Chapter 4 - The Clinic That Suddenly Had No Answers
Marcus called Lakeview Reproductive Medicine from the hospital.
The receptionist transferred him twice.
Then a clinical administrator named Rebecca Shaw came on.
Her voice became guarded the moment he mentioned an embryo discrepancy.
“We would need written patient authorization to discuss treatment records.”
“You have my wife’s authorization.”
Khloe held out her hand.
Marcus put the phone on speaker.
Khloe identified herself, confirmed her date of birth, patient number, and consented to Marcus being included.
Then she asked the question.
“Was my pregnancy created with my eggs?”
Silence.
Not long.
Long enough.
Rebecca said, “I don’t have sufficient information in front of me to answer responsibly.”
Khloe looked at Marcus.
“That means something is wrong.”
“It means I’m not going to speculate.”
“Then pull my file.”
Another pause.
“We are already reviewing certain archived cycle records.”
“Why?”
“I can’t discuss another patient.”
Khloe looked at the burgundy pouch.
“My sister?”
Rebecca did not answer.
That was answer enough for the moment.
Khloe asked for complete copies of her own medical records, including consent forms, embryology notes, transfer records, donor records, lab chain-of-custody documentation, and billing.
Rebecca agreed to begin the formal release.
Nothing would be instantaneous.
That mattered.
Real medical systems did not produce perfect answers because somebody demanded them dramatically from a hospital bed.
Marcus hated that.
Khloe found it strangely reassuring.
Process meant Isabella could not narrate everything alone.
The next morning brought the first concrete contradiction.
Khloe’s original clinic portal still contained summary notes.
Her second retrieval showed four mature eggs collected.
Two fertilized normally.
One embryo was reported suitable for transfer.
The other supposedly arrested in development.
The pregnancy transfer was listed as Bennett Embryo B-2.
No donor cycle appeared anywhere.
Yet one document inside Isabella’s pouch referenced:
Directed donor source: I. Reed.
Same transfer month.
Same physician.
Dr. Aaron Wallace.
Marcus read it three times.
“Why would your sister be a donor and your portal show your embryo?”
Khloe shook her head.
She remembered the transfer day vividly.
Marcus holding her hand.
The nurse showing them a tiny photograph.
Dr. Wallace saying, “This is your strongest embryo.”
Khloe had cried.
She had asked, “Mine?”
He smiled and said, “Yours.”
That word mattered now.
Not medically.
Emotionally.
Ethically.
Legally.
If it was Isabella’s egg, somebody had let Khloe believe something specific that was not true.
Then Marcus found something else.
A consent form bearing Khloe’s electronic signature for directed donor gamete use if clinically required.
Dated two days before transfer.
Khloe stared at it.
“I never signed this.”
Marcus’s anger rose.
“Are you sure?”
She turned on him.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I’m not accusing you.”
“It sounds like you are.”
He stopped.
Khloe immediately regretted snapping.
Fear was turning every question into an attack.
That was exactly what Isabella had always known how to exploit.
Then Khloe looked closer at the signature timestamp.
3:17 a.m.
She had been hospitalized that night for severe ovarian hyperstimulation symptoms.
Marcus had been beside her until dawn.
Neither of them had signed anything.
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The problem had officially moved beyond a family lie.
Someone had used Khloe’s identity inside a fertility clinic.
