Chapter 6
The next discovery came from Clara’s own medical portal.
She logged in because her obstetrician’s office called to confirm an appointment.
At the bottom of the access history were two entries she did not recognize.
Both were from the Vale family concierge medical service.
Clara had never authorized that service to receive her prenatal records.
Rebecca contacted the clinic.
Within hours, the clinic’s privacy officer confirmed that an employee had accessed Clara’s genetic screening results through a legacy family authorization Gregory submitted early in the marriage.
That authorization should not have covered pregnancy records.
The clinic opened an internal investigation.
Clara sat staring at the screen.
Her genetic screening contained the baby’s sex.
Clara and Gregory had chosen not to know.
At least Clara thought they had.
Rebecca asked quietly, “Do you want me to tell you what the report says?”
Clara put a hand over her stomach.
For seven months, she had imagined meeting her child without knowing whether she would have a son or daughter.
Eleanor’s words from the banquet returned.
My son will only marry a woman who can bear him a son.
Clara suddenly understood that the answer mattered for a reason larger than curiosity.
“Yes.”
Rebecca turned the report.
Male.
Clara stared at the word.
Her baby was a boy.
For several seconds she felt an unexpected burst of joy.
Then anger swallowed it.
Eleanor had humiliated her for supposedly failing to give Gregory a son.
But the medical record said she was already carrying one.
Had Eleanor known?
The access logs suggested someone connected to the Vale family might have.
Rebecca warned her.
“We do not know who saw the result.”
“Gregory had access.”
“Possibly.”
“His mother?”
“We don’t know.”
Clara looked at the dates.
The unauthorized access occurred nine days before Eleanor bought the ring.
That timing became the third subtle clue.
Someone learned Clara was carrying a boy.
Then Eleanor purchased another engagement ring anyway.
So the banquet attack had never truly been about producing a male heir.
The reason Eleanor gave in front of the family was a lie.
Clara called Gregory.
He answered immediately.
“Clara.”
“Is our baby a boy?”
Silence.
Her heart sank.
“You knew.”
Gregory whispered, “Yes.”
“How long?”
He did not answer.
She hung up.
May you like
For the first time, Clara no longer cared whether he had slept with another woman.
Whatever Gregory and Eleanor were hiding was more calculated than adultery.
