Chapter 7: The Man Eric Brought With Him
The hospital door opened before anyone could stop it.
Eric walked in first.
He looked perfectly composed.
No panic. No guilt. Not even a trace of the desperation from his messages.
His coat was dry.
His hair was neatly combed.
He looked like a man arriving for a business appointment.
Then Daniel stepped through the doorway behind him.
I stared.
It was the first time I had seen him in person.
He was taller than Eric, with dark hair, tired eyes, and a small scar near his left eyebrow. He looked nothing like the man in the photograph.
But there was something familiar about him.
Not his face.
His eyes.
I'd seen those eyes somewhere before.
Daniel stopped when he saw me.
“Claire.””
Eric immediately stepped between us.
“You don't need to talk to him.””
My father moved forward.
“You need to leave.””
Eric looked at him and smiled faintly.
“You changed my locks.””
“Yes.””
“You had no right.””
My father didn't blink.
“Actually, I did.””
Eric's smile disappeared.
“This is still my home.””
“No,” my father said.
“It never was.””
Eric glanced at me.
“Claire, you need to come home.””
I almost laughed.
“Home?””
“Yes.””
“The home you abandoned me from this morning?””
“That wasn't what happened.””
I stared at him.
“You dragged me out of a car.””
“I was angry.””
“You left me on the side of the road.””
“I thought you were exaggerating.””
“I was in labor.””
“You weren't.””
My father's face hardened.
“The hospital records say otherwise.””
Eric's eyes flicked toward him.
“This is between my wife and me.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
His expression shifted.
“What?””
“This stopped being between us the second you decided my safety didn't matter.””
Daniel remained silent near the doorway.
I looked at him.
“You came here with him?””
Daniel shook his head.
“He brought me.””
Eric snapped, “Don't start.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You promised she wouldn't be in danger.””
“I didn't put her in danger.””
“You left her on a road.””
Eric's jaw tightened.
“She wasn't in labor.””
Daniel took one step forward.
“You don't get to say that anymore.””
The room went still.
Eric looked at Daniel with open hatred.
“You're making a mistake.””
Daniel's voice was quiet.
“No. I made the mistake years ago.””
My father stood beside my bed.
“Claire, don't let them manipulate you.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then tell me the truth.””
Eric immediately said, “You don't know him.””
“I know that.””
Daniel nodded.
“She's right.””
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded envelope.
“I came here because I want her to know what happened.””
Eric grabbed his wrist.
Daniel jerked free.
“Don't touch me.””
Eric stepped closer.
“You said you wouldn't do this.””
“I said I'd protect the child.””
“You don't have a child.””
Daniel looked directly at me.
Then at my stomach.
His expression broke.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“I do.””
I could barely breathe.
“Then why did you say you weren't the father?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because I wasn't.””
My father closed his eyes.
Eric's face changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
I saw it.
A crack.
A tiny flicker of fear beneath all that confidence.
“Who is?”” I asked.
Daniel didn't answer.
Eric did.
“No one.””
I turned toward him.
“Stop lying.””
He went silent.
Daniel opened the envelope.
Inside was a printed genetic report.
He placed it on the tray.
“I had a private test done two weeks ago.””
My fingers trembled as I reached for it.
The first page showed DNA markers.
I barely understood them.
Then I saw the conclusion.
*Probability of paternity: 99.99%.*
I looked at Daniel.
“This says…”
“I know.””
“You are the father.””
“Yes.””
I looked up sharply.
“But you just said you weren't.””
“I said I wasn't the man Eric thinks.””
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at Eric.
“Because Eric believed the donor sample was mine.””
My father stepped closer.
“Then whose was it?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Mine.””
I stared at him.
“You just said—”
“Claire, listen.””
He took a breath.
“The sample used at the clinic was mine. Genetically, this baby is mine.””
I felt a strange wave of relief.
Then confusion.
“Then why did you say otherwise?””
“Because the clinic paperwork was altered.””
My father frowned.
“What?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Someone substituted the donor identification.””
I looked down at the report.
“So the paperwork says someone else.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Eric.””
My head snapped up.
“He listed himself?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at my father.
“He listed another man.””
The room became silent.
“Who?””
Daniel reached for another document.
Before he could show me, Eric lunged and snatched it from his hand.
“Enough.””
He tore the paper in half.
I flinched.
My father stepped forward.
“You just made your situation much worse.””
Eric ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Claire, listen to me.””
“No.””
“I made mistakes.””
“You nearly got me killed.””
“No.””
“You didn't believe me when I told you I was in pain.””
“I was angry.””
“You were cruel.””
Eric's face hardened.
“You think your father is telling you the truth?””
