Chapter 7: The Report Margaret Tried to Hide
"Daniel## Chapter 7: The Report Margaret Tried to Hide
"Daniel, don't tell her about the other report.""
Margaret, don't tell her about the other report.""
Margaret's voice wasn't loud.
But in the quiet hallway, every word carried.
's voice wasn't loud.
But in the quiet hallway, every word carried.
I turned around.
Rachel was standing beside the doorway, staring at her mother.
"WhatI turned around.
Rachel was standing beside the doorway, staring at her mother.
"What other report?"" she asked.
Margaret immediately looked away.
"Nothing. I was talking about something private.""
Rachel shook her head.
"Mom, what other report?""
Daniel closed his other report?"" she asked.
Margaret immediately looked away.
"Nothing. I was talking about something private.""
Rachel shook her head.
"Mom, what other report?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Not now.""
Vanessa stood behind him, holding the back of a chair.
"Daniel, I swear, if you tell me this is nothing one more time, I'm leaving.""
Margaret moved toward her.
"Vanessa, sweetheart, you're pregnant. You don't need this kind eyes.
"Not now.""
Vanessa stood behind him, holding the back of a chair.
"Daniel, I swear, if you tell me this is nothing one more time, I'm leaving.""
Margaret moved toward her.
"Vanessa, sweetheart, you're pregnant. You don't need this kind of stress.""
Vanessa pulled away.
"Please don't tell me what I need.""
I stood with Sophie and Oliver beside me.
I had no intention of staying.
But Rachel approached.
"Claire of stress.""
Vanessa pulled away.
"Please don't tell me what I need.""
I stood with Sophie and Oliver beside me.
I had no intention of staying.
But Rachel approached.
"Claire, wait.""
I looked at her.
She seemed genuinely frightened.
"Please. I think you need to hear this.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Rachel, stay out of it, wait.""
I looked at her.
She seemed genuinely frightened.
"Please. I think you need to hear this.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Rachel, stay out of it.""
She turned toward him.
"You've been telling everyone that Claire was the reason you couldn't have children. You've been telling Mom. Your friends.
Vanessa. And now you're going to stand here.""
She turned toward him.
"You've been telling everyone that Claire was the reason you couldn't have children. You've been telling Mom. Your friends.
Vanessa. And now you're going to stand here and pretend there's nothing else?""
Margaret's lips tightened.
"Rachel, enough.""
"No, Mom. Not this time.""
Rachel looked at me.
"After you and Daniel divorced, I found some paperwork in his old study and pretend there's nothing else?""
Margaret's lips tightened.
"Rachel, enough.""
"No, Mom. Not this time.""
Rachel looked at me.
"After you and Daniel divorced, I found some paperwork in his old study. It was in a folder with the fertility clinic's name on it.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"You had no right to go through my things.""
"I wasn't looking for your medical. It was in a folder with the fertility clinic's name on it.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"You had no right to go through my things.""
"I wasn't looking for your medical records. I was looking for the warranty papers for Dad's old watch.""
"That's not what happened.""
Rachel ignored him.
"There was another laboratory report. It was dated several months before the divorce.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did it say?""
Rachel swallowed.
"It showed that Daniel had undergone additional testing records. I was looking for the warranty papers for Dad's old watch.""
"That's not what happened.""
Rachel ignored him.
"There was another laboratory report. It was dated several months before the divorce.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did it say?""
Rachel swallowed.
"It showed that Daniel had undergone additional testing.""
Daniel's face had become rigid.
Margaret moved between us.
"Rachel, you're misunderstanding something.""
"Then explain it!""
Nobody spoke.
Rachel continued.""
Daniel's face had become rigid.
Margaret moved between us.
"Rachel, you're misunderstanding something.""
"Then explain it!""
Nobody spoke.
Rachel continued.
"The report indicated that his results had improved significantly after treatment.""
I stared at Daniel.
"Treatment?""
He looked down.
Rachel nodded.
"According to the paperwork, he had started medication and completed.
"The report indicated that his results had improved significantly after treatment.""
I stared at Daniel.
"Treatment?""
He looked down.
Rachel nodded.
"According to the paperwork, he had started medication and completed a course of treatment. His numbers were improving.""
I felt a strange coldness spread through my chest.
"When?""
Rachel glanced at her brother.
"About eight months before you divorced.""
Eight months.
I remembered that period.
I remembered asking Daniel whether he had a course of treatment. His numbers were improving.""
I felt a strange coldness spread through my chest.
"When?""
Rachel glanced at her brother.
