Chapter 8: The Baby They Tried to Take
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The sentence hung in the air.
*Your IVF records were changed.*
I looked at Linda.
Then at Mark.
Then back at Linda.
“What does that mean?””
She looked terrified.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
My voice was shaking.
“But tell me the truth.””
Linda sat down.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked old.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like carrying this secret had exhausted her.
“Before your final IVF transfer, your parents contacted me.””
Mark stared at her.
“Why would they contact you?””
“Because they knew I wanted grandchildren.””
My heart sank.
“They used that.””
Linda nodded.
“They told me Sarah was unstable. That she was obsessed with having a baby.””
I felt sick.
The same lie.
The same story.
“They told me the pregnancy would destroy your marriage.””
Mark looked furious.
“And you believed them?””
Linda lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than a lie.
“Why?””
She swallowed.
“Because I was afraid of losing you.””
Mark stepped back.
“I was afraid of losing you?””
His voice was broken.
“So you helped them hurt my wife?””
Linda cried.
“I thought I was helping you.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You were helping yourself.””
I looked at Linda.
“What records were changed?””
She reached into her purse.
“I have something.””
She pulled out a folder.
My heart raced.
Another folder.
Another hidden truth.
She placed it on the table.
“I found this months ago.””
I stared at it.
“Why didn’t you tell us?””
“Because I was scared.””
I almost smiled.
Everyone was scared.
Everyone had a reason.
But I was the one lying in a hospital bed.
I opened the folder.
Inside were copies of IVF documents.
My name.
My information.
But something was wrong.
The embryo transfer date.
The clinic notes.
The signatures.
I looked closer.
“Why does this signature look different?””
Linda whispered:
“Because it isn’t yours.””
Mark leaned over the papers.
“Someone signed for her?””
I looked at Linda.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
I already knew.
My parents.
The next week became a blur of doctors, lawyers, and investigators.
The clinic agreed to review the records.
They confirmed something impossible.
Someone had accessed my medical file.
Someone had attempted to interfere with my treatment.
But the most shocking discovery was still coming.
A fertility specialist named Dr. Collins requested a private meeting.
He had treated us during our final IVF attempt.
When he walked into the room, he looked nervous.
“Sarah, I owe you an apology.””
I stared at him.
“For what?””
He sat down.
“I should have noticed.””
My stomach tightened.
“Noticed what?””
He opened a file.
“Your parents pressured the clinic.””
I felt anger rise.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
“Because legally, they had no authority over your treatment.””
“Then why did they listen?””
His eyes dropped.
“Because they donated money to the clinic.””
I froze.
My parents.
They had influence.
They had power.
And they used it.
“They tried to stop my pregnancy.””
Dr. Collins nodded.
“Yes.””
Mark grabbed my hand.
“What happened?””
The doctor took a breath.
“They requested that your final embryo transfer be delayed.””
I stared.
“But it wasn’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
His expression changed.
“Because someone else stopped them.””
I looked confused.
“Who?””
He opened another document.
The answer was written there.
My breath disappeared.
Mark read it first.
His eyes widened.
“Sarah…”
I took the paper.
And saw the name.
The person who overrode my parents’ request.
The person who protected my chance to become a mother.
My hands trembled.
Because it was someone I never expected.
Chloe.
That evening, Chloe came over.
No makeup.
No designer clothes.
No confidence.
Just my little sister.
The girl who had spent years standing beside our parents.
I held up the document.
“Why?””
She started crying immediately.
“Because I knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That they were wrong.””
I waited.
She wiped her face.
“When Mom and Dad tried to stop your IVF, I found out.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was scared.””
I closed my eyes.
That word again.
“Chloe.””
She looked at me.
“I was their favorite because I never challenged them.””
Her voice broke.
“But when I saw what they were doing to you, I realized something.””
“What?””
“I wasn’t their favorite.””
She swallowed.
“I was their puppet.””
The room was quiet.
Then Chloe said:
“There’s something else you need to know.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She took a deep breath.
“Dad didn’t pull you because you refused to move.””
My heart slowed.
“What are you saying?””
“He pulled you because Mom told him Mark was about to find out something.””
My blood ran cold.
“Find out what?””
Chloe looked toward Mark.
Then back at me.
“The truth about where your embryo came from.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
May you like
She whispered:
“Sarah… your baby is connected to a secret your parents have been hiding for years.””
