She had watched me leave work smiling after receiving terrible medical news, then return the next morning and fight insurance denials for children whose parents had almost nothing.
She looked at Jordan coldly.
“Is there a problem here?”
Jordan straightened.
“This is personal.”
“No,” I said. “Calling me worthless was personal. Hiding assets is legal.”
Marissa rested one hand on her stomach.
“Jordan told me you refused to give them a family.”
I looked at her.
“You should ask Jordan why the fertility specialist recommended testing both partners, and why Jordan canceled every appointment that included them.”
The silence came immediately.
Marissa’s hand dropped from her stomach.
Jordan whispered, “Don’t.”
I opened the folder and removed the letter I had never shown anyone.
The doctor’s recommendation.
The canceled appointments.
The message from Jordan saying, If they find out it is me, my mother will never forgive me.
Diane went pale.
Then Dr. Porter said something that made Jordan tighten their grip on the counter.
“Jordan, before you speak again, remember this clinic also received your request to access Grace’s placement file yesterday.”
I froze.
Jordan looked at me, panic replacing anger.
