Chapter 9: The Son Marcus Never Knew He Had
Marcus read the document again.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"Is this real?""
Ethan stared at the screen.
"I don't know.""
Daniel moved closer.
"Let me see.""
Marcus handed him the paper.
Daniel examined the laboratory seal and the date.
"This appears to be a formal paternity report.""
Ethan swallowed.
"What does it say?""
Marcus couldn't answer.
His lips moved, but no words came out.
Ethan stepped forward.
"Dad?""
Marcus finally looked up.
"It says I'm not your biological father.""
The sentence landed like a bomb.
Ethan stared at him.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to understand the words.
Then he shook his head.
"No.""
Marcus looked back at the paper.
"The test says...""
"I heard you.""
Ethan stepped away.
"No. That's not possible.""
Daniel placed the document on the dresser.
"We need to verify its authenticity.""
Ethan laughed once.
"Of course we do.""
Marcus stood.
"Ethan, listen to me.""
"Don't.""
"You're my son.""
Ethan looked at him.
"Then why are we discussing a DNA test?""
Marcus reached for his shoulder.
Ethan moved away.
"Don't touch me.""
Marcus lowered his hand.
I stood near the wardrobe, watching the family I had spent eighteen months trying to separate fall apart for an entirely different reason.
And for the first time that night, I felt something close to relief.
Because this was the secret Richard had promised would destroy Marcus.
But there was another detail.
One that nobody in the room had noticed.
I stepped closer to the document.
"What's the date?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Seven years ago.""
I pointed at the laboratory reference.
"That's the date Evelyn was in the hospital.""
Marcus turned.
"What are you suggesting?""
I hesitated.
Then I said the words Richard had once told me.
"Maybe she knew Ethan wasn't your biological son.""
Ethan's face went white.
"Shut up.""
"Perhaps she was afraid you would find out.""
"Shut up!""
Marcus raised his hand.
"Vanessa, don't.""
But I continued.
"Perhaps that's why she wanted to protect him.""
Ethan moved toward me.
"Don't you dare use my mother against me.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"Enough.""
Marcus picked up the report.
"There's a name missing.""
Daniel examined the final page.
"The alleged biological father is identified by reference code only.""
Ethan looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because the identity was held separately by the laboratory.""
"Can we get it?""
Daniel nodded.
"If the original records still exist.""
Marcus looked toward the clock.
"Then that's where we're going tomorrow.""
Ethan sat down.
His eyes were fixed on the photograph of Evelyn.
"She knew," he whispered.
Marcus moved beside him.
"Whatever the result says, that doesn't change anything.""
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"It changes everything.""
"No.""
"You're telling me the woman who raised me knew you might not be my father?""
Marcus lowered his head.
"I don't know what she knew.""
Ethan looked at him.
"Then we need the truth.""
For the next hour, nobody spoke about anything else.
Daniel made several calls.
Marcus gathered the documents.
Ethan saved copies of the recordings.
I remained silent.
Until my phone vibrated again.
Another message from Richard.
You saw the report.
I stared at it.
A second message appeared.
Now you understand why Evelyn kept the box locked.
Then a third.
Tell Marcus who Ethan's biological father is.
I quickly locked the screen.
But Marcus had noticed.
"Another message?""
I shook my head.
"Nothing.""
He held out his hand.
I hesitated.
"Give me the phone.""
I handed it over.
He read the messages.
Then he looked at me.
"Who is Ethan's biological father?""
I swallowed.
"I don't know.""
Richard had never told me directly.
He had only said that the answer was in Evelyn's box.
Marcus handed the phone to Daniel.
"Save everything.""
Daniel nodded.
Then Ethan suddenly stood.
"There's something I need to tell you.""
Marcus looked at him.
"What?""
Ethan rubbed his injured jaw.
"Mom once told me that I was the reason she stayed in this marriage.""
Marcus frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"She said she loved you, but she was afraid of what would happen if she left.""
Marcus's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought she was talking about money. I didn't understand.""
Ethan looked at the DNA report.
"Maybe she was trying to protect me from something.""
Marcus put a hand on his son's shoulder.
This time, Ethan didn't move away.
"I'm sorry I hit you," Marcus whispered.
Ethan's eyes reddened.
