Chapter 15: The Child Everyone Wanted Gone
No one spoke.
The only sound was the rain hitting the windows.
My mother looked at me like she was seeing the little boy she had lost.
“When you were born, I thought the hardest part of my life was over.””
She touched the photograph.
“I was wrong.””
I sat down.
I needed to hear everything.
No more secrets.
No more missing pieces.
“Tell me.””
My mother nodded.
“When I gave birth to you, your grandfather had already changed his will.””
“The inheritance.””
“Yes.””
She looked at the papers.
“He knew there were people around him who wanted his money.””
“So he protected me?””
She smiled sadly.
“He protected you.””
I looked at the photograph of Adrian.
“And then?””
“Adrian found out.””
My mother’s voice became quieter.
“He believed you were the reason he would lose everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“He wanted me gone.””
“Yes.””
Marcus spoke softly.
“I didn’t know.””
My mother looked at him.
“No.””
A pause.
“But you helped him.””
Marcus looked down.
“I was afraid.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone was afraid.””
My voice was bitter.
“But somehow, I was always the one who paid.””
Nobody argued.
Because they knew I was right.
My mother continued.
“When Adrian realized he couldn’t control the inheritance, he tried to remove the problem.””
Me.
The word didn’t need to be said.
“What happened?””
She looked at the floor.
“One night, someone broke into our house.””
I held my breath.
“You were three months old.””
The image was impossible.
My mother.
A baby.
A threat.
“I took you and ran.””
“To where?””
“To Marcus.””
I looked at my father.
“You knew?””
He nodded.
“I helped her hide you.””
My anger shifted.
“You helped?””
“Yes.””
Marcus’s voice broke.
“That was the one thing I did right.””
My mother continued.
“We created a new identity.””
“For me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Adrian was looking for the original records.””
I stared at the papers.
“So my whole life…”
“Was built to keep you alive.””
I looked at my mother.
“And then you disappeared.””
Her eyes filled.
“Because Adrian found us again.””
The room went silent.
“He knew where you were?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
She looked toward Vanessa.
Everyone noticed.
Vanessa froze.
“No.””
My mother looked at her.
“I’m sorry.””
Vanessa stepped back.
“You think I told him?””
“No.””
My mother shook her head.
“Not you.””
She looked at Marcus.
My father went pale.
“What?””
My mother whispered:
“Someone close to you gave him the information.””
Marcus looked horrified.
“Who?””
Before she could answer, the front door opened.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Gray hair.
A calm smile.
My entire body froze.
Because I knew him.
Not personally.
But from the photographs.
From my grandfather’s old albums.
My mother whispered his name.
“Adrian.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, Elena.””
Then he looked at me.
“My nephew.””
I stood.
“You tried to kill me.””
His expression didn’t change.
“I tried to save the family.””
“By destroying mine?””
He sighed.
“You still don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Adrian walked closer.
“I didn’t change your records because I hated you.””
He smiled faintly.
“I changed them because you were never supposed to exist.””
The room went silent.
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, don’t listen to him.””
But Adrian pulled out a document.
A birth record.
Not mine.
Someone else’s.
He placed it on the table.
“The truth is…”
He looked directly at me.
“Your entire life was built on a lie.””
He tapped the paper.
“Because you were never Marcus’s son.””
May you like
A pause.
“And you were never Elena’s biological child either.””
