Chapter 13: ## Chapter 13: The Son My Father Left Behind
For several: The Son My Father Left Behind
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Marcus was still on the phone.
I could hear his breathing, steady seconds, I couldn't speak.
Marcus was still on the phone.
I could hear his breathing, steady and almost amused, as though he had been waiting twelve and almost amused, as though he had been waiting twelve years for this conversation.
"Samuel is your son?"" I finally asked.
"Biologically, yes.""
"You're telling me you had a years for this conversation.
"Samuel is your son?"" I finally asked.
"Biologically, yes.""
"You're telling me you had a child before we married?""
"No, Nia. I'm telling you that your father arranged for a child to be born into a child before we married?""
"No, Nia. I'm telling you that your father arranged for a child to be born into a family that could protect him.""
I looked at the birth certificate.
Helen Carter.
Marcus Reed.
Legal guardian.
My hands began trembling.
"How family that could protect him.""
I looked at the birth certificate.
Helen Carter.
Marcus Reed.
Legal guardian.
My hands began trembling.
"How old is he?""
"Twelve.""
The number hit me harder than I expected.
Twelve years.
The exact old is he?""
"Twelve.""
The number hit me harder than I expected.
Twelve years.
The exact length of our marriage.
"Where is he?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"Don't play games with me.""
"I'm not playing games. I'm length of our marriage.
"Where is he?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"Don't play games with me.""
"I'm not playing games. I'm giving you an opportunity.""
"What opportunity?""
"Come home. Bring the original trust documents. We can settle this privately.""
I almost laughed.
"You giving you an opportunity.""
"What opportunity?""
"Come home. Bring the original trust documents. We can settle this privately.""
I almost laughed.
"You've stolen from my company, forged my signature, hidden an entire child, and now you're asking me to negotiate?""
"I'm asking you to think about've stolen from my company, forged my signature, hidden an entire child, and now you're asking me to negotiate?""
"I'm asking you to think about Samuel.""
"Don't use a child to manipulate me.""
His voice became colder.
"He's your nephew, Nia.""
I Samuel.""
"Don't use a child to manipulate me.""
His voice became colder.
"He's your nephew, Nia.""
I looked at Charlotte.
She had heard enough to understand.
"Put him on the phone," I demanded.
"No.""
"Let me speak to looked at Charlotte.
She had heard enough to understand.
"Put him on the phone," I demanded.
"No.""
"Let me speak to him.""
"Not until we reach an agreement.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Marcus, if you've harmed that him.""
"Not until we reach an agreement.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Marcus, if you've harmed that child—"
"Don't threaten me.""
He ended the call.
For a moment, the storage unit was completely silent.
Then Charlotte began crying.
I walked child—"
"Don't threaten me.""
He ended the call.
For a moment, the storage unit was completely silent.
Then Charlotte began crying.
I walked toward her.
"Hey.""
She shook her head.
"I can't believe it.""
I wrapped my arms around her.
She held on toward her.
"Hey.""
She shook her head.
"I can't believe it.""
I wrapped my arms around her.
She held on tightly.
"I spent my entire life wondering why our mother gave me away," she whispered.
"Now there's another child. Another secret.""
Patricia tightly.
"I spent my entire life wondering why our mother gave me away," she whispered.
"Now there's another child. Another secret.""
Patricia sat down heavily.
"Your mother never wanted this.""
I turned toward her.
"Then tell us what happened.""
Patricia looked sat down heavily.
"Your mother never wanted this.""
I turned toward her.
"Then tell us what happened.""
Patricia looked at the birth certificate.
"Samuel was born twelve years ago. Your father arranged for him to be placed with a family outside New York. He believed that was the safest way at the birth certificate.
"Samuel was born twelve years ago. Your father arranged for him to be placed with a family outside New York. He believed that was the safest way to keep Robert Reed's people away from him.""
"Why would Robert want him?""
"Because Robert believed Samuel was connected to a private to keep Robert Reed's people away from him.""
"Why would Robert want him?""
"Because Robert believed Samuel was connected to a private inheritance.""
Daniel examined the document.
"There's something unusual about this certificate.""
"What?""
"The guardian registration was amended twice inheritance.""
Daniel examined the document.
"There's something unusual about this certificate.""
"What?""
"The guardian registration was amended twice. First by Richard Carter. Then by Marcus Reed.""
I looked at him.
"How could Marcus become the guardian?""
Daniel studied the dates. First by Richard Carter. Then by Marcus Reed.""
I looked at him.
"How could Marcus become the guardian?""
Daniel studied the dates.
"The second amendment was filed three months after your wedding.""
I felt sick.
Marcus hadn't simply discovered Samuel.
.
"The second amendment was filed three months after your wedding.""
I felt sick.
Marcus hadn't simply discovered Samuel.
He had taken control of him.
"Can we locate the child through the registration?"" I asked.
"Possibly. But we'll need to involveHe had taken control of him.
"Can we locate the child through the registration?"" I asked.
