THREE BILLION DOLLAR BABIES

Chapter 7: Three Heartbeats

The eight-week ultrasound was scheduled for a Tuesday at 9 AM, and for once, I didn't feel like complete death.

The anti-nausea medication Dr. Patel prescribed was finally working. I'd managed to eat actual food for three days straight. My stomach was definitely showing now—a small but undeniable bump that made everything real in ways it hadn't been before.

Three babies. Growing inside me. Tiny humans the size of raspberries, developing fingers and toes and beating hearts.

I tried not to think about them too much. Tried to maintain the clinical distance I needed to hand them over in seven months.

It wasn't working.

Yuki had offered to come to the appointment with me, but I'd declined. The fewer people involved, the easier this would be. Besides, it was just a routine check. Verify development, make sure all three were growing properly, then go home and continue the surrogacy countdown.

Simple.

Except when I arrived at the clinic, Yuki was already in the waiting room.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"You're not doing this alone anymore. I don't care what the contract says." She stood and hugged me. "Besides, I switched shifts specifically so I could see my future godchildren on the ultrasound."

"Yuki—"

"Don't argue. I'm a pediatric specialist. I should meet them early."

Something tight in my chest loosened. "Thank you."

"That's what best friends are for. Now let's go see these babies."

The ultrasound tech was different this time—an older woman named Sarah with kind eyes and steady hands. "Dr. Morgan, good to see you again. And you brought support. That's wonderful."

"This is Dr. Tanaka. She's my—"

"I'm the godmother," Yuki announced. "And I'm here to make sure these babies are behaving."

Sarah smiled. "Let's take a look. Lie back, Riley."

I settled onto the table, and Yuki grabbed my hand. The gel was cold as always, and I watched the screen as Sarah moved the wand across my growing bump.

Three dark shapes appeared. Three tiny forms, much bigger than last time, moving slightly.

"There's Baby A," Sarah said, pointing. "And Baby B. And Baby C. All three have strong heartbeats. Let me just check the measurements..."

She went quiet, moving the wand around, clicking buttons, taking measurements. Her brow furrowed.

"Is something wrong?" My grip on Yuki's hand tightened.

"No, nothing wrong. The babies are all developing perfectly. It's just..." Sarah paused. "Let me get Dr. Patel. One moment."

She left quickly. Too quickly.

"Riley," Yuki said carefully. "I'm sure it's fine—"

"Why would she need to get the doctor? What did she see?"

"Maybe just a routine consultation. Don't panic."

But I was panicking. My free hand went to my stomach, protective instinct overwhelming. "They're okay, right? All three of them?"

"Their heartbeats looked strong. Whatever it is—"

Dr. Patel rushed in, and my stomach dropped. She looked concerned. Confused. Like something didn't make sense.

"Riley." She sat down next to the ultrasound machine. "The babies are all healthy. Let me say that first. Three strong heartbeats, good development, everything looks exactly as it should for eight weeks."

"But?"

"But I need to run some additional tests. Standard genetic screening. We do it for all pregnancies, but especially with multiples." She pulled up something on her computer. "When did you say the embryo transfer was?"

"September fifteenth."

Dr. Patel's frown deepened. "And you're certain about that date?"

"Yes. Why?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she drew blood—three vials—and sent them to the lab with a urgent notation I saw her scribble.

"What's going on?" Yuki demanded. "You're scaring her."

"I need to verify something. It's probably nothing, but..." Dr. Patel looked at me. "Do you have plans this afternoon? Can you wait here for about an hour?"

"An hour for what?"

"Lab results. I put a rush on them."

My heart hammered. "What kind of lab results?"

"Genetic markers. Just routine verification." But the way she said it wasn't routine at all.

Yuki squeezed my hand. "We'll wait."

The longest hour of my life.

We sat in the waiting room—Yuki scrolling through her phone, trying to look calm, while I spiraled into every worst-case scenario. Genetic abnormalities. Developmental issues. Something wrong with the babies.

"They looked healthy," Yuki kept saying. "Strong heartbeats, good movement. Whatever this is—"

"Why would she need genetic markers if everything was fine?"

"Sometimes they just need to verify—"

"Dr. Morgan?" A nurse appeared. "Dr. Patel is ready for you."

We followed her back to a private office, not an exam room. That felt significant. Dr. Patel sat behind her desk, my file open, expression unreadable.

"Riley. Dr. Tanaka." She gestured for us to sit. "I need to ask you some questions, and I need you to answer honestly."

"Okay," I said slowly.

"The surrogacy arrangement—you're certain the embryos implanted were from preserved eggs and donor sperm?"

"Yes. That's what the contract specified. Victoria Chen's eggs, anonymous donor sperm."

Dr. Patel nodded. "And you've had no s****l contact around the time of the procedure?"

Heat flooded my face. "No. I haven't been with anyone in over a year."

"I had to ask." She opened a folder. "Riley, the genetic screening came back. These babies..." She paused. "They're not from embryo implantation."

The room tilted. "What?"

"The genetic markers indicate natural conception. Not IVF. Not embryo transfer. You conceived these babies naturally, approximately eight weeks ago."

"That's impossible. I wasn't with anyone. The only procedure I had was—"

And then it hit me.

The nervous tech. Amy. Fumbling with the samples. Confused about the labeling. "Sample A, no wait, Sample B..."

"Oh my God," I whispered.

Yuki grabbed my hand. "Riley, what—"

"There was confusion during the procedure. The tech was new, she couldn't figure out the labeling system. She kept checking her tablet."

Dr. Patel's expression darkened. "What kind of confusion?"

"She mixed up the samples. She must have..." My voice failed. "What did she do?"

