Chapter 12 - The Missing Embryos
Miranda did not scream.
She wanted to.
Instead, she stared at the empty containers until Adrien gently moved her away.
Police sealed the office.
Harbor Light staff were sent home.
The fertility clinic was contacted.
For twenty-three unbearable minutes, nobody could confirm whether Miranda’s embryos were safe.
Then the clinic director called.
“Mrs. Calloway, your embryos are still in storage.”
Miranda closed her eyes.
Adrien gripped her hand.
“You’re certain?”
“Absolutely. We verified all three.”
Relief hit so hard Miranda nearly collapsed.
The containers had been fake.
The labels copied.
A psychological threat.
Nothing more.
But not nothing.
Someone knew the clinic.
Someone knew the storage details.
Someone knew exactly where to cut.
Adrien’s anger became frighteningly quiet.
“This is no longer only financial intimidation.”
The detective agreed.
The fake delivery driver had used stolen credentials.
Security footage captured only part of his face.
He had been paid in cash.
Again, the trail disappeared.
Miranda called Julian.
“The embryos are safe.”
His exhale came through the phone.
“Thank God.”
She sat in the back of Adrien’s car.
“Why would Nathan know about them?”
“I told my father years ago.”
“And?”
“Nathan may have accessed old trust correspondence.”
“That does not explain knowing where they are stored.”
“No.”
“Did you know?”
Julian hesitated.
“The clinic name, yes.”
Miranda’s eyes hardened.
“Who else?”
“My attorneys.”
“Candace?”
“No.”
“Victor?”
“No.”
“Michael?”
“No.”
“Then someone has access to legal files.”
“Yes.”
Another network.
Another leak.
Another reminder that wealth created walls but also endless doors.
The next morning, Julian convened an emergency board meeting.
Miranda only learned what happened afterward.
The board placed him on temporary administrative leave.
Not because he had been charged.
Because confidence had collapsed.
Hayes Meridian stock fell nineteen percent before noon.
Whitmore Capital began purchasing shares.
Nathan Hayes released a statement calling for “ethical renewal and responsible leadership.”
Julian read it alone in his office.
The office he was no longer technically allowed to occupy.
Michael entered.
“You need to leave before security becomes awkward.”
Julian stared at the statement.
“He planned this.”
“Looks that way.”
“Where’s Victor?”
“Awake.”
Julian looked up.
“What did he say?”
“He remembers being attacked.”
“By whom?”
“He didn’t see.”
“Convenient.”
Michael shut the door.
“There’s something else.”
Julian waited.
“Victor admitted he worked with Nathan.”
The room went still.
“For how long?”
“Years.”
Julian stood.
“He’s behind it.”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“Victor says Nathan paid Daniel Carver to steer business opportunities.”
Julian laughed once.
“So yes.”
“Victor says he stopped cooperating after the Santoro deaths.”
Julian’s expression tightened.
“Why should anyone believe him?”
“Because he kept records.”
“Where?”
“Missing hard drive.”
Julian swore.
Michael continued.
“Victor says Carver attacked him because he planned to give evidence to investigators.”
“And Nathan?”
“Victor claims Nathan ordered the smear campaign.”
Julian walked to the windows.
Below him, Boston looked indifferent.
Twenty years of work.
Forty floors.
Thousands of employees.
Reduced to headlines within a week.
Then Michael said quietly, “Victor also says Miranda was never supposed to be involved.”
Julian turned.
“What?”
“The anonymous campaign targeted you. Her marriage to Adrien complicated things.”
“How?”
“Carver realized she could connect Bellmont to Hayes Meridian.”
Julian frowned.
“She didn’t know anything.”
“You knew that. They didn’t.”
The answer was almost absurd.
Miranda had become a target not because she possessed a secret.
But because others feared she might.
That afternoon, Miranda met Victor in the hospital.
Adrien came with her.
Victor looked smaller in the bed.
Bandage around his head.
Bruising beneath one eye.
“You look like Julian wants to hit you,” Miranda said.
Victor gave a weak laugh.
“He does.”
“Do I?”
“You have better impulse control.”
She sat.
“Why did you help Nathan?”
Victor looked away.
“Money at first.”
“And later?”
“Pride.”
Miranda waited.
“He told me Julian was reckless,” Victor said. “Arrogant. That the company should have been Nathan’s.”
“Was he wrong?”
Victor almost smiled.
“Not about the arrogant part.”
Miranda did not.
Victor continued.
“Nathan wanted me inside Hayes Meridian. At first, it was corporate intelligence. Strategy. Contracts. Nothing illegal.”
“Then Santoro.”
Victor’s face changed.
“Yes.”
“You knew they were unsafe.”
“Not initially.”
“But you learned.”
“Yes.”
“And renewed them anyway.”
His eyes closed.
“Yes.”
Miranda felt anger rise.
“Paulo Moreira died.”
“I know.”
“Another worker died.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to look sad and make that enough.”
Victor opened his eyes.
“I know.”
The same words Julian had used.
Miranda almost hated them both for discovering remorse only after consequences arrived.
“Why keep records?”
“Insurance.”
“Against Nathan?”
“Against everyone.”
Adrien spoke.
“Where is the hard drive?”
Victor looked at him.
“Carver took it.”
“Where would he go?”
Victor swallowed.
“There’s a property north of London.”
“Nathan’s?”
“Not officially.”
“Address?”
Victor hesitated.
“Give it.”
“I will.”
He looked at Miranda.
“But there’s something you need to know first.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Nathan wasn’t the one who ordered someone to follow you.”
“Then who?”
May you like
Victor’s eyes shifted toward the door.
“The person who wanted your embryos.”