"Possibly. But we'll need to involve the appropriate authorities.""
"Then do it.""
Daniel stepped outside to make a call.
Patricia approached me.
"There is something I should tell you the appropriate authorities.""
"Then do it.""
Daniel stepped outside to make a call.
Patricia approached me.
"There is something I should tell you about Marcus.""
I looked at her.
"Another secret?""
She nodded.
"When Marcus was young, Robert told about Marcus.""
I looked at her.
"Another secret?""
She nodded.
"When Marcus was young, Robert told him that the Carter family had stolen his inheritance. He grew up believing he was entitled to everything your grandfather built.""
"Did he believe that before he met me?""
"Yes him that the Carter family had stolen his inheritance. He grew up believing he was entitled to everything your grandfather built.""
"Did he believe that before he met me?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did he marry me?""
Patricia looked at the floor.
"Because Robert told him that marrying you would give him access to the family trust.""
I closed my eyes.
Twelve years.
Every.""
"Then why did he marry me?""
Patricia looked at the floor.
"Because Robert told him that marrying you would give him access to the family trust.""
I closed my eyes.
Twelve years.
Every anniversary.
Every birthday.
Every quiet morning when Marcus kissed my forehead before leaving for work.
Had any of it been real?
Pat anniversary.
Every birthday.
Every quiet morning when Marcus kissed my forehead before leaving for work.
Had any of it been real?
Patricia continued.
"But Marcus wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.""
I opened my eyes.
"What?""
"Robert wanted him to marry you, obtain controlricia continued.
"But Marcus wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.""
I opened my eyes.
"What?""
"Robert wanted him to marry you, obtain control of the company, and recover the money he believed had been stolen. But Marcus began making his own decisions.""
I stared at her.
"You're saying of the company, and recover the money he believed had been stolen. But Marcus began making his own decisions.""
I stared at her.
"You're saying he loved me?""
Patricia's eyes filled.
"I don't know what he felt. I only know that he stopped following his he loved me?""
Patricia's eyes filled.
"I don't know what he felt. I only know that he stopped following his father's instructions.""
"Then what changed?""
She looked toward the door.
"Your father discovered that Marcus had been transferring money. He threatened to expose him. After that, Marcus began working with Evelyn.""
father's instructions.""
"Then what changed?""
She looked toward the door.
"Your father discovered that Marcus had been transferring money. He threatened to expose him. After that, Marcus began working with Evelyn.""
Daniel returned.
His expression was grim.
"We have a location.""
I stood immediately.
"Where?""
"A residential property in Connecticut. The child wasDaniel returned.
His expression was grim.
"We have a location.""
I stood immediately.
"Where?""
"A residential property in Connecticut. The child was registered there under a different name.""
"Samuel?""
"Samuel Reed-Carter.""
Charlotte grabbed her coat.
registered there under a different name.""
"Samuel?""
"Samuel Reed-Carter.""
Charlotte grabbed her coat.
"I'm coming.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We need to be careful. If Marcus knows we're looking, he may move him"I'm coming.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We need to be careful. If Marcus knows we're looking, he may move him.""
"Then we don't waste another minute.""
We drove toward Connecticut.
The property was a large house surrounded by trees,.""
"Then we don't waste another minute.""
We drove toward Connecticut.
The property was a large house surrounded by trees, with a white fence and a basketball hoop near the garage.
A woman opened the door.
She looked to be in her early forties.
"Can I help you?""
Daniel introduced with a white fence and a basketball hoop near the garage.
A woman opened the door.
She looked to be in her early forties.
"Can I help you?""
Daniel introduced himself and explained that we were seeking information about Samuel.
Her face changed immediately.
"Who sent you?""
"I'm Nia Carter.""
She stared at me.
Then she stepped backward.
"Oh my God.""
"What?""
She covered himself and explained that we were seeking information about Samuel.
Her face changed immediately.
"Who sent you?""
"I'm Nia Carter.""
She stared at me.
Then she stepped backward.
"Oh my God.""
"What?""
She covered her mouth.
"You're his aunt.""
I felt my eyes fill.
"Where is he?""
The woman looked toward the staircase.
"Samuel?""
A boy appeared at her mouth.
"You're his aunt.""
I felt my eyes fill.
"Where is he?""
The woman looked toward the staircase.
"Samuel?""
A boy appeared at the top.
He had dark hair and serious brown eyes.
He looked twelve.
He looked frightened.
And when he saw me, he slowly descended the top.
He had dark hair and serious brown eyes.
He looked twelve.
He looked frightened.
And when he saw me, he slowly descended the stairs.
"Are you Nia?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
He studied my face.
"You're the woman in the photographs.""
I swallowed.
"What photographs?""
He disappeared the stairs.
"Are you Nia?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
He studied my face.
"You're the woman in the photographs.""
I swallowed.
"What photographs?""
He disappeared briefly and returned with a small envelope.
Inside were pictures of me at different ages.
My graduation.
My wedding.