"About eight months before you divorced.""
Eight months.
I remembered that period.
I remembered asking Daniel whether he had scheduled the follow-up appointment.
He had told me the clinic hadn't recommended anything further.
I remembered him saying there was no point wasting more money.
I remembered him refusing to discuss adoption.
And I remembered crying alone after another negative pregnancy test.
"Daniel," I said slowly.
"Did you know your results scheduled the follow-up appointment.
He had told me the clinic hadn't recommended anything further.
I remembered him saying there was no point wasting more money.
I remembered him refusing to discuss adoption.
And I remembered crying alone after another negative pregnancy test.
"Daniel," I said slowly.
"Did you know your results had improved?""
He looked at me.
"Claire, it wasn't that simple.""
"Did you know?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Yes.""
The answer was barely audible.
I felt my fingers tighten around Oliver's little hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked toward Vanessa had improved?""
He looked at me.
"Claire, it wasn't that simple.""
"Did you know?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Yes.""
The answer was barely audible.
I felt my fingers tighten around Oliver's little hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
"Because I didn't want to give you false hope.""
I stared at him.
"False hope?""
He nodded quickly.
"The improvement wasn't a.
"Because I didn't want to give you false hope.""
I stared at him.
"False hope?""
He nodded quickly.
"The improvement wasn't a guarantee. The doctor said we needed more testing.""
I laughed quietly.
"You let me believe I was the only problem.""
"I never said that.""
"You said I was wasting our time.""
"I was frustrated.""
"You told me you wanted your own child. You told me adoption wasn't guarantee. The doctor said we needed more testing.""
I laughed quietly.
"You let me believe I was the only problem.""
"I never said that.""
"You said I was wasting our time.""
"I was frustrated.""
"You told me you wanted your own child. You told me adoption wasn't an option. You watched me blame myself every month.""
His voice rose.
"I was under pressure too!""
I took one step backward.
"And you decided the easiest way to handle that pressure was to hide your own treatment?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa approached him.
"Did you tell me an option. You watched me blame myself every month.""
His voice rose.
"I was under pressure too!""
I took one step backward.
"And you decided the easiest way to handle that pressure was to hide your own treatment?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa approached him.
"Did you tell me about this?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Vanessa, I didn't think it was relevant anymore.""
She stared at him.
"Not relevant?""
He reached for her hand.
She moved it away.
"Daniel, when we started trying for a baby, you told me you had never experienced fertility problems about this?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Vanessa, I didn't think it was relevant anymore.""
She stared at him.
"Not relevant?""
He reached for her hand.
She moved it away.
"Daniel, when we started trying for a baby, you told me you had never experienced fertility problems.""
"I said things had worked out.""
"You told me the doctors had never found anything wrong with you.""
He looked at the floor.
"I didn't want you worrying.""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"You didn't want me knowing.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Daniel was protecting.""
"I said things had worked out.""
"You told me the doctors had never found anything wrong with you.""
He looked at the floor.
"I didn't want you worrying.""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"You didn't want me knowing.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Daniel was protecting his privacy.""
Rachel let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Mom, stop making excuses.""
Margaret's expression hardened.
"I am his mother.""
"And Claire was his wife!""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Margaret.
She was still holding her handbag.
For years, I had wanted his privacy.""
Rachel let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Mom, stop making excuses.""
Margaret's expression hardened.
"I am his mother.""
"And Claire was his wife!""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Margaret.
She was still holding her handbag.
For years, I had wanted her approval.
I had wanted her to tell Daniel that marriage was a partnership.
That infertility wasn't a woman's failure.
That her son needed to stop treating me as if I had her approval.
I had wanted her to tell Daniel that marriage was a partnership.
That infertility wasn't a woman's failure.
That her son needed to stop treating me as if I had broken something.
Now I understood something.
She had known more than I realized.
"Margaret," I said.
She looked at me reluctantly.
"Did you know?""
Her silence broken something.
Now I understood something.
She had known more than I realized.
"Margaret," I said.
She looked at me reluctantly.
"Did you know?""
Her silence was answer enough.
"How long?""
She sighed.
"Daniel came to me after one of his appointments.""
My chest tightened.
"And you knew he was receiving treatment?""
"He was frightened, Claire.""
"So was I.""
"He didn't want you to become obsessed with another was answer enough.
"How long?""
She sighed.
"Daniel came to me after one of his appointments.""
My chest tightened.
"And you knew he was receiving treatment?""
"He was frightened, Claire.""
"So was I.""
"He didn't want you to become obsessed with another round of procedures.""
