Chapter 3
Sunday morning at BioLux headquarters, I wore the tiny earpiece that had arrived the night before, pretending to listen to the sales director's presentation while secretly listening to live audio from Dax's office.
"Serena, what do you think about our user growth strategy?" my colleague Mark suddenly asked.
"Very promising," I answered without thinking, hearing Dax's familiar voice in my ear.
"Genetic testing shows the baby has amazing IQ and athletic genes," Ada said, sounding proud.
"Serena? You look pale," HR Director Jennifer beside me said with worry.
"Just tired," I tried to keep my voice steady.
While you two were planning all this, I was like an idiot believing in our marriage.
I walked to the elevator with Jennifer.
"Jennifer, I want to know about the company's fertility benefits. I heard they're really good?"
Her face brightened: "They're incredible! Ada was our first to use them—Dax personally got her the best doctors."
The elevator doors closed. My heart was racing.
"Can all employees use these benefits?" I asked.
"Of course! But..." Jennifer lowered her voice, "honestly, Ada gets special treatment. She's Dax's closest work partner."
"Special how?"
"Dax pays all her medical bills himself, not the company. She gets VIP treatment everywhere," Jennifer shook her head. "Sometimes it feels more like... something personal."
The elevator reached the first floor. Jennifer got out, but I pressed the parking garage button.
I drove to Stanford Medical Center, saying I needed a routine checkup.
"Mrs. Howard, your hormone levels look wrong," Nurse Sarah said, frowning at my test results.
"Wrong? How?" I pretended to be shocked.
"It's weird. Your numbers were perfect last month. How did they change so much?"
"Maybe the machines are broken?" I asked.
"I don't think so..." She looked confused. "I think you should wait on the IVF treatment. Get your body healthy first."
I compared this to the real data I'd stolen from their system. The truth hit me like a punch: Someone had changed my medical reports on purpose!
In the waiting room, I heard Dr. Stevens talking to another doctor:
"Some of these cases really bother me, but this guy has too much power..."
"You mean the BioLux thing? I heard the wife doesn't know what's really going on."
"It goes against everything we learned in medical school, but if I don't do what he says..."
I squeezed my hands so tight my nails almost broke skin.
That evening at the company café, I ran into Ada. She was obviously waiting for me.
She wore an expensive maternity dress that showed off her belly, sitting where everyone could see her, rubbing her stomach on purpose.
"Serena! You don't look good," she walked over, talking loud enough for everyone around us to hear. "IVF is hard, right? I got lucky."
"Congratulations. The company benefits must have helped," I forced myself to be nice.
"Dax really takes care of his people, especially..." She stopped and smiled meanly, "the important ones."
Important? Was she saying I wasn't important?
"That's great," I sounded calm, but inside I was furious.
Ada kept rubbing her belly like she was showing off.
I almost lost it right there, but I held back.
This isn't over yet, bitch.
That night, while making dinner, I heard the most shocking conversation through my earpiece.
"Stevens, think about your research lab, think about your wife's medical bills. Sometimes we have to make hard choices," Dax's voice was ice cold.
"I've been a doctor for 20 years. I've never done anything like this. This will ruin an innocent woman's life," Dr. Stevens sounded like he was shaking.
"Ada's having a healthy boy—that's BioLux's future. Serena is just... temporary."
I almost dropped the knife I was holding.
Temporary?
"After Serena's treatment 'fails,' she'll need surgery to remove her uterus. We'll say it was a medical emergency."
I grabbed the counter, shaking all over. They weren't just stopping me from having kids—they wanted to make sure I could never have any!
Late that night, I sat in my study.
I started writing to Morrison & Foerster law firm: "Need the best lawyer for medical fraud case. Big Silicon Valley company involved. I have all the proof."
Then I texted my sister Chloe on Signal: "Is everything ready in Switzerland?"
She wrote back fast: "All set. How much time do you need?"
"I'm going to make them pay, then get out clean."
I started putting together all my recordings, medical records, and financial proof...
"Dax, you think I'm just some quiet housewife? Let me show you what someone from MIT can really do."
Right then, my phone buzzed with a text from Dr. Stevens: "Surgery moved to day after tomorrow. Can't wait anymore. Sorry."
My blood turned to ice.
Day after tomorrow? They were coming for me in two days!
Dax called up from downstairs: "Baby, let's go to Napa Valley tomorrow. Take a little trip and relax."
I shut down my computer and breathed deep.
Napa Valley... one last romantic trap. You want to give me happy memories before you destroy me on the operating table?
I went downstairs with a perfect smile.
"Sounds wonderful, honey. I really need to relax."
Dax hugged me softly: "I love you, Serena. Tomorrow's going to be beautiful."
I closed my eyes in his arms.
Yes, tomorrow would be beautiful.
For me.
But for you two... it would be the start of your nightmare.