My father's funeral.
One photograph briefly and returned with a small envelope.
Inside were pictures of me at different ages.
My graduation.
My wedding.
My father's funeral.
One photograph showed Marcus and me standing outside our house.
On the back, someone had written:
*This is your aunt Nia. One day, you'll showed Marcus and me standing outside our house.
On the back, someone had written:
This is your aunt Nia. One day, you'll understand why she matters.
I sat down.
"Who gave you these?""
"Grandpa Richard.""
My throat tightened.
"Did you know him?""
Samuel nodded.
"He visited me sometimes understand why she matters.*
I sat down.
"Who gave you these?""
"Grandpa Richard.""
My throat tightened.
"Did you know him?""
Samuel nodded.
"He visited me sometimes.""
"Did he tell you anything about your parents?""
The boy looked down.
"He said my father was a good man once.""
I felt my.""
"Did he tell you anything about your parents?""
The boy looked down.
"He said my father was a good man once.""
I felt my heart break.
"Did he tell you who your father was?""
Samuel hesitated.
Then he looked at Charlotte.
"Is she heart break.
"Did he tell you who your father was?""
Samuel hesitated.
Then he looked at Charlotte.
"Is she my aunt too?""
Charlotte nodded.
Samuel smiled faintly.
"Grandpa said I had two aunts.""
Charlotte covered her mouth.
I reached for his hand.
"Samuel, there's my aunt too?""
Charlotte nodded.
Samuel smiled faintly.
"Grandpa said I had two aunts.""
Charlotte covered her mouth.
I reached for his hand.
"Samuel, there's something you should know. We're your family.""
He looked at me.
"Does that mean you're taking me away?""
"No.""
I squeezed his hand.
"It means nobody gets to use you to control anyone anymore something you should know. We're your family.""
He looked at me.
"Does that mean you're taking me away?""
"No.""
I squeezed his hand.
"It means nobody gets to use you to control anyone anymore.""
The woman who had opened the door stepped forward.
"My name is Laura. I've been caring for Samuel for the last eight years.""
I turned toward her.
"Where.""
The woman who had opened the door stepped forward.
"My name is Laura. I've been caring for Samuel for the last eight years.""
I turned toward her.
"Where are his parents?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"His father visited twice a year. His mother never came.""
"His mother?""
Laura nodded are his parents?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"His father visited twice a year. His mother never came.""
"His mother?""
Laura nodded.
"Marcus told me his mother had died.""
I felt a chill.
"Marcus said that?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was photographing the documents Laura had brought from.
"Marcus told me his mother had died.""
I felt a chill.
"Marcus said that?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was photographing the documents Laura had brought from a cabinet.
Then he stopped.
"Nia.""
"What?""
He held up a sealed envelope.
It bore my father's handwriting.
*For a cabinet.
Then he stopped.
"Nia.""
"What?""
He held up a sealed envelope.
It bore my father's handwriting.
For Samuel. To be opened when he turns twelve.
Samuel reached for it.
I handed it to him.
He opened the envelope carefully Samuel. To be opened when he turns twelve.*
Samuel reached for it.
I handed it to him.
He opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a letter and a small photograph.
My father had written:
Samuel,
*If you are reading this, you are old enough to understand that adults sometimes make terrible decisions.
Inside was a letter and a small photograph.
My father had written:
Samuel,
If you are reading this, you are old enough to understand that adults sometimes make terrible decisions while believing they are protecting children.
Your mother loved you.
Your father may tell you that your inheritance belongs to him. It does while believing they are protecting children.
Your mother loved you.
Your father may tell you that your inheritance belongs to him. It does not.
You were given a trust because you were born into a family that has spent too long fighting over money.
But not.
You were given a trust because you were born into a family that has spent too long fighting over money.
But there is one condition.
You must never be forced to choose between your family and your future.
The key to your inheritance is with the woman who wears there is one condition.
You must never be forced to choose between your family and your future.
The key to your inheritance is with the woman who wears your grandmother's emerald necklace.
I looked at Laura.
Then at Daniel.
Evelyn.
The necklace.
The one your grandmother's emerald necklace.*
I looked at Laura.
Then at Daniel.
Evelyn.
The necklace.
The one that had disappeared from her jewelry box.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Unknown:* Marcus knows you found Samuel.
A second message followed.
*Unknown:* He is coming.
I looked that had disappeared from her jewelry box.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Unknown:* Marcus knows you found Samuel.
A second message followed.
*Unknown:* He is coming.
I looked out the window.
A black SUV had just turned into the driveway.
And the man stepping out was not Marcus.
It was Richard out the window.
A black SUV had just turned into the driveway.
And the man stepping out was not Marcus.
It was Richard Cole, the former security director of Carter Holdings.
The man my father had fired six months before his death.
He was holding Evelyn Cole, the former security director of Carter Holdings.
The man my father had fired six months before his death.
May you like
He was holding Evelyn's emerald necklace.
And he wasn't alone.
