Chapter 12 - Grant had known enough
Grant did not know at conception.
That became clear.
He genuinely believed donor D-418 had been used.
Two years after Maddie was born, Adrian attended a Bennett charity event.
He drank too much.
Grant cornered him privately because Evelyn had made another comment about:
“family resemblance.”
Grant asked:
“What does my mother know?”
Adrian responded:
“Your mother made sure the family line continued.”
That was all.
Grant confronted Evelyn.
She refused details.
Then eventually said:
“Maddie is biologically Bennett.”
Grant asked how.
Evelyn told him:
“You have a daughter who looks like us. Be grateful.”
He suspected Lucas because Lucas had used Adrian’s clinic.
But he never confirmed.
Why not tell me?
Grant answered in mediation:
“Because I thought you would take Maddie away.”
“Why?”
“Because you would know my family interfered with your body.”
There.
He understood more than he admitted.
“You let me believe our donor was D-418.”
“Yes.”
“For three years.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever consider telling the clinic?”
“No.”
“Lucas?”
“No.”
“Me?”
His face collapsed.
“No.”
That betrayal was different from infertility shame.
This was a choice made repeatedly.
Silence.
Every day.
May you like
For years.
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