Chapter 6: The Brother Who Was Never Dead
Nathan remained motionless.
The phone was still pressed against his ear, although the call had ended.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Nathan?""
Nathan looked up.
"Daniel is alive.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"That's impossible.""
"I just spoke to him.""
"Did he threaten you?""
Nathan looked at the photograph of Amara beside the black SUV.
"He said he's the reason Lily was born.""
Marcus frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Nathan shook his head.
"I don't know.""
But one thought had already begun tearing through him.
Daniel had always been jealous.
Not of Nathan's money.
Not of his position.
Of everything Nathan had that Daniel believed should have been his.
Their father had built Carter Holdings from a small construction business into a national development empire.
When he died, Nathan inherited the company.
Daniel received a substantial financial settlement, but he wanted control.
He believed Nathan was too soft.
Too sentimental.
Too easily manipulated.
Their relationship had collapsed after a bitter argument over the company's expansion.
Then Daniel had supposedly died.
Now Nathan knew that someone had lied.
"Marcus, I need everything you can find on Daniel's accident.""
Marcus nodded.
"And the man in the photograph?""
"That's him.""
Marcus examined the image again.
"There's something else.""
Nathan turned.
"What?""
Marcus pointed to the background.
The photograph showed a roadside sign behind the SUV.
A small white sign with the name of a private medical facility.
Nathan leaned closer.
"Where is that?""
"I'll investigate.""
Nathan folded the letter carefully.
"We need to get back to the rooftop.""
"Victoria?""
"And Lily.""
Marcus nodded.
They returned to the wedding venue.
The rooftop was almost empty now.
The wedding tables remained untouched, but the flowers had begun to droop in the afternoon heat.
Jada sat on a bench with Lily beside her.
She had removed her white service gloves and placed them on the table.
Lily was holding a glass of water.
When she saw Nathan, she jumped up.
"Daddy!""
Nathan hurried toward her.
He knelt and embraced her.
"Hey, princess.""
"Did you find Mommy's secret?""
Nathan looked at her.
"Yes.""
Lily's eyes widened.
"Was she telling the truth?""
Nathan swallowed.
"Yes, sweetheart. She was.""
Lily hugged him tighter.
"I knew she wouldn't lie.""
Nathan closed his eyes.
He wished he had been there.
He wished he had known.
He wished he could go back six years and change one decision.
Jada approached them.
"How did it go?""
Nathan stood.
"There's something else. My brother may be involved.""
"Your brother?""
"He's supposed to be dead.""
Jada stared.
"Supposed to be?""
Nathan nodded.
"He just called me.""
Jada looked toward Lily.
"Does he know she's here?""
Nathan's expression darkened.
"Yes.""
Jada's face tightened.
"Then we need to get her somewhere safe.""
Nathan nodded.
"Marcus is arranging that.""
A voice came from behind them.
"How touching.""
Victoria stood near the glass doors.
Her wedding dress was slightly wrinkled now. Her makeup had begun to run, and the diamond necklace looked heavier against her skin.
Nathan turned.
"Stay away from Lily.""
Victoria laughed.
"You think I'm the only person you need to worry about?""
Nathan stepped forward.
"Who is Daniel?""
Victoria looked at him.
For a moment, she seemed almost amused.
"Your brother.""
"I know that.""
"Then why are you asking me?""
"Because you knew he was alive.""
Victoria's smile vanished.
Nathan held up the photograph.
"Explain.""
Victoria looked at it.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Daniel and I had an arrangement.""
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"What arrangement?""
"He wanted control of Carter Holdings. I wanted you.""
Nathan stared.
"You were working together?""
Victoria nodded.
"At first.""
Jada stepped closer.
"What did you do to Amara?""
Victoria looked at her.
"That has nothing to do with you.""
Jada's voice sharpened.
"That woman lost years with the man she loved. A little girl grew up without her father. And now you're trying to tell us it has nothing to do with us?""
Victoria turned away.
Nathan grabbed the photograph.
"Answer the question.""
Victoria sighed.
"Daniel told me he could make Amara disappear without involving you.""
Nathan's voice cracked.
"What does that mean?""
"He arranged for someone to take her away.""
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not!""
Nathan stared at her.
"Did you know she was being held against her will?""
Victoria looked down.
"Yes.""
Nathan took a step backward.
The admission was almost too much to process.
"You knew?""
"I thought she would eventually be released.""
"She had my child!""
"I know!""
Victoria's voice rose.
"You think I don't know? I knew about Lily before she was born. Daniel told me everything.""
