Chapter 3 - The Scar Beneath the Chin
Lily had undergone a biopsy at fourteen months.
Ethan knew nothing about it.
Medical records at her pediatrician contained no procedure.
But all three girls carried the same tiny mark in the same location.
A pediatric specialist explained:
“That doesn't happen naturally three times.”
The tissue site suggested participation in a dermatological screening study.
Not dangerous.
But specific.
Who enrolled Lily?
Claire claimed ignorance.
Ethan had married Claire eighteen months after Julia’s death.
She had not been around when Lily was fourteen months old.
So mystery began before Claire entered household.
That mattered.
Claire was involved now.
She was not necessarily origin.
Then DNA results returned.
All three girls were biologically related.
Very closely.
Identical triplets?
No.
Genetic profiles were not identical.
They were sisters.
Full sisters.
Same biological mother.
Same biological father.
Ethan sat down.
“I'm their father?”
Probability exceeded 99.9% for all three.
So none was fake Lily in biological sense.
All three were Ethan’s daughters.
He had fathered three children.
He remembered only one pregnancy.
Julia had carried Lily.
Or so he thought.
Could Julia have delivered triplets?
Hospital records said singleton birth.
Then Nora asked:
“Were embryos involved?”
Ethan looked up.
IVF.
After two years of fertility difficulties, Ethan and Julia used assisted reproduction.
Three embryos had been created.
One transferred.
Two supposedly remained frozen.
Ethan had signed annual storage forms.
After Julia’s death, clinic notified him remaining embryos were no longer viable due storage failure.
He believed them destroyed.
Nora asked:
“What clinic?”
Ethan answered:
“Bellweather Reproductive Center.”
Claire finally reacted.
Just a flicker.
But Nora saw.
“You know it.”
Claire shook head.
Too late.
Search found old Bellweather employee badge in Claire’s private drawer.
Not hers.
Name:
Rebecca Sloan.
Ethan had never heard of her.
Claire said:
“She was my sister.”
Ethan stared.
“You never told me you had a sister.”
“She died.”
“When?”
Claire did not answer.
Nora checked.
Rebecca Sloan had worked as embryology lab coordinator at Bellweather.
She disappeared from employment three months after Lily was born.
Not dead.
Her nursing license had simply expired.
No death certificate.
Then Ethan asked:
“Did Rebecca use our embryos?”
Claire’s voice cracked.
“I don't know.”
“Then how do I have three daughters?”
Claire looked at the girls.
“I was trying to find that out.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“By hurting one of them?”
Claire closed her eyes.
No excuse.
Then the K-keys produced first real clue.
Blackstone Storage confirmed three deposit cabinets registered under Rebecca Sloan.
K-1.
K-2.
K-3.
One for each child.
But there was a problem.
Records showed Claire had opened K-1 eleven months ago.
K-2 four months ago.
K-3—
had never been opened.
May you like
Yet the girl in hallway had its key.
Someone else had given it to her.
