Chapter 8: Two Babies, One Terrible Lie
The photograph was placed inside an evidence bag.
Detective Foster studied it under the examination room light.
Hannah stood beside Grace, who was now wrapped in a police officer's spare jacket.
Ethan looked as though he had aged ten years.
Savannah sat handcuffed against the wall.
“Tell us what this means,” Detective Foster demanded.
Savannah didn't answer.
He placed the photograph in front of her.
“Are these two children yours?””
Savannah looked down.
Then she smiled.
“You're asking the wrong question.””
“What question should I be asking?””
“Ask why everyone believed there was only one baby.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Savannah, stop playing games.””
She looked at him.
“You wanted a child, Ethan. You wanted an heir. You wanted someone to carry the Whitmore name.””
“I wanted a family.””
“You wanted perfection.””
He shook his head.
“Where did these babies come from?””
Savannah looked toward Hannah.
“Ask Claire.””
Hannah felt her stomach tighten.
“Claire isn't here.””
“Then perhaps you should call her.””
Detective Foster immediately ordered an officer to contact Claire and arrange for her to come to the clinic.
Savannah leaned back.
“You're all pretending this is a simple case of a stolen child. It isn't.””
Ethan's voice broke.
“Then explain it.””
For the first time, Savannah's expression softened.
Not with affection.
With exhaustion.
“Three years ago, I discovered I couldn't carry a pregnancy safely. My doctor told me another pregnancy could kill me.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You told me the first pregnancy was a miscarriage.””
“It was.””
“Then you told me you were pregnant again.””
Savannah nodded.
“Because I knew you would never accept adoption.””
“That's not true.””
“You spent years telling me your father wanted an heir. You made it clear that the Whitmore name needed a biological successor.””
Ethan looked away.
Savannah continued.
“I found Claire through a private agency. She agreed to carry a child for us.””
Claire entered the room with an officer.
Her eyes immediately went to Savannah.
“You said my baby was dead.””
Savannah looked at her.
“Claire, please.””
“Don't you dare say my name like we're friends.””
Claire approached.
“You took my daughter.””
Savannah shook her head.
“I protected her.””
“You told me she died!””
“You wouldn't have understood.””
Claire slapped the table.
“I was her mother!””
The room fell silent.
Savannah looked down.
Then she said something unexpected.
“Isabella wasn't the only baby.””
Ethan's head snapped up.
“What?””
Savannah looked at him.
“Claire was pregnant with twins.””
Claire froze.
“No.””
Savannah nodded.
“A boy and a girl.””
Hannah felt her knees weaken.
Twins.
Two babies.
Two names.
Detective Foster leaned forward.
“Where is the second child?””
Savannah looked at Ethan.
“That's what I was trying to protect.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who was the boy?””
Savannah's lips trembled.
“He was the child your father wanted.””
Ethan stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
“Your father arranged everything. He knew about Claire. He knew about the twins. He wanted a male heir.””
Ethan shook his head.
“My father died four years ago.””
“His arrangements didn't.””
Savannah looked toward the photograph.
“Claire gave birth to two babies. The boy was transferred to a private medical facility. Isabella was supposed to be raised by us.””
Claire began crying.
“Why did you tell me my daughter died?””
Savannah's face hardened.
“Because the boy needed to survive.””
“Why couldn't both children survive?””
Savannah looked away.
“Because one of them had a medical condition.””
Hannah remembered the medical authorization.
The operation.
The scar.
“What condition?””
Savannah didn't answer.
Detective Foster repeated the question.
“What condition did the baby have?””
Savannah finally whispered:
“A congenital heart defect.””
Claire covered her mouth.
“Which baby?””
“The boy.””
Claire began shaking.
“Where is he?””
Savannah looked at Ethan.
“Your father arranged for him to be treated in another country. He was supposed to come back once he was healthy.””
Ethan's face turned pale.
“Are you telling me I have a son?””
Savannah nodded.
“You have a son.””
The room went silent.
Then Ethan asked the question that changed everything.
“Where is he now?””
Savannah looked at him.
“I don't know.””
Detective Foster leaned forward.
“You expect us to believe that?””
“I haven't seen him in two years.””
“Who has?””
Savannah looked at Claire.
“Your mother.””
Claire frowned.
“My mother died when I was sixteen.””
Savannah shook her head.
“Not your mother.””
She pointed toward Ethan.
“His mother.””
Ethan stumbled backward.
“My mother?””
Savannah nodded.
“Your father arranged for her to raise the boy after the treatment. She was the only person he trusted.””
Ethan looked at Hannah.
His mother had died eighteen months earlier.
The same year the Whitmore family had supposedly stopped making payments to the private medical facility.
He slowly reached for his phone.
“I need to call my mother's solicitor.””
Detective Foster raised a hand.
“Don't make any calls until we've established the facts.””
But Ethan was already scrolling through his contacts.
Then he stopped.
An incoming call appeared.
*MOTHER'S ESTATE LAWYER.*
He answered.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Ethan. I'm glad you've answered.””
“What is it?””
“I've been trying to reach you. There's a matter concerning your mother's estate that can no longer be delayed.””
“What matter?””
A pause.
“Your mother left instructions regarding a child.””
Ethan looked at Savannah.
“What child?””
“The boy she raised privately.””
Ethan's fingers began trembling.
“Where is he?””
“Your mother requested that I give you the information only after a particular document was located.””
“What document?””
“The original birth certificate.””
Ethan looked toward Detective Foster.
The lawyer continued.
“There is also a letter. It explains why your father arranged for the child to be separated from his twin sister.””
“Why?””
“Because the boy was never supposed to be raised as your son.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
“What do you mean?””
The lawyer lowered his voice.
“Your father knew the boy's biological father.””
Ethan stopped breathing.
“Who was he?””
A long pause followed.
Then the lawyer said:
“Your father.””
Ethan dropped the phone.
Savannah closed her eyes.
Claire began sobbing.
And Hannah finally understood why Savannah had spent so much time watching the children rather than loving them.
May you like
This had never been about motherhood.
It had been about a fortune.
