Chapter 3 — The Baby He Never Told Me About
Chapter 3 — The Baby He Never Told Me About
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same image.
The woman in the black SUV.
Victoria Hale.
Her face had been calm.
Almost amused.
As if she knew something I didn't.
As if she had been waiting for me to discover her.
At six in the morning, I was still sitting beside Lily's crib.
My daughter slept peacefully.
One tiny hand rested against her cheek.
I watched her chest rise and fall.
Then I looked at the documents Rachel had printed.
PROJECT LILY.
The words were still burned into my mind.
Target Mother — Jennifer Whitmore.
Medical Dependency.
Financial Dependency.
Custody Exposure.
Parental Weakness.
I couldn't understand why anyone would create a plan around a three-month-old baby.
Until Rachel arrived.
She walked into my mother's kitchen carrying two coffees and a thick envelope.
“You didn't sleep.”
“No.”
“Neither did I.”
She placed the envelope on the table.
“I found something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Another birth certificate.”
I stared at her.
“For Chloe's baby?”
Rachel nodded.
“Her name is Ava Bennett.”
I felt nothing at first.
Then something strange happened.
I remembered Daniel's messages.
He had always called the baby she.
He had never used her name.
I had assumed it was because he wanted to keep the situation vague.
But now I understood.
He had been hiding more than the pregnancy.
He had been hiding the child herself.
“Where is she?”
Rachel looked at me.
“That's complicated.”
“Why?”
“Because Ava wasn't born where we thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“She was born at a private medical facility outside the city.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Who paid for it?”
Rachel opened the envelope.
“Daniel.”
“How much?”
“$28,000.”
My mouth went dry.
“Twenty-eight thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“Why would a normal delivery cost twenty-eight thousand?”
“It wasn't a normal delivery.”
I stared at her.
“What happened?”
Rachel slid another document toward me.
A medical record.
Ava had been born premature.
Thirty-four weeks.
There had been complications.
She had spent twelve days in neonatal care.
My heart sank.
“Is she okay?”
Rachel nodded.
“According to the latest record, yes.”
I exhaled.
Then I noticed something.
The father's name had been left blank.
“Why?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Because Daniel didn't sign the birth certificate.”
I looked at her.
“But you said he was the father.”
“He may be.”
“May be?”
“We need a DNA test.”
I stood.
“Then what has Daniel been paying for?”
Rachel looked at me.
“That is the question.”
I called Daniel.
He answered on the second ring.
“Jennifer?”
“Where is Ava?”
Silence.
I heard his breathing.
Then:
“Who told you that name?”
“You did.”
“I never told you her name.”
“You didn't have to.”
Another silence.
“Where is she?”
“Jennifer, this isn't something we should discuss over the phone.”
“Then come here.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm being watched.”
“So am I.”
He went quiet.
“I know.”
I froze.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
“Who is watching me?”
“I don't know.”
“You know Victoria Hale.”
His breathing changed.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Your father.”
Silence.
“Daniel.”
He finally spoke.
“Don't go near Victoria.”
“Why?”
“Because she isn't what she looks like.”
I almost laughed.
“Neither are you.”
“I deserve that.”
“Where is Ava?”
He sighed.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“You paid $28,000 for her medical care.”
“Yes.”
“You went to her appointments.”
“Yes.”
“You bought her things.”
“Yes.”
“Then how can you not know where she is?”
His voice dropped.
“Because someone took control.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
I closed my eyes.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Is Ava your daughter?”
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
I whispered:
“You don't know.”
“I think she is.”
“Think?”
“Yes.”
“Then why were you acting like her father?”
“Because Chloe asked me to.”
I stared at the phone.
“What?”
“She said the biological father was dangerous.”
I frowned.
“Who is the biological father?”
“I don't know.”
“You were sleeping with her.”
“I know.”
“You were paying her bills.”
“Yes.”
“You were attending medical appointments.”
“Yes.”
“And you never asked who the father was?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“She refused to tell me.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“So you built another family around a baby you weren't even sure was yours.”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“From whom?”
“I don't know.”
I hung up.
I couldn't listen anymore.