I stared at her.
"You watched me take injections. You watched me cry. You watched me attend appointment after appointment. And you knew he was getting treatment?""
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
"Those were difficult years for everyone.""
"No. They were difficult years for me, too. round of procedures.""
I stared at her.
"You watched me take injections. You watched me cry. You watched me attend appointment after appointment. And you knew he was getting treatment?""
Margaret looked uncomfortable.
"Those were difficult years for everyone.""
"No. They were difficult years for me, too. But you made sure I carried all the blame.""
She looked toward the floor.
Daniel suddenly interrupted.
"Enough! This is between me and Claire.""
I looked at him.
"It stopped being between us when you turned our marriage into entertainment.""
Then I noticed something.
Van But you made sure I carried all the blame.""
She looked toward the floor.
Daniel suddenly interrupted.
"Enough! This is between me and Claire.""
I looked at him.
"It stopped being between us when you turned our marriage into entertainment.""
Then I noticed something.
Vanessa was no longer looking at Daniel.
She was staring at Margaret.
"Did you know about the treatment when Daniel and I started dating?""
Margaret froze.
Daniel turned sharply.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She looked at him.
"Answer me.""
He said nothing.
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"essa was no longer looking at Daniel.
She was staring at Margaret.
"Did you know about the treatment when Daniel and I started dating?""
Margaret froze.
Daniel turned sharply.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She looked at him.
"Answer me.""
He said nothing.
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"How long had you been seeing me when you were still telling Claire you wanted to save your marriage?""
I remembered the messages.
The late nights.
The sudden emotional distance.
The way Daniel had begun treating me as an inconvenience.
Rachel looked between them.
"DanielHow long had you been seeing me when you were still telling Claire you wanted to save your marriage?""
I remembered the messages.
The late nights.
The sudden emotional distance.
The way Daniel had begun treating me as an inconvenience.
Rachel looked between them.
"Daniel?""
He finally answered.
"Vanessa and I were friends at first.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He lowered his voice.
"We were seeing each other before the divorce was finalized.""
Vanessa stepped?""
He finally answered.
"Vanessa and I were friends at first.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He lowered his voice.
"We were seeing each other before the divorce was finalized.""
Vanessa stepped back.
"How long?""
"Several months.""
She shook her head.
"Several months?""
Daniel reached for her.
"I was going through a difficult time.""
She laughed through her tears.
"And Claire was supposed back.
"How long?""
"Several months.""
She shook her head.
"Several months?""
Daniel reached for her.
"I was going through a difficult time.""
She laughed through her tears.
"And Claire was supposed to believe she was the problem while you were building a relationship with me?""
He looked desperate.
"I didn't know how things would turn out.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Neither did I.""
Then she looked at me.
For the first time that to believe she was the problem while you were building a relationship with me?""
He looked desperate.
"I didn't know how things would turn out.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Neither did I.""
Then she looked at me.
For the first time that afternoon, there was no superiority in her expression.
Only embarrassment.
"Claire, I'm sorry.""
I nodded.
"I hope you understand why I didn't want to come here.""
She wiped her face.
"I do now afternoon, there was no superiority in her expression.
Only embarrassment.
"Claire, I'm sorry.""
I nodded.
"I hope you understand why I didn't want to come here.""
She wiped her face.
"I do now.""
I turned toward the exit again.
Rachel walked with us.
Outside, the children were quiet.
Sophie held my hand.
Oliver leaned against my side.
When we reached the car, Rachel hugged me.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
.""
I turned toward the exit again.
Rachel walked with us.
Outside, the children were quiet.
Sophie held my hand.
Oliver leaned against my side.
When we reached the car, Rachel hugged me.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to apologize for his choices.""
She looked back toward the venue.
"I should have told you sooner.""
I opened the car door.
"Take care of yourself, Rachel.""
As I buckled the children into their seats, my phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
*We needI squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to apologize for his choices.""
She looked back toward the venue.
"I should have told you sooner.""
I opened the car door.
"Take care of yourself, Rachel.""
As I buckled the children into their seats, my phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
We need to talk about the report. There is something else you don't know.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
The clinic made a mistake with more than my results.
My heart began beating faster.
Because suddenly, I understood why Margaret had been so desperate to keep the second report hidden.
And I to talk about the report. There is something else you don't know.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
The clinic made a mistake with more than my results.
My heart began beating faster.
May you like
Because suddenly, I understood why Margaret had been so desperate to keep the second report hidden.
And I wondered whether the truth about our seven years together was even more complicated than I had imagined.