I didn't answer.
“He's been manipulating you since before we met.””
My father laughed coldly.
“You really want to have that conversation now?””
Eric pointed at him.
“He knows what he did.””
I looked between them.
“What did he do?””
Eric took a breath.
“Ask your father who Daniel's biological father is.””
I frowned.
Daniel went still.
My father looked at him.
I noticed.
That tiny exchange.
It was enough.
“Dad?””
He didn't respond.
“Who is Daniel's father?””
Daniel stepped backward.
Eric smiled.
“There it is.””
My father's face had gone pale.
I whispered, “Dad.””
Finally, he said:
“Thomas.””
I blinked.
“Who is Thomas?””
Eric answered.
“Our father.””
My stomach dropped.
Daniel looked at the floor.
Eric continued.
“Daniel is my half brother.””
“I know.””
“No.”” Eric smiled bitterly.
“You don't know.””
He pointed at Daniel.
“His father is the same man who founded the trust.””
I looked at my father.
“What does that matter?””
Eric laughed.
“Everything.””
My father shook his head.
“Don't listen to him.””
“Why?””
“Because he's twisting the truth.””
Eric took one step toward my bed.
“You want to know why your father financed our house?””
My father said sharply, “Eric.””
“You want to know why he paid for your fertility treatment?””
My eyes widened.
“You did?””
My father didn't answer.
Eric smiled.
“Of course he did.””
I looked at Dad.
“Why?””
His voice was barely audible.
“Because I wanted to make sure you could have a child.””
“But why Daniel?””
My father stared at me.
“Because I knew his genetics could unlock the trust.””
I felt sick.
“So you planned this too?””
“No.””
“Then why did you arrange it?””
“I didn't.””
Eric laughed.
“You did more than arrange it.””
My father suddenly shouted, “Enough!””
The entire room went silent.
Eric looked almost satisfied.
My father turned to me.
“I made a deal with Thomas Mercer.””
“Who?””
“Daniel's father.””
“Before your marriage?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of deal?””
My father's eyes filled with regret.
“Your grandfather's estate was tied into a trust. Thomas controlled it. Years ago, he agreed to transfer part of the trust into my name.””
“Why?””
“Because I helped him during a financial crisis.””
I stared at him.
“And Eric?””
“He wanted access.””
Eric said quietly, “I wanted what belonged to my family.””
“No,” my father replied.
“You wanted what didn't belong to you.””
Eric ignored him.
Then he looked at me.
“You were supposed to have a baby with Daniel.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“A child connected to the Mercer bloodline.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“That's not what happened.””
Eric glared at him.
“You signed the paperwork.””
“Under pressure.””
“You accepted the money.””
“To save my mother's house.””
“You agreed.””
“I agreed because you threatened my family.””
I stared between them.
“This was all planned?””
Daniel looked at me.
“At first.””
The honesty hurt more than another lie would have.
“And then?””
“Then I met you.””
I frowned.
“When?””
Daniel swallowed.
“The night of your miscarriage.””
I stared at him.
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“You saw me?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Eric threatened you.””
My voice cracked.
“You watched me suffer.””
“I tried to help.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I was afraid.””
I looked away.
The baby moved beneath my hand.
Then Eric's voice cut through the room.
“There is something both of them aren't telling you.””
My father's expression changed.
Daniel looked at Eric.
“Don't.””
Eric smiled.
“The embryo wasn't supposed to be used with Claire.””
My heart lurched.
“What?””
Eric stepped closer.
“It was supposed to be used with Vanessa.””
Silence.
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Vanessa was the intended mother.””
Daniel shook his head.
“She's lying.””
“Then ask Claire why her medical records were altered.””
My father's face drained of color.
Eric continued.
“The embryo was supposed to go to Vanessa.””
“But it didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Eric looked straight into my eyes.
“Because someone switched the patient records.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
He smiled.
My father whispered, “Eric, stop.””
But Eric was already speaking.
“Your father.””
I stared at Dad.
“No.””
He said nothing.
Eric pulled out his phone.
“I have proof.””
He held up a photograph.
It showed my father standing outside the fertility clinic.
Beside him was Vanessa.
And in my father's hand was a folder labeled:
*Claire Bennett — Embryo Transfer.*
My whole body went cold.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“I can explain.””
Before he could say anything, my phone buzzed.
A new message.
It was from Vanessa.
*Claire, don't believe Eric. Your father didn't switch the embryo.*
Then another message appeared.
*I did.*
My heart pounded.
A third message followed.
*Because the baby you're carrying was never meant to belong to Eric—or Daniel.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then the final message arrived.
*It was meant to belong to me.*