Rachel looked at me.
“What did he say?”
“That he doesn't know if Ava is his.”
Rachel was silent.
“What?”
She opened another document.
“There's something else.”
I sat.
“What?”
“Ava's medical file has been altered.”
My stomach tightened.
“How?”
“Several pages were replaced.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Who changed them?”
“Someone with administrative access.”
I looked at her.
“Can you find out?”
“I already did.”
She slid a printout across the table.
The authorization came from a hospital administrator.
A man named Peter Lang.
I recognized the hospital.
St. Mary's.
The same hospital where Daniel had taken Chloe.
“Who is Peter Lang?”
Rachel's expression changed.
“He died six weeks ago.”
I stared at her.
“How?”
“Car accident.”
“Accident?”
“Yes.”
I looked at the file again.
“Was it?”
Rachel didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
That afternoon, I made a decision.
I was going to see Chloe.
Rachel objected.
“Jennifer, I don't think that's wise.”
“I need answers.”
“She may be involved.”
“She may also be the only person who knows the truth.”
Rachel sighed.
“Then I'm coming with you.”
We drove to Chloe's apartment.
It was nothing like I expected.
I had imagined luxury.
Designer furniture.
A woman living comfortably on my husband's money.
Instead, we found a small apartment above a laundromat.
The hallway smelled like detergent.
The carpet was worn.
There was a child's stroller beside the door.
I knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again.
“Chloe?”
A woman's voice came from inside.
“Who is it?”
“Jennifer.”
Silence.
Then:
“Go away.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“No.”
“About Ava.”
The lock clicked.
The door opened a few inches.
Chloe looked at me.
She looked exhausted.
No makeup.
Messy hair.
Dark circles beneath her eyes.
She was holding a baby monitor.
Her expression changed when she saw me.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I need the truth.”
She looked at Rachel.
“Who's she?”
“My attorney.”
Chloe stepped back.
“Come in.”
Ava was asleep in a small crib.
I stopped when I saw her.
She was tiny.
Much smaller than Lily.
I felt an unexpected ache in my chest.
This child had done nothing wrong.
She was born into a mess created by adults.
Chloe sat down.
“You hate me.”
I shook my head.
“I hate what Daniel did.”
She looked at me.
“That's different?”
“Yes.”
She looked toward Ava.
“I didn't know how to stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Everything.”
I sat across from her.
“Is Ava Daniel's daughter?”
Chloe's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you tell him she was?”
“I didn't.”
I stared.
“What?”
“I never told Daniel she was his.”
“Then why did he believe it?”
“Because he wanted to.”
I frowned.
Chloe continued.
“He was the only person who came when I needed help.”
“You called him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I had nobody.”
“And the father?”
Chloe looked down.
“He was gone.”
“Dead?”
She shook her head.
“Worse.”
“What does that mean?”
“He knew I was pregnant.”
“Then why did he leave?”
“Because he was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Chloe whispered:
“Victoria.”
I froze.
“Victoria Hale?”
Chloe nodded.
“She found me before Ava was born.”
“What did she want?”
“Control.”
“Of what?”
“Ava.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
Chloe's hands began shaking.
“Because of who Ava's father is.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“Who is he?”
Chloe looked at me.
“I don't know.”
“You just said—”
“I know who he works for.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“The Whitmore family.”
I couldn't speak.
Rachel leaned forward.
“Be specific.”
Chloe looked at her.
“The biological father works for Richard.”
“Daniel's father?”
“Yes.”
“What's his name?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I never met him.”
“You just said he works for Richard.”
“He was Richard's driver.”
My blood went cold.
“His driver?”
“Yes.”
“Then how did you meet him?”
Chloe looked toward Ava.
“He drove me home one night.”
She swallowed.
“I was drunk.”
I waited.
“He took me to a hotel.”
I understood.
“And then?”
“He disappeared.”
“Did Richard know?”
“I don't know.”
“Did Daniel know?”
“No.”
“Then why did Daniel pay for everything?”
Chloe looked at me.
“Because Victoria told him to.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She told Daniel that if he wanted to protect me, he needed to make it look like Ava was his.”
