Chapter 5 - Dr. Mercer
Nathan had heard the name before.
Vanessa had mentioned Dr. Mercer dozens of times.
Dr. Mercer says everything looks normal.
Dr. Mercer wants me to rest.
Dr. Mercer says stress is dangerous.
Nathan had never met him.
Every time he offered to attend an appointment, Vanessa found a reason he could not.
A schedule change.
A private consultation.
A sudden cancellation.
Now Ethan placed a photograph on the desk.
The man in the picture was in his early forties.
Dark hair.
Expensive coat.
Confident smile.
Nathan recognized him instantly.
“I’ve seen him.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
Nathan pointed at the photograph.
“He was at our anniversary party.”
Ethan nodded.
“He was introduced as a consultant from California.”
Nathan looked at Vanessa.
“You told me you barely knew him.”
“I barely did then.”
“Then?”
Vanessa turned away.
Nathan felt another piece of the world shift beneath him.
“How long have you known him?”
She did not answer.
Ethan did.
“Almost two years.”
Nathan stared at his brother.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I hired someone to follow her.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“And there it is.”
Nathan looked sharply at Ethan.
“You had my wife followed?”
“For six weeks.”
“Without telling me?”
“I needed to know what I was looking at before I destroyed your marriage with an accusation.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“No.”
Her voice was suddenly dangerous.
“You wanted proof because you’ve always wanted Nathan to distrust me.”
Ethan ignored her.
Nathan rubbed both hands over his face.
“Where is Mercer?”
“No one knows.”
Ethan pulled out another sheet.
“He closed his rented office nine days ago.”
“Rented office?”
“The prenatal clinic Vanessa claimed to visit wasn’t a real clinic.”
Nathan stared.
“It was a furnished medical suite leased by Mercer through a shell company.”
Vanessa’s shoulders stiffened.
Ethan continued.
“The ultrasound equipment was decorative.”
Nathan felt sick.
“All those appointments.”
“Staged.”
“The nurses?”
“Paid actors or contractors.”
Vanessa suddenly shouted,
“Enough.”
Ethan looked at her.
“No.”
Nathan picked up the ultrasound photograph again.
“Did Mercer help you create all of this?”
Vanessa’s silence was enough.
Nathan stepped closer.
“Were you sleeping with him?”
Her head snapped up.
“No.”
Ethan watched her carefully.
Nathan noticed.
“You don’t believe her.”
“I don’t know.”
Vanessa slammed her hand onto the desk.
“I was not sleeping with Adrian.”
“Then why would he do this?”
Vanessa’s anger vanished.
For the first time since the silicone stomach had fallen, she looked genuinely frightened.
“Because he wanted something too.”
Nathan waited.
“What?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I can’t tell you.”
“You can.”
“No.”
“Why?”
She looked toward the windows.
Then she whispered,
“Because Adrian wasn’t helping me steal from you.”
Nathan frowned.
May you like
Vanessa looked back at him.
“He was helping me find something your father hid.”
