Chapter 2 - THE REPORT
Garrison’s farmhouse was nothing like Julian’s mansion.
It was old.
Quiet.
Warm.
There were no marble floors or expensive decorations.
Emma sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee between both hands.
Garrison placed a sealed envelope in front of her.
“Open it.”
She hesitated.
“What is it?”
“Something your husband should have shown you years ago.”
Emma opened the envelope.
Inside were medical documents.
Her eyes moved across the first page.
Then stopped.
She read it again.
And again.
“Severe male-factor infertility.”
Her voice barely existed.
Garrison watched her carefully.
“This isn't my conclusion.”
Emma looked up.
“Whose is it?”
“An independent specialist.”
“But Julian said…”
“I know what Julian said.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“He blamed me.”
“I know.”
“He told everyone I was the reason.”
Garrison remained silent.
Emma turned another page.
There were laboratory results.
Dates.
Signatures.
Follow-up recommendations.
Then something caught her attention.
The report was not recent.
It had been created years earlier.
Emma looked up.
“Why didn't I know about this?”
Garrison's jaw tightened.
“Because someone made sure you didn't.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Emma stood.
“Who?”
Garrison looked toward the window.
“That's what we're trying to find out.”
“We?”
Garrison turned toward her.
“You're not the only person who was lied to.”
Emma stared at him.
He placed another folder on the table.
“This one is different.”
She opened it.
Inside were financial records.
Emma frowned.
“What does this have to do with infertility?”
“Maybe nothing.”
Garrison paused.
“Maybe everything.”
One page contained a payment made six years earlier.
The recipient's name had been blacked out.
Emma looked at the date.
It was the same week Julian had first taken her to the fertility clinic.
She whispered:
“What is this?”
Garrison closed the folder.
“Not enough evidence.”
“You brought it to me.”
“I brought it because you deserve to know that something doesn't add up.”
Emma stared at him.
“Who are you?”
Garrison's expression changed.
For a moment, something old and dangerous appeared behind his eyes.
Then it disappeared.
“Someone who knows what it feels like to be betrayed.”
Emma noticed an old photograph hanging on the wall.
Garrison standing beside a much younger man.
She stepped closer.
“Who is that?”
Garrison immediately turned the photograph face down.
Emma looked at him.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“Who was he?”
Garrison didn't answer.
May you like
And Emma realized something.
Garrison Blackwood had secrets too.
