Chapter 9: The Father I Never Knew
The door opened before anyone touched it.
Marcus stood outside.
Rain soaked his jacket.
His face was pale.
Behind him were two men I didn’t recognize.
The sight of them made Richard immediately step back.
“You brought them here.””
Marcus looked at him.
“I had no choice.””
I laughed.
“No choice.””
Everyone’s favorite excuse.
Marcus looked at me.
“Daniel, you need to come with me.””
“No.””
His expression tightened.
“This isn’t a game.””
“Neither was my childhood.””
The words hit him.
Good.
I wanted him to feel even a fraction of what I felt.
“Your mother called you,” Marcus said.
My blood went cold.
“How do you know?””
He didn’t answer.
And that was the answer.
“You’re still watching her.””
“No.””
“Then how did you know?””
Marcus looked away.
Vanessa stepped between us.
“Marcus, stop.””
His eyes moved to her.
“You have no idea what you started.””
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“I know exactly what I started.””
Richard whispered:
“Everyone inside. Now.””
But Marcus stepped forward.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
I stayed where I was.
“Why should I?””
“Because your mother is in danger.””
The words stopped me.
“You’re saying that?””
“Yes.””
“The man who made me think she abandoned me?””
Marcus looked destroyed.
“I deserve your anger.””
“More than that.””
“I know.””
For the first time, he didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t make excuses.
He just stood there.
Broken.
“I made a terrible mistake eleven years ago.””
“A mistake?””
“I thought if Elena disappeared, everyone would be safe.””
I stared at him.
“Everyone?””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then Richard.
Then me.
“That’s the part you don’t understand.””
“What?””
“You were never the target.””
A chill moved through me.
“What do you mean?””
Marcus swallowed.
“They weren’t trying to hurt Elena because of the documents.””
“Then why?””
He looked at the house.
At the trophy.
At the note hidden inside.
“Because Elena found something else.””
“What?””
His voice dropped.
“Something hidden in your family before you were born.””
Nobody spoke.
“What was it?””
Marcus looked at me.
“The truth about your birth.””
The world went quiet.
I stared at him.
“What?””
Vanessa looked shocked.
Even Richard looked confused.
Marcus continued.
“Your mother found out someone had changed the records.””
“What records?””
“Yours.””
My hands went cold.
“My birth records?””
Marcus nodded.
“Someone wanted you to disappear from history.””
I stepped back.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus looked toward the men outside.
“We don’t have time.””
One of the men moved closer.
Richard immediately recognized him.
“Get away from him.””
The man smiled.
“You always were dramatic, Richard.””
My stomach dropped.
Richard knew him.
“Who is that?””
Nobody answered.
Then Marcus whispered:
“The man who helped erase Elena’s life.””
The stranger stepped forward.
And smiled at me.
“Daniel.””
His voice was calm.
Almost friendly.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.””
I felt Vanessa grab my arm.
She whispered:
“Don’t let him touch you.””
The man looked at her.
“You still protect him?””
A cold smile crossed his face.
“After what you did?””
Vanessa went pale.
I turned toward her.
“What is he talking about?””
She opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
The stranger smiled wider.
“Daniel, there’s something your wife never told you.””
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a document.
May you like
And held it toward me.
“Eleven years ago, Vanessa signed the papers that made your mother disappear.””
