The first thing Riya Bennett noticed was the silence.
Not the ordinary silence of a hospital corridor at midnight.
This was different.
The nurse standing in front of her had stopped breathing for a second.
Her fingers tightened around the medical file.
And then she looked at Riya as if she had just discovered something she was never supposed to know.
Riya slowly lowered the cup of water in her hand.
What happened?
The nurse didn't answer.
Instead, she looked down at the report again.
Riya's heart began beating faster.
The fertility treatment had been successful. After years of trying, after countless medications, injections and disappointing reports, she was finally pregnant.
She had imagined this moment hundreds of times.
Her husband Adrian would smile.
Her father would cry.
Their house would be filled with laughter.
But the expression on the nurse's face was destroying that dream before it had even begun.
Riya stepped closer.
Is something wrong with my baby?
The nurse swallowed.
No. The pregnancy itself is progressing normally.
Then why are you looking at me like that?
The nurse glanced toward the consultation room.
Please wait here. I'll call the doctor.
She turned to leave.
Riya caught her wrist.
Tell me.
The nurse froze.
Riya's voice trembled.
You just looked at the report. What did you see?
Before the nurse could answer, the consultation-room door opened.
Dr. Meera Shah walked out.
Her face was pale.
Riya immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
Doctor?
Meera looked at the nurse.
Leave us alone.
The nurse hurried away.
Riya stared at the doctor.
What happened?
Meera closed the door behind her.
Please sit down.
I don't want to sit down. Tell me what happened.
Meera took a deep breath.
Riya, there appears to be an error in your IVF records.
Riya frowned.
What kind of error?
A serious one.
The room suddenly seemed colder.
Meera opened the file.
During the IVF procedure, the sperm sample used for fertilization was not the sample registered under your husband's name.
Riya didn't understand.
What are you saying?
Meera looked directly into her eyes.
The biological father of your baby may not be your husband.
Riya stared at her.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
It was the kind of laugh people make when something is so absurd that their mind refuses to accept it.
That's impossible.
We used my husband's sample.
That's what the records say.
Then the doctor pushed a document across the table.
Riya looked down.
A name was printed on the page.
Damien Carter.
Her fingers went cold.
Who is this?
Meera's voice was quiet.
He's another patient.
A wealthy architect. His sample was stored at this facility on the same day your husband's sample was collected.
Riya stared at the name.
She had heard it before.
Everyone in the city had.
Damien Carter was one of the most influential architects in the country. He owned Carter Design Group, had designed luxury resorts, corporate towers and private estates, and rarely appeared in public.
But why was his name on her medical report?
There must be another mistake.
Meera nodded.
That's what we're investigating.
Riya pushed the report away.
Then test it.
We will.
I want a DNA test.
Meera hesitated.
We need your husband's consent for some parts of the procedure.
Riya stood up.
I'll get it.
She grabbed her handbag.
But before she could reach the door, her phone rang.
Adrian.
Her husband's name appeared on the screen.
For a moment, Riya simply stared at it.
Then she answered.
Where are you?
Adrian's voice sounded irritated.
At the hospital.
Why?
Riya looked at the report.
She didn't know why, but suddenly she was afraid to tell him.
I needed to speak with the doctor.
About the baby?
Yes.
A pause.
Then Adrian asked something that made her blood run cold.
What did they tell you?
Riya slowly raised her head.
Why did he sound frightened?
Did you already know something?
Another pause.
Of course not.
His answer came too quickly.
Riya narrowed her eyes.
I'll be home soon.
Don't come home yet.
Why?
Just stay there.
The call ended.
Riya stood frozen.
For the first time in their marriage, she felt like she didn't know the man she had married.
She looked down at the report again.
Damien Carter.
The name seemed to burn into her mind.
Then another thought came.
If Adrian didn't know about the mistake...
Why was he afraid?
---
By the time Riya returned home, Adrian was waiting in the living room.
He was standing beside the window with his phone in his hand.
He turned when she entered.
What happened?
Riya put her handbag down.
We need to talk.
Adrian's face changed.
About the baby?
Yes.
He walked toward her.
What did the doctor say?
Riya watched him carefully.
They said there was a problem with the IVF records.
Adrian went still.
What problem?
The sample used during the procedure may not have been yours.
Silence.
Riya waited.
Adrian's expression became unreadable.
Then he walked toward the kitchen.
We should get another opinion.
Riya followed him.
Why aren't you surprised?
He turned.
What?
You heard me.
I'm asking why you aren't surprised.
I am surprised.
No.
Riya shook her head.
You're scared.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
You're imagining things because you're stressed.
Then why did you ask me what the doctor said before I told you anything?
Adrian didn't answer.
Riya stepped closer.
Who is Damien Carter?
The color drained from Adrian's face.
And that was enough.
Riya's heart shattered.
You know him.
No.
Don't lie to me.
I don't know him.
Then why did you react when I said his name?
Adrian looked away.
Riya grabbed the report from her bag and threw it onto the table.
His name is on my medical records!
Adrian stared at the document.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Selena.
Riya's best friend.
Her closest friend for nearly fifteen years.
Adrian immediately rejected the call.
Riya noticed.
Why is Selena calling you this late?
It's nothing.
She stared at him.
You and Selena have been acting strange for months.
That's ridiculous.
Riya picked up the report.
Tomorrow, I'm getting the DNA test.
Adrian's eyes hardened.
You don't need to.
Why?
Because the pregnancy should be terminated.
Riya froze.
What did you say?
Adrian looked directly at her.
Terminate it.
The room went silent.
Riya touched her stomach instinctively.
This baby is innocent.
Adrian's voice became colder.
It's not my baby.
Riya stared at the man standing before her.
And suddenly she understood something.
The IVF mistake wasn't the only secret in their marriage.
There was something else.
Something Adrian was desperate to hide.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
Don't trust your husband.
Riya's breath stopped.
A second message arrived.
And don't let him know that you have seen Damien Carter's name.
She slowly raised her eyes toward Adrian.
He was watching her phone.
And for the first time in seven years of marriage...
Riya was afraid of her own husband.
Continue...
