That moment erased the last of my doubts.
The next afternoon, while Mark was still at work, I took her to St. Helena Medical Center. She barely spoke during the drive, staring silently out the window the entire time.
The nurse checked her vital signs. The doctor ordered blood tests and an ultrasound. I sat in the waiting area with trembling hands.
When the door finally opened, Dr. Adler walked in with a serious expression. He held a file tightly, as if the information inside weighed more than the paper itself.
“Mrs. Carter,” he said gently, “we need to talk.”
Hailey sat beside me on the examination bed, trembling.
Dr. Adler lowered his voice.
“The scan shows… that there is something inside her.”
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
“Inside her?” I repeated faintly. “What do you mean?”
He hesitated—and that hesitation said more than any sentence.
A sharp pain spread through my chest. The room seemed to tilt.
My hands went numb.
“W-what is it?” I whispered.
Dr. Adler exhaled slowly.
“We should discuss the results privately. But I need you to prepare yourself.”
The air in the room suddenly felt heavy.
Hailey’s face crumpled.
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