Chapter 9 - The Gift That Was Never Meant to Be Opened
I had worked for two hours to save Vanessa Reed's pregnancy.
Now investigators were examining whether she'd deliberately interfered with mine.
The realization made me physically ill.
I sat on Maya's couch with both hands over my stomach.
"How could someone do that?" I whispered.
Maya sat beside me.
"We don't know what happened yet."
"I know."
But the image wouldn't leave my mind.
Vanessa smiling as she handed Vincent a gift basket.
Vincent placing it on our kitchen counter.
Me opening it, believing it was a harmless gesture.
The past had become a puzzle filled with pieces I no longer trusted.
Detective Mitchell explained that the supplement bottle was being subjected to additional testing.
The laboratory needed to determine whether the substance had been deliberately added and whether the packaging had been altered.
Medical specialists would review its possible effects.
There was still no conclusive finding about the cause of my miscarriage.
I reminded myself of that repeatedly.
As a doctor, I understood how dangerous it was to confuse suspicion with certainty.
As a grieving mother, I wanted someone to blame.
Holding those two truths together was exhausting.
Then Rebecca called.
"Claire, Vanessa has retained an attorney."
I closed my eyes.
"That's her right."
"Yes."
"What happens next?"
"The investigators continue their work. Your priority is your health."
I nodded.
Then Rebecca added, "Vincent has agreed to preserve all communications between himself, Vanessa, and Adrian."
I stared.
"All of them?"
"Yes."
That surprised me.
For years, Vincent had guarded his phone like a state secret.
Now he was giving investigators access to the messages that might destroy his reputation.
Maybe he was finally beginning to understand accountability.
But it was too late for our marriage.
A week later, the investigation uncovered something unexpected.
Vanessa had exchanged dozens of messages with Adrian before and after sending the gift basket.
Most concerned financial accounts.
Some discussed Vincent.
Then investigators found one that made my blood run cold.
Adrian had written:
Make sure Claire receives the package before her next appointment.
Vanessa replied:
Why is this necessary?
Adrian answered:
Because the trust changes everything once she has a child.
I stared at the transcript.
The intent seemed horrifying.
But the messages didn't establish exactly what Vanessa knew about the bottle's contents.
The detective made that clear.
Then another message appeared.
Vanessa had written:
I won't hurt her.
Adrian replied:
You already agreed to the plan.
My throat tightened.
Was Vanessa resisting?
Or pretending?
I couldn't tell.
Then Detective Mitchell revealed another development.
A former employee at Adrian's medical laboratory had come forward.
Her name was Dr. Evelyn Price.
She'd been responsible for compliance reviews.
According to her statement, Adrian had ordered unusual changes to the laboratory's sample records.
When she questioned him, she was fired.
But before leaving, she copied documents for her attorney.
Those documents included a shipment record linked to Vanessa's gift basket.
My hands began shaking.
"Was the bottle altered at Adrian's laboratory?"
Mitchell answered carefully.
"The records suggest it passed through a facility controlled by his company."
I swallowed.
"And who authorized the shipment?"
She checked the file.
"Adrian Bellini."
I stared at the wall.
For so long, I'd believed my husband was the center of every betrayal.
But now it seemed another man had been manipulating the people around him.
Then Mitchell added something worse.
"Claire, Dr. Price also provided evidence about your mother-in-law's final illness."
My heart stopped.
"Sofia?"
May you like
The detective nodded.
"And those records suggest Adrian attempted to interfere with her medical care too."
