Chapter 10: The Truth Beneath the False Name
I stared at the hospital record sitting between us.
I didn’t touch it.
I couldn’t.
Because some part of me already knew that whatever was written there would destroy another piece of my life.
My aunt watched me carefully.
“Ethan…”
“Say it.””
Her eyes dropped.
“I can’t.””
I laughed once, quietly.
“Of course you can’t.””
I pushed the paper back toward her.
“That’s what everyone does. They hide behind silence and call it protection.””
She looked hurt.
Maybe she deserved to.
Maybe she didn’t.
I didn’t know anymore.
“Just tell me who.””
She took a deep breath.
Then she said:
“Your biological father is Michael Hayes.””
The name meant nothing.
At first.
Then everything.
Because I had heard it before.
Years ago.
From my grandfather.
I remembered being thirteen years old, sitting at the dinner table while Robert talked about old business rivals.
He had mentioned a man named Michael.
A man he hated.
A man who had “betrayed” him.
My hands tightened.
“Who was he?””
My aunt looked away.
“He worked with Robert.””
“Worked with him how?””
“They were partners.””
“Partners in what?””
She hesitated.
“Everything.””
The word felt heavy.
I leaned back.
“So my grandfather stole me because of a business problem?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“It was bigger than that.””
I waited.
“Michael discovered what Robert was doing.””
“What was he doing?””
Her voice lowered.
“Illegal deals. Fraud. Things that could have sent him to prison.””
I looked at the document.
“And Claire?””
“Claire knew too.””
My heart sank.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she expose him?””
My aunt looked at me.
“Because Robert threatened her.””
“With what?””
“With you.””
I closed my eyes.
A baby.
I had been a bargaining chip before I even understood the world.
My aunt continued.
“Michael wanted to help Claire. He wanted to expose Robert.””
“Then what happened?””
“Robert found out.””
The restaurant suddenly felt too loud.
People laughing.
Plates moving.
Music playing.
A normal world continuing around my broken one.
“What did Robert do?””
My aunt’s hands shook.
“He made sure Michael disappeared from everyone’s lives.””
“Disappeared?””
She nodded.
“Robert told everyone Michael had left town.””
“Did he?””
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
I looked at her.
“Where is he?””
She swallowed.
“I don’t know.””
That answer frustrated me more than anything.
Everyone knew pieces.
Nobody knew the whole.
I stood.
“I’m done.””
My aunt grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
I looked down.
“There’s one more thing.””
I pulled away.
“What?””
Her eyes filled.
“Daniel knew.””
I froze.
“Knew what?””
“That Michael was your father.””
The anger returned instantly.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I walked away from the table.
My father.
The man who raised me.
The man who told me he loved me.
Had known.
Again.
When I returned home, Daniel was sitting in the same chair where I had confronted him before.
He looked up.
One look at my face told him.
“You know.””
I didn’t answer.
“You knew Michael.””
His expression changed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
“Yes.””
I laughed.
A broken sound.
“Is there anything you don’t know?””
“Ethan—”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth.””
He nodded.
“I will.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Michael asked me not to.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“He was alive.””
My breath caught.
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“You said he disappeared.””
“He did.””
“That’s not an answer.””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Michael survived. But he was afraid Robert would find him.””
I shook my head.
“This is insane.””
“I know.””
“Everyone knew except me.””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“Why did Michael stay away?””
Daniel’s voice broke.
“Because he thought Robert would come after you.””
I stared.
“So he abandoned me?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at me.
“He protected you.””
I wanted to believe him.
But I was tired of believing things.
My phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A picture appeared.
An older man sitting in a hospital room.
My heart stopped.
Because I recognized him.
I had never met him.
But I knew his face.
The same eyes.
The same jawline.
The same expression I saw in my own mirror.
Below the picture was a message.
“Ethan, I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.””
May you like
A second message appeared.
“Your biological father is ready to tell you why he left.””
