Chapter 5: The Man Who Changed His Name
Marcus didn't look surprised to see me.
He looked angry.
That was worse.
He loosened his tie and placed his briefcase beside the sofa.
"Nia, we need to talk.""
I crossed my arms.
"We've been talking for twelve years. I'm finally starting to listen.""
He ignored the remark.
"Daniel, this is a family matter.""
Daniel remained seated.
"Then you shouldn't have used family assets to fund a private company.""
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"You're making accusations without understanding the transactions.""
"We have the records," Daniel replied.
"Then you should know those payments were legitimate consulting expenses.""
I laughed.
"Fourteen million dollars for consulting?""
"Vanessa provided strategic services.""
"Did she also provide the diamond ring?""
His jaw tightened.
Evelyn looked between us.
"Please. Not here.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"Mother, go upstairs.""
She hesitated.
"Marcus—"
"Now.""
Something about the way he spoke made me look more closely at him.
He wasn't speaking to his mother like a son.
He was giving an instruction to an employee.
Evelyn picked up her teacup and left.
The moment she disappeared, Marcus faced me.
"Why are you involving Daniel?""
"Because someone has been using my signature to steal from my family.""
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"Who told you that?""
"Does it matter?""
"Yes.""
I stepped toward him.
"Tell me about the photograph.""
He looked at the image.
For a moment, I thought he might deny recognizing it.
Instead, he picked it up.
"Where did you get this?""
"Answer the question.""
He turned the photograph over.
"Your mother was sick.""
"My mother was twenty-nine years old.""
"She was under a lot of stress.""
"Why was she meeting you?""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Because she asked me for help.""
"With what?""
"Your father.""
I waited.
He sighed.
"Your mother believed he was hiding money from the family. She wanted to investigate his accounts. I was working with him at the time, so she thought I could help.""
"Could you?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because there was nothing to find.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"Then perhaps you can explain why your name appears on the old authorization documents.""
Marcus looked at him.
"I was a junior administrator. I handled paperwork.""
"Under your original surname?""
Marcus's expression went completely still.
I watched him.
"Reed," I said.
He turned toward me.
"Who told you that?""
"Does it matter?""
His mouth tightened.
"That was my father's name.""
"Why did you change it?""
"Because my father abandoned my mother when I was a child. I wanted nothing to do with him.""
"Did your mother know my father?""
Marcus didn't answer.
I looked at him.
"Did she know Evelyn?""
His silence became an answer.
Daniel placed the appointment book on the table.
Marcus glanced at the page.
Then he reached for it.
Daniel moved it away.
"Don't.""
Marcus straightened.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Then help us understand.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Your father was not the saint you think he was, Nia.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Don't use my father to excuse your theft.""
"Your father built his fortune by taking advantage of people.""
"Proof?""
Marcus shook his head.
"You wouldn't believe it.""
"Try me.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said, "Your mother was trying to protect you.""
I stepped closer.
"From whom?""
Marcus's eyes moved toward the staircase.
"From this family.""
Before I could respond, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
Vanessa.
He declined the call.
A message appeared.
He read it quickly, then slipped the phone into his pocket.
I watched him.
"Is she worried about the company?""
"Stay out of my business.""
"Your business is my family's money.""
He stepped closer.
"You have no idea how much I sacrificed to build this company.""
I stared at him.
"You became CEO because I gave you the position.""
"Because your father wanted it.""
"My father wanted me to be happy.""
Marcus laughed.
"Your father wanted someone to manage you.""
The words landed harder than I expected.
I remembered my father's funeral.
Marcus had held my hand through the entire service.
He had promised that he would take care of me.
I had believed him.
"Get out," I said.
He looked surprised.
"Nia—"
"Leave my mother's photograph.""
He dropped it onto the table.
Then he picked up his briefcase.
At the doorway, he stopped.
"You should be careful about what you ask Daniel to investigate.""
I raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a threat?""
"No. It's advice.""
He looked at me.
"Your father left you a lot of things you don't understand.""
Then he walked out.
Daniel waited until the front door closed.
"He's frightened.""
"I know.""
"Not because of the money.""
I turned toward him.
"Because of what my mother left.""
Daniel nodded.
We spent the next hour examining the remaining papers in Evelyn's sitting room.
She had gone upstairs and refused to come back down.
In an old family photograph album, I found a picture of Marcus as a young man.
He was standing beside a woman I didn't recognize.
She had dark hair, a narrow face, and a small scar near her left eyebrow.
On the back was written:
Marcus and his mother, 1998.
I stared at the woman.
Then I looked at the emerald necklace visible around her throat.
It was identical to Evelyn's.
"Daniel.""
He examined the photograph.
"That's interesting.""
"Why?""
"Because Evelyn has always claimed the necklace was inherited from her mother.""
I turned the photograph over again.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
But the date was clear.
1998.
"Who is this woman?""
Daniel took a photograph with his phone.
"I'll run a search.""
Before he could finish, a woman's voice came from the doorway.
"Her name was Patricia Reed.""
We both turned.
Evelyn stood at the bottom of the staircase.
Her face had lost its composure.
She was holding a small velvet jewelry box.
"She was Marcus's biological mother," Evelyn continued.
I stared at her.
"What?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"Marcus was not born into my marriage. My husband had an affair with Patricia before we were married.""
Daniel slowly stood.
"Mrs. Carter, why did you tell everyone Marcus was your son?""
"Because my husband wanted to raise him.""
"Did Patricia agree?""
Evelyn looked down at the box.
"No.""
"Where is she now?"" I asked.
Evelyn's eyes filled with something I couldn't identify.
"Dead.""
"When?""
"Twenty-three years ago.""
"How?""
She didn't answer.
I looked at the photograph again.
Then back at Evelyn.
"Did my mother know?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Your mother discovered the truth shortly before her death.""
The room went silent.
"Why would that matter?"" I asked.
Evelyn placed the velvet box on the table.
"Because Patricia had a daughter.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Another child?""
"Yes.""
"Where is she?""
Evelyn opened the box.
Inside was a small silver locket.
She lifted it carefully.
"Your mother believed that girl had a right to know who her father was.""
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Evelyn.
"Who was her father?""
Evelyn's eyes met mine.
"My husband.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Marcus wasn't just connected to my family through marriage.
He was connected through an entire history of secrets, affairs, and inheritance.
But Evelyn wasn't finished.
She reached into the box and removed a folded piece of paper.
"Your mother left this with me the night she died.""
I stared at her.
"You said you didn't know where the will was.""
"This isn't the will.""
She unfolded the paper.
There was a name written in my mother's handwriting.
*Charlotte Reed.*
Underneath it was a sentence.
If Nia ever asks, tell her Charlotte is her sister.
I looked up.
"My sister?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Your mother had another daughter before she married your father.""
I couldn't speak.
My mother had another child.
A daughter.
A sister I had never known existed.
And Marcus had known.
For twelve years, he had slept beside me while keeping that secret.
May you like
Then Evelyn said the words that changed everything.
"Marcus didn't marry you because he loved you, Nia. He married you because your mother left Charlotte something that belonged to her.""
