A SECRET TOO DANGEROUS
1272 Words
The attorney's question hung in the air.
“Is there a problem?”
The clinic supervisor forced herself to remain calm.“No problem, Mr. Bennett. We are simply reviewing the records.”
Adriel's attorney studied her for a moment.“I was instructed to obtain written confirmation that Mr. Matthias's sample remains secure.”
“Of course.”The supervisor reached for the file.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Chloe noticed.She knew they couldn't delay forever.
“Mr. Bennett,” Chloe said carefully, “there has been an administrative discrepancy.”
The attorney's eyes narrowed.“What kind of discrepancy?”
The supervisor shot Chloe a warning look.
“We are still investigating it.”
“Does it concern Mr. Matthias?”
Neither woman answered immediately.
Their silence was heavy.
The attorney closed his briefcase.“Then I suggest you stop investigating and start explaining.”
The supervisor swallowed.“There was an error involving one of the stored samples.”
“What error?”
“We're not yet certain.”
“Is Mr. Matthias's sample still where it should be?”
The supervisor looked at Chloe.
Chloe lowered her eyes.“No.”
The attorney's expression hardened.“What do you mean, no?”
The supervisor quickly intervened.
“We believe the sample may have been released under an incorrect patient identification.”
“May have been?”
“We're verifying the records.”
“Then verify them quickly.”
He stood.“My client expects answers.”
After he left, the room remained silent.
Chloe finally spoke.“We have to tell the director.”
The supervisor nodded.
“And after that?”
Chloe looked toward the door.
“We tell him everything.”
Across the city, Adriel sat in his office waiting for his attorney's return.
He hated uncertainty.
His entire life had been built around control.
Every investment, every acquisition and every business decision had been carefully calculated.
His future child would be no different.
He had stored his sample precisely because he wanted control over when and how he became a father.
A knock sounded.
“Come in.”
Mr. Bennett entered.
Adriel immediately noticed his expression.“What happened?”
“The clinic reported an administrative issue.”
Adriel's eyes narrowed.“What kind of issue?”
“They haven't given me the full details.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I don't think it's minor.”
Adriel stood.“Call them.”
“I already did.”
“And?”
“They want to arrange a meeting.”
Adriel's jaw tightened.“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Too late.”He picked up his phone.
“Get me the director now.”
At Sweet Crumbs, Jelina was closing the shop when Kevin walked in.
“You're still here?”
She smiled.“I had two late customers.”
He looked at the pastries on the counter.
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
Kevin frowned.“You need to take care of yourself.”
Jelina smiled.“You sound like my sister.”
“I mean it.”He walked behind the counter and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Jelina leaned against him.
For once, she felt peaceful.“How's work?” she asked.
“Fine.”
“You're not fighting with another client?”
He laughed.“Not today.”
She turned around.“That's progress.”
Kevin kissed her forehead.
“When the baby comes, I'll have to become a better man.”
Jelina smiled.
“You already are a good man.”
His expression changed.“Do you really believe that?”
“Of course.”
He looked at her for several seconds.Then he pulled her closer.
“I don't want to lose you.”
“You won't.”
“I mean it, Jelina.”
She touched his cheek.“Neither do I.”
But she didn't notice the fear behind his eyes.
Kevin had spent days thinking about the donor. At first, he had told himself it didn't matter.
The donor was anonymous.
A stranger.
Someone who would never know about their child.
That made it easier.
But lately, an uncomfortable thought had begun troubling him.What if the donor wasn't really anonymous?
He pushed the thought away.
There was no reason to worry.
The next morning, Adriel arrived at the fertility clinic.
The director met him personally.“Mr. Matthias, I apologize for asking you to come in.”
Adriel didn't sit.“Tell me what happened.”
The director hesitated.“We discovered a discrepancy involving one of your stored samples.”
“What discrepancy?”
“One of your samples was released for a procedure.”
Adriel's face became expressionless.“A procedure?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Several days ago.”
“Why was my sample released?”
“We believe there was a labeling error.”
Adriel stared at him.“Believe?”
“We're conducting a full investigation.”
“Who received it?”
The director went silent.
Adriel's voice became colder.“Who received my sample?”
“A patient undergoing IVF.”
“Name.”
The director hesitated.“Mr. Matthias—”
“Name.”
“Jelina Mayfair.”
The name meant nothing to him.
Adriel's expression didn't change.
“Is she pregnant?”
The director looked down.“The procedure was completed successfully.”
For the first time, something flickered across Adriel's face.
“So she's pregnant?”
“We don't know yet.”
“But the procedure was successful.”
“Yes.”
Adriel walked toward the window.
A woman he had never met might now be carrying his child.
His child.
The thought was surreal.
“What does this woman know?”
“She was told she received anonymous donor sperm.”
Adriel turned around sharply.“You told her nothing?”
“We couldn't reveal confidential information before completing our investigation.”
“You made a mistake involving my biological child, and she doesn't even know?”
The director's face tightened.“We're trying to correct it.”
Adriel laughed without humor.“Correct it?”
He stepped closer.
“You cannot correct a pregnancy.”
The director had no response.
Adriel's mind raced.He needed answers.
He needed to know everything about the woman carrying his child.
“Give me her medical file.”
“We can't.”
Adriel stared at him.“You know who I am.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know I won't leave this building without answers.”
The director's voice remained firm.
“Your wealth doesn't override patient confidentiality.”
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Adriel nodded.“Fine.”
He turned toward the door.“I'll get the information legally.”
The director watched him leave.He knew that was not a threat Adriel Matthias made lightly.
Outside the clinic, Adriel entered his car.
His attorney sat beside him.
“Find everything you legally can about Jelina Mayfair.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where she lives. What she does. Her marital status.”
His attorney paused.“Anything else?”
Adriel looked through the window.“Yes.”
He remembered the director's words.
She's carrying your child.
His jaw tightened.
“Find out everything about the baby.”
The car pulled away from the clinic.
Adriel had spent years believing he could control his future.
Now a stranger was carrying a piece of him.
And for the first time in his life, he had no idea what would happen next.
But he was determined to find out.
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