went to have our stored samples destroyed.”
May you like
Ethan’s expression changed.
“What stored samples?”
