The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 325

Raymond paused, caught off guard. “And you are?”

“I’m Vivica’s fiancé.”

“Fiancé?” Raymond asked, surprised. “But didn’t she just get divorced?”

“That’s a private matter,” Joseph replied curtly, seeing no need to explain their lives to a stranger.

“My apologies,” Raymond said, quickly realizing he had overstepped. He cleared his throat and returned to the subject at hand. “As I was saying, my aunt and uncle are childless, and their health is failing. With each passing day, they think more and more about the daughter they lost.”

With every word, Vivica grew more certain that she was the “lost daughter,” and her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Joseph held her shoulder tightly, his expression grim as he continued to listen.

“We’ve been searching for the past couple of years, but we’ve had no luck. When I saw how much you resemble my aunt, Ms. Lynn, an idea came to me.”

Raymond didn't need to finish. Both Vivica and Joseph knew what his “idea” was. It was just like when Sheridan and Melanie, devastated by the loss of their young son, had tried to fill the void with Chaim. This Mr. Smith wanted Vivica to play the part of his aunt’s lost daughter, to offer some small comfort in their lonely and painful final years.

Vivica took a deep, steadying breath. “You want me to pretend to be your aunt’s daughter?” she asked directly.

Raymond let out a slightly embarrassed laugh. “You’re very perceptive, Ms. Lynn.”

Vivica pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

“So, Ms. Lynn… what do you think? If you agree, I can come to Riverdale to pick you up myself. I was hoping you could come to Sydville to meet them.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Joseph said coolly, ending the call.

Vivica sat motionless, staring into space.

Joseph turned to her, his hand gently stroking her shoulder. “What are you thinking? If you believe this man’s aunt and uncle might be your biological parents, I can have someone go to Sydville and find out for sure.”

Vivica frowned and took another deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

“My mind is a mess right now,” she finally said. “It’s not even about whether they’re my parents. What I can’t stop thinking about is why the baby girl was lost in the first place.”

Joseph understood her instantly. “You think she was abandoned. And now that their son is gone and they’re old, they regret it and want to find her.”