Chapter 5: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Richard ordered the guests to leave.
Not with the polite explanations and practiced smiles the Carters usually used when an event went wrong. He simply walked into the ballroom, stood beside the microphone, and announced that a family emergency had forced him to end the celebration.
Within fifteen minutes, the ballroom was emptying.
Within thirty, the staff had removed the champagne glasses and extinguished half the decorative candles.
By eleven o'clock, the only people remaining in the Carter mansion were Marcus, Richard, Eleanor, Ethan, Chloe, and Lily.
Lily had fallen asleep on the living room sofa, her small hand wrapped around a stuffed rabbit she'd received as a gift. Marcus had draped his jacket over her.
He couldn't bear to look at the baby shower presents stacked in the adjoining room.
Tiny blankets.
Silver rattles.
A white rocking horse.
All purchased for a child that had never existed.
He stood beside the fireplace while his father paced across the rug.
“Tell me everything,” Marcus said to Eleanor.
She sat in an armchair, her hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
“I was twenty-nine when I met Daniel,” she began.
“Your father was building his company, and Daniel was helping him secure financing. I spent a great deal of time around both men.””
Richard stopped pacing.
“You told me you barely knew him before the wedding.””
“I lied.””
The admission seemed to drain the strength from her.
She explained that her relationship with Daniel had begun before Richard proposed marriage. It had been secret, reckless, and over, she claimed, before she discovered she was pregnant.
She'd married Richard and convinced herself that the child was his.
Then Daniel reappeared.
He knew the baby might be his, and he threatened to reveal the affair if Eleanor refused to meet him.
“When the baby was born, there were complications,” she said.
“He was taken to another room. A nurse told me he was being monitored.””
Richard's voice was icy.
“And you never saw him again?””
“I saw him once. Daniel came to my room after midnight. He said the baby needed to be moved for his own safety.””
“What safety?”” Marcus asked.
“He said there were people who wanted to destroy Richard's business. He claimed they knew about the affair and would use the baby to blackmail us.””
Richard let out a bitter laugh.
“Daniel was already a partner in my business. If someone had wanted to destroy me, he would have known about it.””
“I understand that now.””
“No, Eleanor. You understand it because you've finally been caught.””
She flinched.
Marcus walked to the window.
Outside, the Dallas skyline glittered against the dark sky. Somewhere across the city, Daniel Reeves was probably sitting in his comfortable home, certain that the Carter family would continue to protect his secrets.
Marcus pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling him.””
Eleanor sprang from the chair.
“Don't!””
He turned.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel is dangerous.””
“Then tell me what he's done.””
She hesitated.
Marcus dialed Daniel's number anyway.
The call rang four times before going to voicemail.
He tried again.
This time, Daniel answered.
“Marcus,” he said pleasantly.
“I heard your father's party ended early. Everything all right?””
Marcus stared at the photograph lying on the coffee table.
“Who is Julian Reeves?””
Silence.
Not a long silence.
Just long enough.
Daniel exhaled.
“So you've found the papers.””
“Who is he?””
“Someone you should leave alone.””
“Is he my brother?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Marcus gripped the phone harder.
“You have ten seconds to explain why my mother believes you stole her baby.””
“Your mother is emotional,” Daniel replied.
“She's always been emotional about the past.””
“Did you take the baby?””
“I protected him.””
“From whom?””
“From the people who would have used him to destroy your family.””
Richard stepped closer, listening.
Marcus's voice dropped.
“You took a newborn from a hospital and convinced my parents he was dead.””
“I did what I had to do.””
The words were delivered without hesitation.
Marcus felt sick.
“Where is he?””
Daniel sighed.
“Julian is an adult now. He has his own life. Leave him out of this.””
“Then why is he a beneficiary of your company?””
Another silence.
Daniel's tone changed.
“Be careful, Marcus. You're walking into something you don't understand.””
“Try me.””
“You're not the only person in this family with secrets.””
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel ignored the question.
“Ask your father about the original Carter development trust. Ask him who was supposed to inherit it if something happened to him.””
Richard's face went rigid.
