Chapter 5: The Secret Behind the Baby
I read the message again.
Then I looked at Robert.
“Who is the child's father?””
My father didn't answer.
“Dad.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Marcus, I don't know.””
“Then why did Vanessa say you would tell me?””
“Because she knows I've been investigating the financial records. She's trying to make you question me again.””
I shook my head.
“There's a baby involved. What investigation could explain that?””
“Nothing,” he replied.
“But whatever she has told you, don't assume it is true.””
I turned away.
The room seemed to be closing in.
Vanessa and I had been married for eleven months. She had told me repeatedly that she wanted children, that she wanted a family, and that she hoped we would have a little girl with my mother's eyes.
Three months ago, she'd started taking prenatal vitamins.
She had shown me a photograph of a tiny pair of white baby shoes.
I'd laughed and asked whether she was trying to give me a hint.
She had kissed my cheek and said, “Maybe I'm just preparing for the future.””
Now I wondered whether she had already known.
“Dad, did you ever see her with Daniel outside the office?””
Robert nodded.
“Once.””
“When?””
“About six weeks ago. They were arguing in the parking lot.””
“What did they say?””
“I couldn't hear everything. But I heard Daniel tell her that he wasn't going to take responsibility for something he hadn't agreed to.””
I looked at the photograph in the case.
“Did you know she was pregnant?””
“No.””
I picked up my phone.
I wanted to call Vanessa.
I wanted to demand answers.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that a direct confrontation would give her another chance to control the conversation.
Instead, I opened my messages and typed:
*I'll meet you. Tell me where.*
Her reply came almost immediately.
*The conservatory. Ten minutes. Come alone.*
Robert read the message over my shoulder.
“Don't go alone.””
“She won't talk if you come.””
“Then take someone else.””
“I'll be careful.””
He reached into his jacket and handed me a small recording device.
“Put this in your pocket.””
I looked at it.
“Dad, I'm not going to turn my marriage into a police interrogation.””
Robert's expression softened.
“Your marriage turned into that the moment she made a false accusation against me.””
I slipped the device into my jacket.
Before leaving, I copied the recording onto my phone and sent it to an encrypted folder.
Then I headed toward the conservatory.
The room sat at the back of the estate, beyond the garden terrace. Glass walls surrounded it, and small white lights hung between the plants.
Vanessa stood beside a marble fountain.
She had removed the torn dress and changed into a long black coat. Her hair was tied loosely behind her head.
When she saw me, she exhaled.
“Thank God.””
I stopped several feet away.
“Start talking.””
She stepped toward me.
“Marcus, I know you're angry.””
“You have no idea.””
“Please, let me explain.””
“Who is the father?””
She looked down.
Then she shook her head.
“I don't know what Daniel told you.””
“I heard the recording.””
Her expression changed.
“What recording?””
“The one where you told him the child wasn't my problem.””
She closed her eyes.
“Oh, God.””
I stared at her.
“Is the baby yours and Daniel's?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
The word came out barely above a whisper.
I felt as though someone had struck me in the chest.
“How long have you known?””
“Since last month.””
“And you didn't think I deserved to know?””
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the fundraiser.””
I laughed bitterly.
“After you finished stealing the money?””
She recoiled.
“I didn't steal anything.””
“I watched you take the envelope.””
“That envelope belonged to me.””
“My father says it contained the audit report.””
“He took money from the foundation!””
“Then why did the recordings show you arranging the transfers?””
She looked toward the glass doors.
“Because I was trying to protect myself.””
“From what?””
“From your father.””
I shook my head.
“Don't.””
“You don't know what he did.””
“Tell me.””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“He found out about Daniel and me. He threatened to tell you everything. He said he'd destroy my life.””
I stared at her.
“So you ripped your dress and accused him of assaulting you?””
Her eyes filled.
“I panicked.””
“You had scissors in your handbag.””
“I know.””
“You practiced crying before you came back into the ballroom.””
She covered her face.
“Marcus, please.””
I didn't move.
She lowered her hands.
“I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing everything.””
I looked at her.
“You should have thought about that before you betrayed me.””
She stepped closer.
“I loved you.””
“No.””