My skin went cold.
“Why?”
“Because if people believed Ava was Daniel's daughter, nobody would look for her real father.”
Rachel asked:
“Who was looking?”
Chloe's voice dropped.
“Everyone.”
I stood.
“Where is Ava's father?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Chloe.”
“I swear.”
“Then why are they after her?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did Victoria want her?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did she have the hospital records changed?”
Chloe looked at me.
“Because Ava has a blood type.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“She isn't just a baby.”
Rachel's expression hardened.
“Every child is just a baby.”
Chloe shook her head.
“Not this one.”
She reached beneath the table.
Pulled out an envelope.
And handed it to me.
“This is why Victoria is afraid.”
I opened it.
Inside was a medical report.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
I couldn't understand what I was seeing.
Rachel took it.
Her eyes widened.
“What is it?”
I looked at Chloe.
“A genetic marker.”
Chloe nodded.
“A rare one.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because Ava's father has it.”
“And?”
Chloe looked toward the window.
“Richard does too.”
Silence.
I stared at her.
“Are you saying—”
“I don't know.”
Rachel interrupted.
“Don't speculate.”
But the thought had already entered my mind.
If Richard shared the same rare marker…
If Ava's father worked for Richard…
If Victoria wanted control of Ava…
Then maybe the baby wasn't simply connected to Daniel.
Maybe she was connected to the entire Whitmore family.
Then there was a knock.
Three sharp knocks.
Chloe froze.
“Who is that?”
I looked at Rachel.
Rachel stood.
“Don't open the door.”
Another knock.
Harder.
Chloe whispered:
“They found us.”
“Who?”
She looked at me.
“Victoria.”
The door handle moved.
Someone tried the lock.
Chloe grabbed Ava from the crib.
I stepped back.
Rachel pulled out her phone.
“I'm calling the police.”
The lock suddenly snapped.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Black coat.
Black gloves.
He looked directly at me.
Then at Chloe.
“Give me the baby.”
Chloe screamed.
“No!”
Rachel stepped between us.
“You're trespassing.”
The man ignored her.
I grabbed Chloe's arm.
“Back door.”
She nodded.
We ran.
The apartment had a tiny kitchen.
A narrow door led into an alley.
We rushed through it.
Cold air hit my face.
Chloe clutched Ava.
Rachel ran behind us.
We reached the street.
A black SUV was waiting.
My heart stopped.
Not the same one.
Another.
Two men stepped out.
“Run!”
We turned.
A car horn screamed.
A vehicle came around the corner.
It stopped beside us.
The driver's window lowered.
Daniel.
“Get in!”
I stared.
“You followed us?”
“No!”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I knew they'd come.”
Chloe got into the car.
I followed.
Rachel climbed in after me.
Daniel accelerated.
The men disappeared behind us.
I held Lily's photograph in one hand and watched Chloe clutch Ava.
Two babies.
Two mothers.
One secret.
And a family that had apparently been willing to destroy anyone who got too close to the truth.
After several minutes, Daniel finally spoke.
“You shouldn't have gone there.”
I glared at him.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You knew Victoria would come.”
“I didn't know.”
“You knew enough.”
He said nothing.
I looked at Chloe.
“Tell him.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Tell him about Ava's father.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“I think you deserve to know.”
“Know what?”
“Ava isn't yours.”
Daniel's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“I know.”
“No.”
Chloe looked at him.
“You don't know the truth.”
“What is it?”
She whispered:
“Her father is alive.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Who?”
Chloe looked at me.
Then at him.
“The man Victoria has been trying to find for three years.”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“What's his name?”
Chloe hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Ethan Hale.”
I frowned.
“Who is Ethan Hale?”
Chloe looked out the window.
“Victoria's son.”
Silence.
Daniel nearly missed the next turn.
I stared at Chloe.
“Victoria's son?”
She nodded.
“And Ava is his daughter.”
My blood ran cold.
Rachel looked at me.
“Then Victoria isn't trying to control Ava.”
Chloe whispered:
“No.”
May you like
She looked at me.
“She is trying to hide her own granddaughter.”
