The Duplicate Wristband
Chapter 02 - The Duplicate Wristband
Lena moved Rachel into an examination room and locked Ethan outside.
Dr. Maya Chen confirmed that Rachel and her baby were stable. The contractions were real but early, likely intensified by stress and exhaustion.
“Who admitted the other woman?” Lena asked.
The electronic record showed that Rachel Hale had checked in at 8:42 p.m.
Her fingerprints authenticated the consent forms.
Rachel had been at home at that time.
Ethan had taken her hospital tablet earlier that afternoon, claiming it needed a software update.
The device stored her biometric signature.
Someone used it to admit Celeste under Rachel’s identity.
Hospital security director Paul Danner arrived with two guards. He treated Ethan with the careful respect employees reserved for owners.
“Mr. Hale says this is a family misunderstanding.”
Lena held up both wristbands.
“Family misunderstandings do not create duplicate patient records.”
Paul ordered the records sealed.
Lena refused.
Under state law, a patient-safety discrepancy required immediate reporting to an independent regulator.
Ethan entered before anyone invited him.
He said Celeste was a legal surrogate carrying a child for him and Rachel.
Rachel stared at him.
“I never signed a surrogacy agreement.”
He produced one.
Her signature appeared on every page.
Dr. Chen examined the document.
The embryo transfer date was eleven months earlier.
Rachel and Ethan had been living in separate cities during that month after his first affair became public.
Celeste looked toward Rachel.
“He told me you could not carry a pregnancy.”
Rachel placed both hands over her stomach.
Celeste’s face went pale.
Ethan had told each woman a different story.
To Rachel, Celeste was no longer in his life.
To Celeste, Rachel had agreed to a private arrangement and would raise the child.
The duplicated record served a larger purpose.
At 4:00 a.m., a trust created by Ethan’s grandfather would transfer controlling shares of Hale Medical Group to an employee foundation unless Ethan produced a legally documented child with his lawful wife.
Celeste was expected to deliver before the deadline.
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The hospital planned to register her baby as Rachel’s.
Then Rachel’s own child could be dismissed as part of an unstable woman’s false claim.
