Chapter 14 - WHAT HE KNEW BEFORE JUNE WAS BORNThe title of this chapter in Nadia’s mind would always be a question:
How much did Wesley know before June existed?
After file, answer:
He knew Kline biological father.
He knew infertility.
He knew Priscilla preferred genetic connection.
He explicitly told Kline not to interfere.
He did not know actual substitution until after June birth.
That distinction saved some trust.
Nadia verified through emails.
Priscilla had emailed Wesley before cycle:
Are you certain you want a completely unrelated donor? Family continuity matters.
Wesley:
Yes. This is our decision. Stop.
Clear.
Priscilla:
One day you may regret denying your child biological connection.
Wesley:
Do not contact clinic about donor.
Clear.
She violated.
Wesley had not shown Nadia then because it revealed why mother cared.
But he had defended choice.
That mattered.
Nadia told him:
“I’m still angry you hid context.”
“But you did say no.”
“Yes.”
“So Priscilla knew.”
“Yes.”
Legal claim strong.
Consent theft.
Wesley’s pre-birth knowledge of risk did not mean consent.
Priscilla’s counsel floated comparative responsibility:
Wesley knew Kline history and chose clinic.
Elena shut:
Awareness of doctor’s past irregularity does not authorize future fraud.
Still, Wesley morally blamed self.
“If I told Nadia, we never choose Kline.”
Likely.
Nadia said:
“Yes.”
He flinched.
She continued:
“And Kline still responsible.”
“And Priscilla.”
“And you responsible for hiding information that affected my clinic choice.”
She refused false reassurance.
This honest accountability strangely helped.
Wesley:
“I can live with that.”
“Good.”
No martyr.
They began discussing whether marriage can continue.
Nadia wanted:
No Foxmere as primary home.
No Priscilla financial control.
Independent estate planning.
June’s future not tied to “bloodline.”
Wesley agreed.
They had already bought Philadelphia suburban home? Maybe they lived mostly Foxmere? Script setting family dinner at Foxmere, not necessarily home. Could establish they had own home in Bryn Mawr but spent lots time at Foxmere. Let's say they lived in smaller modern home nearby, but Nadia temporarily moved. Hmm continuity. No issue. Let's say Foxmere Priscilla's residence and family gatherings. Wesley and Nadia own townhouse in Haverford. But earlier they moved to Elise due separation. Fine.
Wesley had Fairmont family trust controlled partly Priscilla.
He began restructuring where legal.
He stepped off one family board.
Priscilla saw as rejection.
“It is our legacy.”
“Exactly.”
Not forever.
Boundary.
June’s financial security unaffected.
He created separate trust not conditioned on surname, marriage, descendants.
He told Nadia:
“If June never has children, fine.”
“If she changes name, fine.”
“If she gives away, fine.”
Nadia smiled.
“Progress.”
He said:
“I sound like normal person.”
“Almost.”
Humor returns.
Wesley also met Aaron Pike half-brother more.
This gave model of donor identity not shame.
Aaron said:
“My dad knew donor conception before I existed.”
“He used tell me genetics is ingredients, parenting is cooking.”
“That is terrible metaphor.”
“Yes.”
Wesley laughed.
He envied open family, but not idealize.
Aaron’s parents divorced.
His father sometimes absent.
Truth does not guarantee perfection.
It simply removes one wound.
June’s future will still have normal problems.
Good.
Meanwhile, Kline investigation showed he had preserved sperm under multiple internal codes.
SK-H17 used June.
SK-H03 used another family.
No proper donor quarantine? Maybe medically screened himself regularly. Still regulatory violations.
The number of offspring rose to 37 probable.
Medical board acted.
Kline resigned license rather than continue? Eventually maybe chapter 23.
Not yet.
Wesley testified in deposition about pre-birth email.
Emotional.
Kline’s lawyer asked:
“You viewed Dr. Kline as biological father?”
“Yes.”
“Yet chose him physician?”
“Yes.”
“You trusted expertise?”
“I trusted he would obey explicit boundary.”
“Why?”
“Because he was doctor.”
Simple.
Then:
“Did you want child genetically related?”
“No.”
This undermined Priscilla’s claimed psychosocial benefit.
Kline:
He relied on grandmother, not intended father.
No legitimate.
Nadia listened and felt something shift.
Wesley was speaking truth publicly that he had hidden privately.
May you like
Too late to erase damage.
Not too late to become different.
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