Chapter 5 - The Man Behind the File Number
I barely slept.
Not because of the hospital monitors.
Not because of the fall.
Because somewhere in California was a man named Daniel who shared half of Ethan’s DNA and all of my unborn daughter’s biological paternity.
And he knew I was pregnant.
The doctor discharged me the next morning with strict instructions to rest.
On the ride home, Ethan tried to explain.
I told him to stop.
“I need facts, not excuses.”
He nodded.
So I asked questions.
“How did Daniel donate?”
“He flew here.”
“When?”
“Before the cycle.”
“Did you meet him?”
“Yes.”
“Did I?”
“No.”
“Was he at the clinic the same day as me?”
“Yes.”
I turned toward the window.
That hurt in a way I couldn’t explain.
Somewhere in that building, while I was getting blood drawn and trying not to cry, my husband had been meeting a brother he had hidden from me.
“Why didn’t he contact me?”
“He agreed not to.”
“Did he sign something?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is he threatening to come here?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying again.”
“I’m not.”
“Ethan, I don’t even know what your truth sounds like anymore.”
He didn’t answer.
When we reached our apartment, Richard was waiting outside.
Alone.
Ethan got out.
“Dad?”
“We need to talk.”
My first instinct was to tell him no.
Then I saw his face.
Richard looked older than he had twenty-four hours earlier.
We went inside.
He refused coffee.
Wouldn’t sit.
Finally, I said, “Tell me what Daniel wants.”
Richard looked at Ethan.
“You didn’t tell her?”
“I told her Daniel was the donor.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Dad.”
Richard looked at me.
“Daniel says Ethan lied to him.”
I laughed without humor.
“That makes two of us.”
Ethan stood.
“Dad, what exactly did he tell you?”
“He says you told him Emily knew who he was.”
My head snapped toward my husband.
Ethan closed his eyes.
There it was.
Another lie.
Richard continued.
“He said you told him Emily wanted a family donor because it would preserve your genetic connection to the child.”
I felt my whole body go cold.
“Did you?”
Ethan whispered, “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he wouldn’t have agreed otherwise.”
I stood.
The room tilted for a second.
Richard reached toward me.
I stepped away.
“So you lied to your brother to get his sperm.”
“Emily—”
“And lied to me about whose sperm it was.”
“It sounds worse when you say it like that.”
I stared at him.
“No, Ethan. It sounds exactly as bad as it is.”
He looked destroyed.
I didn’t care.
Not in that moment.
Richard sat on the edge of the chair.
“Daniel found out because he got a letter from the clinic.”
“What letter?”
“They had a data breach.”
Ethan swore under his breath.
“The clinic contacted affected donors. Daniel called Ethan. Ethan didn’t respond.”
I looked at my husband.
“How many times?”
He said nothing.
Richard answered for him.
“Eleven.”
I stared at Ethan.
“Eleven?”
“I panicked.”
Richard reached into his coat.
“There’s more.”
Of course there was.
There was always more.
He pulled out an envelope.
“My attorney received this yesterday.”
Ethan stared at it.
“What is it?”
“Daniel’s attorney.”
My hands went numb.
Richard handed me the letter.
I read the first paragraph.
Then again.
Then a third time.
Daniel wasn’t asking for money.
He wasn’t threatening custody.
He wasn’t demanding parental rights.
He wanted one thing.
A meeting with me.
And attached to the letter was a handwritten note.
Emily,
There is something Ethan did not tell you about why he chose me.
May you like
You deserve to know before your daughter is born.
—Daniel