Marcus noticed.
“Dad?””
Daniel continued.
“The truth is going to hurt everyone. Don't assume your mother is the only one who lied.””
Then the line went dead.
For several seconds, Marcus remained motionless.
Richard reached for the phone.
“Give me that.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to know exactly what Daniel said.””
Marcus pulled the phone away.
“He mentioned the Carter development trust. What does that have to do with Julian?””
Richard looked toward the staircase.
“Not here.””
Marcus's patience snapped.
“No more secret rooms. No more private conversations. If there's another lie, I want it now.””
Richard's shoulders slumped.
“The original trust was created when my company was founded. It contained several properties, shares, and future development rights. Daniel helped draft it.””
“And?””
“And the trust named my firstborn son as its primary beneficiary.””
Marcus frowned.
“I was your firstborn son.””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Eleanor stared at the carpet.
Then Richard said, “The trust was created before your birth.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Then who was named?””
Richard looked directly at him.
“Your brother.””
The silence that followed was absolute.
Marcus slowly sat down.
For years, he'd believed his father had built his business to leave something meaningful for his children. He'd been groomed to take over the company, trained in negotiations, and trusted with major investments.
But if the trust had been created for a son born before him, then the foundation of the Carter empire had been built around a child no one was supposed to remember.
“Why didn't you dissolve it?”” Marcus asked.
“Because I was told the beneficiary had died. The lawyers advised me to suspend the relevant provisions until the estate was settled.””
“Did Daniel benefit from that?””
Richard nodded grimly.
“His company received management rights over several properties while the trust remained unresolved.””
Marcus stared at him.
“How much?””
“Enough to make him very wealthy.””
Ethan swore under his breath.
“So he took the baby, then made money from the trust meant for him?””
“That's what it appears to be,” Richard said.
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
“Did you know about the trust?””
She nodded weakly.
“And you still gave Daniel the money?””
“I thought it was the only way to protect my son.””
“Which son?””
She burst into tears.
“I was trying to protect both of you!””
Marcus looked away.
There was no answer he could give her that wouldn't sound cruel.
Then Chloe spoke from the far end of the room.
“Daniel told me the trust was the reason he couldn't marry me.””
Everyone turned.
She sat on a small chair near the hallway, her face swollen from crying.
“He said he was trapped by obligations. He told me that once the family business was settled, he would leave his wife and start over with me.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You believed that?””
“I was in love with him.””
“You married me.””
“I know.””
“You let me think you were carrying my child.””
She covered her face.
“I know!””
“Then why did you do it?””
Chloe lowered her hands.
“Because Daniel said the trust was about to become active again. He said if he could prove he had a direct descendant connected to the family, he could challenge the inheritance arrangements.””
Richard went still.
“What did you just say?””
Chloe looked at him.
“Daniel said the baby would change everything. He wanted me to pretend I was pregnant until the trust was reviewed.””
Marcus rose slowly.
“Wait. You knew the baby wasn't real, and you still went along with it?””
Chloe nodded.
“He promised me money. A house. A future.””
“And what did you get?””
She looked down.
“Nothing.””
For the first time, Marcus felt something close to pity.
Not forgiveness.
Never that.
But pity for a woman who had traded her dignity for promises from a man who had never intended to keep them.
Richard picked up the investigator's report.
“We need to find Julian.””
Marcus took out his phone.
“I'll hire someone tomorrow.””
“No,” Eleanor whispered.
Marcus turned.
“Why not?””
She stared at him with terrified eyes.
“Because Daniel isn't the only person who knows where Julian is.””
Before Marcus could respond, Ethan's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
Then his face went white.
“What is it?”” Marcus asked.
Ethan held up the phone.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Lily sleeping on the sofa, taken through the open window of the living room.
Beneath it were seven words.
*STOP LOOKING FOR JULIAN, OR SHE'S NEXT.*
Marcus looked toward the window.
The curtains were drawn, but a thin gap remained between them.
Someone had been watching the house.
May you like
Someone who knew exactly what the family had discovered.
And whoever it was had just threatened his daughter.
