Chapter 4: The Son My Father Never Mentioned
I read the message three times.
*You should ask your wife why she already knows your father's firstborn son.*
For several seconds, I couldn't hear the music coming from the ballroom.
My father had been dead for five years.
He had never mentioned another child. Not once. Not during our family dinners, not during the long conversations we shared in his final months, and certainly not when he explained how he wanted his estate divided.
My father was not a perfect man, but he was honest with me.
At least, I had believed he was.
I called Daniel.
"Tell me you have more information.""
"I have a name," he replied.
"And I have a copy of the amendment.""
"Who is he?""
"His name is Ethan Cole.""
I searched my memory.
Nothing.
"Where is he?""
"That's what we're trying to establish. His current address is listed on a document filed with the county, but the contact information appears to be outdated.""
"Send me everything.""
"I will. But Marcus, there's something strange about the amendment.""
"What?""
"It was supposedly signed eleven days before your father died. However, the notary's commission number belongs to someone who wasn't licensed until two years later.""
I closed my eyes.
"So the amendment is fake.""
"Possibly. But we need the original document examined before making that conclusion.""
I looked through the terrace doors.
Nia was standing beside the wedding cake, smiling for photographs. Patricia was speaking with two guests, holding her champagne glass as though she had nothing in the world to worry about.
They looked like a happy family.
I wondered how many lies could fit inside one wedding reception.
"Daniel, don't contact Edward Hayes yet.""
"Why?""
"Because if he's involved, I don't want him knowing what we found.""
"Understood.""
I ended the call.
Olivia was still beside me.
"Marcus, what are you going to do?""
I looked at my sister.
"Find out who Ethan is.""
She hesitated.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"Two weeks ago, Nia asked me whether Dad ever talked about a son named Ethan.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought she was asking about someone from his company. I told her I had never heard the name.""
"How did she react?""
Olivia swallowed.
"She looked disappointed.""
I stared at her.
"Disappointed?""
"Yes. Then she asked whether Dad kept old photographs in the house.""
A cold sensation moved through my chest.
"What did you tell her?""
"That his study was still full of boxes.""
I turned toward the ballroom.
Nia had stopped taking photographs.
She was looking directly at me.
The moment our eyes met, she smiled and lifted her champagne glass.
I raised my phone instead.
I took a photograph of her.
Then I sent it to Daniel with a message.
*Find out everything about her connection to Ethan Cole.*
At eleven forty-five that night, I finally returned to the hotel suite.
Nia was sitting on the edge of the bed, barefoot, with her wedding dress spread across the carpet.
She had removed her earrings and placed them carefully on the bedside table.
My earrings.
The gift I had bought before discovering her betrayal.
"There's my husband," she said.
I closed the door.
"Where's Patricia?""
"She went back to her room.""
Nia smiled.
"Finally, some privacy.""
She approached me and wrapped her arms around my waist.
I remained still.
"Are you okay?"" she asked.
"Long day.""
"You've been distant all evening.""
She stepped back and examined my face.
"Did something happen with Olivia?""
I looked at her.
"Why would you ask that?""
"Because she looked upset. I tried talking to her, but she practically ran away.""
I loosened my tie.
"Maybe she had a difficult day.""
Nia crossed her arms.
"Marcus, I know my family isn't perfect, but I don't want you thinking badly of my mother.""
"I haven't said anything about your mother.""
"Well, you've been treating her strangely.""
I sat in the armchair near the window.
"Nia, who is Ethan Cole?""
Her face changed.
It was subtle.
A brief tightening around the mouth.
A pause that lasted perhaps two seconds too long.
Then she laughed.
"Who?""
"Ethan Cole.""
"I don't know anyone by that name.""
"Are you sure?""
She walked toward the bedside table and picked up her phone.
"Marcus, we've been married for less than a day. Can we please not turn our wedding night into an interrogation?""
I watched her.
"Where did you hear that name?"" she asked.
There it was.
Not Who is he?
Not Why are you asking?
She wanted to know how much I knew.
I leaned forward.
"Someone sent me a message.""
"Who?""
"Someone who knows my father.""
Nia's expression softened.
"Baby, your father has been gone for years. Don't let someone use his memory to upset you.""
She approached and knelt beside my chair.
Her fingers touched my knee.
"Whatever this is, we can handle it together.""
I looked down at her hand.
Then I asked the question that mattered.
"Have you ever met Ethan Cole?""
Her hand stopped moving.
"No.""
"Have you ever spoken to him?""
"No, Marcus.""
She stood.
"Why are you asking me these ridiculous questions?""
I didn't answer.
She turned away and began removing the remaining pins from her hair.
"Tomorrow, we need to visit the attorney anyway. He said there were some final documents.""
I looked up.
"What attorney?""
"Edward Hayes.""
My heart gave a hard thud.
"Edward Hayes?""
"Yes. He's been helping my mother with the estate arrangements.""
I stood.
"How long have you known him?""
"Several months.""
"Why?""
Nia turned around.
"Because he's your father's old attorney. I thought it would be comforting to have someone familiar helping us.""
I stared at her.
"You told me you were working with Westbridge Legal.""
She blinked.
"Westbridge handles some of the paperwork. Edward reviews the estate documents.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"You've been communicating with two different law firms?""
"It's not unusual.""
She picked up her phone.
"Marcus, please. I'm exhausted.""
I nodded.
"Of course.""
She walked into the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, my phone vibrated.
Daniel had sent a photograph of an old document.
It was a letter addressed to my father.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My father's.
I opened the attachment.
The letter was dated seven years earlier.
And the first sentence read:
Edward, if anything happens to me, make sure Ethan receives the truth about his mother and the circumstances surrounding his birth.
I read it again.
Then I noticed the second page.
At the bottom was a handwritten sentence.
Do not allow Patricia Bennett anywhere near the original documents.
My blood turned cold.
Patricia Bennett.
May you like
My bride's mother.
And my father had specifically warned someone to keep her away from his estate.