Nathan's face became rigid.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Victoria looked directly at him.
"Because Daniel promised me that once you married me, he would transfer his shares to me through a private agreement.""
Nathan stared.
There it was.
The real motive.
Not love.
Not jealousy.
Control.
"You were going to use my marriage to take my company?""
Victoria nodded.
"And then Daniel would finally get what he wanted.""
Nathan let out a cold laugh.
"So you planned to marry me while my brother secretly controlled everything.""
Victoria's eyes filled.
"I loved you.""
"No. You loved what being married to me would give you.""
She stepped toward him.
"Nathan, please. We can fix this.""
He moved away.
"You pushed my daughter.""
"I panicked!""
"You tried to kill her!""
"I didn't mean for her to fall that far!""
Jada gasped.
Nathan went completely still.
Victoria realized what she had said.
He stared at her.
"You just admitted it.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
Jada took a step forward.
"I heard you.""
Nathan turned toward Marcus.
"Make sure that statement is preserved.""
Marcus nodded.
Victoria looked around desperately.
"You can't use that against me.""
Nathan's voice was ice-cold.
"You used my daughter against me.""
Then Lily spoke.
"Why did you want Mommy gone?""
Victoria turned toward her.
For a moment, something like regret crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
"Because your mother was never supposed to have you.""
Nathan moved immediately.
"Don't.""
Victoria ignored him.
"Your mother ruined everything.""
Lily began crying.
Jada wrapped an arm around her.
Nathan's expression changed.
"You're finished.""
Victoria looked at him.
"You don't understand. Daniel has the real documents. He has the evidence. He has everything.""
Nathan frowned.
"What documents?""
"The documents that prove Amara was never your wife. The documents that prove you have no legal claim over that child.""
Nathan stared.
"She's my biological daughter.""
"Prove it.""
Victoria smiled faintly.
"Unless you can find the original DNA report, you have nothing.""
Nathan's face tightened.
"What DNA report?""
Victoria reached into her purse.
She removed a folded document.
Then she held it up.
"This is what Daniel gave me years ago.""
Nathan took it.
The report carried the name of a private laboratory.
It stated that Nathan Carter was not the biological father of Amara's unborn child.
Nathan stared at the page.
His hands began shaking.
Lily looked up.
"Daddy?""
He couldn't answer.
Jada stepped closer.
"That paper could be fake.""
Victoria laughed.
"Why would it be fake?""
Nathan looked at the laboratory name.
Something about it felt familiar.
He turned the document over.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
His own.
Nathan frowned.
"I never signed this.""
Victoria's smile faltered.
"Of course you did.""
"No.""
He pointed at the signature.
"This is my name. But it's not my handwriting.""
Marcus took the document.
He examined it carefully.
"There's a date on here.""
Nathan looked.
The report was dated two weeks before Daniel's supposed death.
Nathan slowly raised his eyes.
"Daniel arranged this.""
Victoria said nothing.
Nathan turned toward Marcus.
"Find that laboratory. Get the original records. I want a proper DNA test.""
Marcus nodded.
But before he could move, Nathan's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
Stop investigating. You have no idea what happened to Amara.
A second message followed.
A photograph.
Nathan opened it.
It showed an older woman sitting in a hospital bed.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was thinner.
But Nathan recognized her immediately.
His knees almost buckled.
"Amara...""
Jada stepped beside him.
"Is that Lily's mother?""
Nathan nodded.
Lily heard the name.
She rushed forward.
"Mommy?""
Nathan crouched and showed her the photograph.
Lily began sobbing.
"That's Mommy!""
The message beneath the photograph contained only six words.
She is alive. Daniel has her.
Nathan stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Come alone if you want her back.
Nathan's fingers tightened around the phone.
Victoria watched him.
And for the first time, she looked genuinely afraid of someone other than Nathan.
She whispered:
"Don't go.""
Nathan slowly turned.
"Why?""
Victoria's lips trembled.
"Because Daniel doesn't want Amara back.""
Nathan looked at Lily.
Then at the photograph.
"Then what does he want?""
Victoria swallowed.
She looked directly into Nathan's eyes.
"He wants you to find out who Lily's real father is.""
Nathan froze.
Jada stared at the message again.
And Lily, clutching her father's jacket, whispered the one question nobody on that rooftop was prepared to answer.
"Daddy... are you really my daddy?""
Nathan opened his mouth.
But before he could respond, his phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
*DANIEL CARTER.*
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And when Nathan answered, his brother spoke just five words.
"Ask Victoria who signed the birth certificate.""
