Chapter 14: The Man From Before
The next morning, I sat in a coffee shop across from a man I had never met.
At least, I thought I had never met him.
Then he introduced himself.
“Marcus Hale.””
The name meant nothing.
But the look on his face did.
He looked like someone carrying a heavy secret.
“I’m sorry.””
Those were his first words.
Not hello.
Not nice to meet you.
Sorry.
I kept my hands around my coffee cup.
“Are you my daughter’s father?””
The question hung between us.
Marcus looked down.
“No.””
I exhaled.
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath.
“Then why are you here?””
He reached into his bag.
“I’m here because I know who is.””
My heart sank.
“Who?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he placed a folder on the table.
“I worked with Cole years ago.””
“Where?””
“At a company before he met you.””
I frowned.
“Why does that matter?””
“Because that’s where he met her.””
“Who?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Darla.””
My stomach turned.
My mother.
Again.
“No.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I wish it was.””
He opened the folder.
Inside were old photographs.
Emails.
Documents.
My hands went cold.
“These are from before your marriage.””
I looked at the pictures.
My mother.
Cole.
Together.
Younger.
Happy.
My throat tightened.
“He knew her before me.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“They were involved.””
I stared.
“No.””
Marcus looked away.
“Cole didn’t meet your mother because of you.””
The truth hit harder than anything else.
He had not betrayed me after joining my family.
He had entered my family because of her.
“Why marry me?””
Marcus’s answer was quiet.
“Because he needed a connection to her.””
I felt sick.
“That’s not true.””
Marcus looked at me sadly.
“I know it’s painful.””
“No.””
I pushed the folder away.
“You don’t understand.””
“I do.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You’re telling me my entire marriage was built on a lie.””
He didn’t argue.
Because he knew.
I looked through the documents again.
There was one email.
From Cole.
The date was two months before he proposed.
*I’m close to Emily now. Darla trusts me. This is the easiest way in.*
I covered my mouth.
My wedding.
My vows.
My memories.
All of them poisoned.
“He married me to get to my mother.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
“But the baby?””
His expression changed.
“That’s where things changed.””
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
“Cole didn’t expect you to get pregnant.””
I laughed bitterly.
“He didn’t expect our daughter.””
“No.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“He expected control.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What happened?””
Marcus looked at the folder.
“Your mother became pregnant before.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Years ago.””
I stared.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“By Cole?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
I stood suddenly.
“No.””
People turned to look.
I didn’t care.
“My daughter…”
Marcus grabbed the folder.
“Emily.””
I looked at him.
“There’s more.””
I felt numb.
“What?””
He opened another document.
A DNA report.
Not mine.
Not the baby’s.
Cole’s and Darla’s.
The date was from years ago.
I stared at the paper.
“What is this?””
Marcus whispered:
“Proof that Cole and Darla had a child together before you ever met him.””
My legs almost gave out.
“But that’s impossible.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Who?””
He was silent.
Then he said:
“The child is alive.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
Marcus looked toward the door.
And before he could answer, someone walked into the coffee shop.
Someone I knew.
May you like
Someone who had been near my family for years.
Someone who had never once told me the truth.