"You believed her.""
"I know.""
"You didn't even ask me what happened.""
Marcus lowered his head.
"I know.""
Ethan finally nodded.
"Don't do it again.""
"I won't.""
I watched them embrace.
And something inside me snapped.
I had spent years believing I was the only person who deserved to live a comfortable life.
I had convinced myself that Evelyn's death was an unfortunate obstacle.
I had convinced myself that Marcus's money was compensation for the life I believed I deserved.
But watching father and son stand together made me realize how little I had actually understood about this family.
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"We should leave.""
Marcus nodded.
"Tomorrow morning, the bank.""
Ethan picked up the red notebook.
"I'm keeping this.""
Marcus agreed.
Then he turned toward me.
"Vanessa, you can stay in the guest room tonight. Daniel will arrange for someone to collect your belongings tomorrow.""
I stared at him.
"You're really ending our marriage?""
Marcus looked exhausted.
"Our marriage ended when I watched you stage an assault on my son.""
I started crying.
"Please, Marcus. We can fix this.""
"No.""
"I made mistakes.""
"You made plans.""
I reached for him.
He stepped away.
"Don't make this harder.""
He walked out.
Daniel followed.
Ethan remained in the room.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"I don't hate you.""
I almost laughed.
"That's generous.""
"No. I mean it. I just want to know why you did this.""
I looked at him.
"Because I wanted a different life.""
"At whose expense?""
I had no answer.
He picked up the photograph of his mother.
Then he left.
I sat alone in the bedroom.
For the first time, I noticed how quiet the house had become.
No Marcus.
No Ethan.
No voices.
Only the soft hum of the air conditioner.
I took out my phone.
Richard had sent another message.
The box is being opened tomorrow. You have one chance to fix this.
I typed:
Tell me who Ethan's father is.
The reply came immediately.
You already know.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
It's the man who stood beside Evelyn in the hospital.
I looked toward the hallway.
Daniel.
The attorney.
The man who had been pretending to help us.
My fingers went numb.
I typed again.
You're lying.
Richard replied:
Ask Daniel why Evelyn made him promise to protect Ethan.
I dropped the phone.
Because suddenly the old hospital recording made sense.
Daniel hadn't been standing beside Evelyn merely as her attorney.
He had been there because he was Ethan's biological father.
And Marcus had spent twenty-three years raising another man's child without knowing it.
The bedroom door opened.
Marcus stood there.
He had returned for his watch.
He noticed my expression.
"What's wrong?""
I couldn't speak.
He looked at my phone on the floor.
Then he picked it up.
He read Richard's message.
His face changed.
"Daniel?""
I nodded.
Marcus stared at me.
"Is this true?""
I began shaking my head.
"I don't know.""
He looked toward the staircase.
Then he made a phone call.
Daniel answered almost immediately.
"Marcus?""
Marcus spoke in a voice I had never heard before.
"Come back upstairs.""
A pause.
"Why?""
"Because I want you to look me in the eye and tell me whether you are Ethan's biological father.""
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Daniel answered.
"Yes.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Daniel continued.
"But that's not the only thing Evelyn asked me to hide.""
Marcus opened his eyes.
"What else?""
Daniel's voice became almost a whisper.
"She wasn't dying from the illness listed on her medical records.""
Marcus stopped breathing.
"What are you talking about?""
"Her final diagnosis was deliberately altered.""
"By whom?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
"By the person who controlled her medical payments.""
Marcus slowly looked at me.
I shook my head.
"No.""
Daniel continued.
"Vanessa.""
Marcus's phone slipped slightly in his hand.
"Why?""
Daniel answered:
"Because Richard didn't just want the company. He wanted Evelyn gone before she could change the ownership documents.""
I covered my mouth.
And then Daniel delivered the final blow.
"Marcus, you need to understand something. Evelyn didn't die because her illness became worse.""
A pause.
"She died because someone made sure she never received the treatment she needed.""
The call ended.
Marcus looked at me.
For the first time, he didn't look angry.
He looked devastated.
"Vanessa," he whispered.
I couldn't meet his eyes.
"Tell me you didn't know.""
I stood frozen.
And somewhere downstairs, the front door opened.
May you like
A man's voice called through the house.
"Marcus? It's Richard.""
