Chapter 3 - Fourteen Months
During Evelyn’s difficult pregnancy with Lily, doctors had warned that another pregnancy might place her health at risk.
Grant had appeared concerned.
At least, that was what Evelyn had believed.
He told her he would undergo a vasectomy so she would never have to face the same danger again. He scheduled the procedure at a discreet private clinic and returned home with pain medication and printed aftercare instructions.
Evelyn had thanked him for protecting their future.
After the divorce, she tried not to think about that sacrifice.
But Celeste’s pregnancy announcement forced the memory back.
Evelyn searched through old household records and found a clinic payment dated fourteen months earlier.
Celeste claimed she was nearly twelve weeks pregnant.
The dates could not both be true.
Evelyn called Grant the following morning.
“Did you reverse your vasectomy?”
Silence.
Then Grant laughed uneasily.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because Celeste is pregnant.”
“The doctor said procedures sometimes fail.”
“Did you complete the follow-up testing?”
“That’s private.”
“It wasn’t private when you said you did it to protect me.”
Grant’s voice sharpened.
“You’re jealous.”
Evelyn nearly hung up.
Instead, she said, “Ask your clinic.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Yes, you do.”
Grant ended the call.
Two days later, Celeste posted photographs from a luxury maternity boutique. Her stomach appeared noticeably rounded, even though she was still early in the pregnancy.
Evelyn studied the images.
The shape seemed too smooth. Too high. Nearly identical in every picture.
She told herself she was searching for lies because the truth hurt.
Then an unexpected message arrived from a woman named Dr. Hannah Price.
Dr. Price had worked at Grant’s clinic.
May you like
The message contained only one sentence.
You are asking the right question, but the wrong person is controlling the answer.
