Chapter 14 - Martha Finally Told the Truth About Sophie
Martha’s attorney arranged another meeting.
This time Martha asked for no recording.
Federal agents recorded it anyway under applicable consent procedures.
Emma sat across from her.
“You’re going to tell me why Ethan was being tested.”
Martha smiled weakly.
“You think I controlled that?”
“You selected his doctor.”
“I was told to.”
“By whom?”
Martha looked toward the camera.
“I want protection.”
Hayes spoke through the room speaker.
“That depends on what you provide.”
Martha looked at Emma.
“Leonard Voss is not the head.”
“Then who is?”
“I don’t know.”
Emma’s patience snapped.
“You always know just enough to hurt everyone and never enough to take responsibility.”
Martha’s face hardened.
“You think I enjoyed this?”
“Yes.”
Martha actually looked wounded.
That made Emma angrier.
“You slapped a two-year-old.”
“She touched Ethan’s plate.”
Emma stared at her.
Martha realized what she had just revealed.
Emma leaned forward.
“Why does that matter?”
Martha’s mouth closed.
“Why does his food matter?”
No answer.
Emma remembered dozens of moments.
Martha bringing Ethan special drinks.
Vitamins.
Protein snacks.
Insisting Sophie not share his cups.
Telling Emma Ethan had a “sensitive stomach.”
Emma whispered, “You were controlling what he consumed.”
Martha looked away.
“What were you giving him?”
“Nothing harmful.”
“What?”
“Supplements.”
“For what?”
“They told me his immune markers had to remain stable.”
Emma nearly climbed across the table.
Hayes entered before she could.
“What supplements?”
Martha listed three brands.
Hayes’s team checked them.
Two were normal.
The third had been manufactured under a private-label company connected to Shaw Biomedical.
Emma’s hands went numb.
“You experimented on him.”
Martha slammed her palm down.
“I kept him alive.”
Emma stared.
“From what?”
Martha froze.
Hayes said, “Answer.”
Martha looked directly at Emma.
“Laura was exposed during pregnancy.”
Daniel, watching remotely, went still.
“Exposed to what?”
Martha spoke slowly.
“The experimental therapy.”
Emma felt sick.
“Why?”
“She was investigating the lab. There was an accident.”
“Ethan was affected in utero?”
“Yes.”
“Was he sick?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
Martha began crying.
For once, the tears did not seem theatrical.
“His blood changed.”
Emma stared at her.
Martha continued.
“Laura discovered his immune system produced antibodies the researchers had been trying to create artificially.”
Hayes said nothing.
Emma understood enough.
“He was valuable.”
Martha nodded.
“To them.”
“And to you.”
Martha looked away.
“Money came into the family because we kept providing samples.”
Emma’s disgust was immediate.
“You sold his blood.”
“I protected him.”
“You profited from him.”
“I made sure they never took him.”
Emma froze.
“Who tried?”
Martha looked toward the camera.
“The Shaw Foundation.”
Emma felt a cold wave move through her.
“You said Laura’s mother was connected to Shaw.”
“She was.”
“Then why would Laura’s family want Ethan?”
Martha whispered, “Because they believe his blood can complete Evelyn’s work.”
Emma sat back.
Then another thought came.
Sophie.
Emma looked at Martha.
“Why did you hate Sophie?”
Martha did not answer.
Emma’s heartbeat changed.
“You weren’t just sexist.”
“I never hated her.”
“You treated her like she contaminated something.”
Martha’s eyes filled.
Emma stood.
“What is wrong with Sophie?”
“Nothing.”
“Martha.”
“Nothing is wrong with her.”
“Then why?”
Martha whispered, “Because Sophie was never supposed to exist.”
Emma stopped moving.
Daniel’s voice came through the speaker.
“What does that mean?”
Martha closed her eyes.
“When Emma became pregnant, they panicked.”
Emma’s knees weakened.
“Who?”
“The foundation.”
“Why?”
“Because Ethan had never had a full biological sibling before.”
Daniel stared through the screen.
Emma whispered, “Sophie isn’t Ethan’s full sibling. I’m not Laura.”
Martha opened her eyes.
“No.”
A terrible pause.
“They weren’t worried about Daniel’s DNA.”
May you like
Emma felt the world tilt again.
“They were worried about yours.”