Dr. Patel pulled out another document. "I ran a full genetic panel. The babies are biologically yours—we confirmed that through your DNA. And the father..." She slid a paper across the desk. "The paternity markers match samples we have on file from the clinic's database."

I stared at the name.

Biological Father: Dominic Steele

The world stopped.

"No," I said. "No, that's wrong. They implanted embryos. Victoria's embryos."

"They didn't. According to these results, you underwent intrauterine insemination with fresh sperm, not embryo transfer. The babies are your biological children and Dominic Steele's biological children."

Yuki made a strangled sound. "How is that possible?"

"Clinic error. Sample mix-up. Someone used the wrong procedure with the wrong genetic material." Dr. Patel looked furious. "This is a massive violation of protocol. I'm reporting this immediately."

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

These weren't Victoria's babies. They were mine. Mine and Dominic's.

We'd created three children together. Not through embryo transfer. Through conception.

"Riley?" Yuki shook my shoulder. "Say something."

"I need to see the procedure records."

Dr. Patel made a call. Within minutes, Dr. Whitmore appeared, looking pale.

"There's been a mistake," he said immediately.

"You think?" I stood, rage flooding through the shock. "You think there's been a MISTAKE?"

"The technician was new. She misread the charts. Instead of embryo transfer, she performed IUI with—"

"With Dominic Steele's fresh sperm sample instead of the preserved embryos." My voice shook. "You used the wrong procedure with the wrong genetic material and didn't notice for eight weeks?"

"The error has been identified and the technician has been terminated—"

"I'm pregnant with the wrong babies!" I was shouting now, didn't care who heard. "These are supposed to be Victoria Chen's children! Instead they're—they're—"

Mine. The word stuck in my throat.

Whitmore's face was ashen. "We're prepared to offer termination services at no cost. And of course, we'll refund all payments—"

"Get out."

"Dr. Morgan—"

"GET OUT!"

He fled.

I collapsed into the chair, shaking. Yuki wrapped her arms around me.

"Oh honey," she whispered. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Three babies. My babies. Dominic's babies. Not Victoria's. Not the plan. Not the contract. "I have to tell him."

"Maybe wait until—"

"No. He needs to know. Right now."

Dr. Patel handed me her phone. "I'll give you privacy."

After she left, I stared at Dominic's number. The one he'd texted me from, telling me never to contact him.

I called anyway.

It rang four times. Then: "Dr. Morgan. I believe I made clear that all communication—"

"I'm not carrying Victoria's babies."

Silence.

"The clinic made a mistake. A catastrophic, unforgivable mistake." My voice cracked. "These aren't embryos from Victoria's eggs. They're not from IVF at all. They're mine. Biologically mine."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying we conceived these babies. You and me. Naturally. During the procedure, they used the wrong samples, did the wrong procedure, and now I'm pregnant with your biological children. Three of them."

More silence. Then, very quietly: "That's impossible."

"I have the genetic testing right here. These babies are yours and mine. Not Victoria's. Ours."

I heard him breathing. Heard something crash in the background.

"Dominic?"

"Where are you?"

"The clinic."

"Don't move. I'm coming."

The line went dead.

I looked at Yuki. "He's coming."

"Of course he is. Riley, these are his actual children now. Not symbolic replacements for Victoria's lost family. His own biological kids."

Three babies. Mine and Dominic's. Created by accident, by error, by impossible chance.

Everything had just changed.

Twenty minutes later, the clinic waiting room doors burst open.

Dominic Steele stormed in like a hurricane, still in his business suit, eyes wild. He spotted me immediately.

"Show me the results."

I handed him the genetic testing. Watched his face as he read. Watched the color drain from his skin. Watched his jaw clench so tight I thought his teeth might crack.

"This is wrong."

"It's not. Dr. Patel verified it three times."

"We never—" He stopped. "The procedure was clinical. There was no—"

"I know. But they used the wrong samples. Did IUI instead of embryo transfer. And I conceived. With you."

Dominic stared at my stomach. At the small bump where three tiny humans—his actual children, not Victoria's—were growing.

"They're mine," he said, voice hoarse. "Biologically mine."

"And biologically mine."

His eyes snapped to my face. "You planned this."

"What?"

"You manipulated the samples. You saw an opportunity to trap a billionaire and you—"

Rage exploded through me. I stood, got right in his face despite the height difference.

"I was UNCONSCIOUS during most of that procedure! I had no control over what happened! And you think I WANTED this?" My voice rose. "You think I wanted to be pregnant with the children of a man who hates me? Who treats me like garbage? Who blames me for his fiancée's death?"

"Then explain how this happened!"

"Clinic error! Human mistake! The tech was new, confused the samples, did the wrong procedure, and nobody noticed until NOW!"

We were both shouting. The entire waiting room was staring.

Yuki stepped between us. "Both of you, calm down. This isn't helping."

Dominic's chest heaved. "Those babies are mine."

"They're mine too."

"The contract—"

"Is void. These aren't the children we agreed to. The entire arrangement is null."

His face went carefully blank. "Then what do you want?"

"I want to know what YOU want. Because I'm eight weeks pregnant with three babies that are biologically ours, and I have no idea what happens now."

Dominic looked at my stomach again. Something flickered in his eyes—fear, maybe. Or wonder. Or rage. I couldn't tell.

"I need to think," he said finally.

"You have twenty-four hours. Then I'm deciding for myself what to do." I grabbed my purse. "Come on, Yuki. We're leaving."

"Riley—" Dominic started.

"Twenty-four hours, Mr. Steele. Then I'm done waiting for you to figure out how to be a human being."

I walked out with my head high and my hands shaking.

Behind me, I heard Dominic say one word: "Fuck."

Yeah. That about summed it up.