Her mouth trembled.
“I did.””
“People who love each other don't build secret bank accounts with their husband's financial officer.””
“I was trapped.””
“You were planning to take half my company.””
She went silent.
I reached into my pocket and removed one of the photographs.
I held it up.
“Was this before or after you told me you were too tired to celebrate our anniversary?””
Vanessa stared at the picture.
“I can explain that.””
“Don't.””
“Marcus, Daniel and I were together before you and I got married.””
“That doesn't explain the hotel photograph.””
She looked away.
I felt a painful tightness in my throat.
“Was there ever a moment when you were honest with me?””
She didn't answer.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
“Here.””
I took it.
It was a hospital document.
A prenatal screening report.
My eyes moved over the printed information until they reached the section marked PATERNITY TESTING.
I looked up.
“What's this?””
“A test.””
“What test?””
She swallowed.
“Daniel wanted to know whether the baby was his.””
I looked down again.
The report showed a probability figure.
99.9%.
Daniel Price.
I felt something inside me collapse.
“Did you ask him to take the test?””
“No. He insisted.””
“And you were going to hide this from me?””
“I was going to tell you after I figured out what to do.””
I stared at her.
“You planned to raise his child with me?””
She began crying.
“I wanted to keep the family we were supposed to have.””
“What family?””
“Ours.””
“You and Daniel have a child together.””
“I know.””
“And you wanted me to raise him?””
She nodded slowly.
The audacity of it was almost impossible to comprehend.
“Why?”” I whispered.
“Because I love the life we have.””
I stared at her.
“You love the house. The money. The name.””
“I love you too!””
“Then why did you do this?””
She grabbed my arm.
“Because Daniel told me he would leave his wife. He promised me everything. Then he changed his mind when I got pregnant.””
I looked at her.
“Daniel is married?””
She nodded.
“His wife doesn't know.””
I pulled my arm away.
“Of course she doesn't.””
Vanessa began sobbing.
“He said we would be together. He said we'd start over. Then Robert found the transfers, and Daniel became frightened.
He wanted to run. He said I'd take the blame alone.””
“And you thought framing my father would save you?””
“I thought it would buy me time.””
“For what?””
“To move the money.””
I stared at her.
She seemed to realize that she had said too much.
I lowered my voice.
“Where is the money now?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie.””
“Marcus, the accounts were controlled by Daniel.””
“Then why did you take the envelope?””
“Because it had the final transfer authorization.””
I stepped closer.
“What final transfer?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Three million dollars.””
My stomach tightened.
“From the foundation?””
“Yes.””
“Where was it going?””
She looked at me.
“To an overseas account.””
“Whose account?””
“Mine.””
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The truth.
Not a misunderstanding.
Not a financial error.
A plan.
“You were going to leave the country?””
She nodded.
“Daniel was supposed to come with me.””
“But he didn't?””
“No.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked toward the fountain.
“Because Robert confronted him.””
I stared at her.
“What did my father say?””
“He told Daniel that he had evidence of the affair and the transfers. He said he'd take everything to the police.””
“And then?””
“Daniel told me he would take care of Robert.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“He said he'd handle it.””
I took a step backward.
For the first time, I wondered whether my father had been in genuine danger.
I reached into my jacket and touched the recording device.
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me.
“Why did you send me that message about not letting my father tell me who the child's real father is?””
Vanessa went pale.
“I didn't want him twisting the truth.””
“What truth?””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel isn't the only person who could be the father.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
She shook her head.
“Forget I said that.””
“Vanessa, what did you mean?””
She grabbed my sleeve.
“Marcus, the test was done before the baby was born. It wasn't accurate. There was a mistake in the paperwork.””
I looked at the report.
“You just told me it was 99.9%.””
“Daniel's name was on the test. But that doesn't prove everything.””
“Then whose child is it?””
She stepped closer.
“Marcus, there's something I haven't told you about the night before our wedding.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What night?””
She looked down.
Then she whispered a name.
“Your brother.””
My entire body went still.
I had no brother.
At least, none I had ever known about.
I stared at her.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa looked toward the conservatory entrance.
May you like
Then her eyes returned to mine.
“Your father has another son.””
