Chapter 5: My Dead Brother Was Alive
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I picked up the photograph with trembling fingers.
Daniel.
My little brother.
The boy who used to steal my baseball cards.
The teenager who once drove six hours through a snowstorm because I had called him crying after Elena's first miscarriage.
The man I had buried in an empty coffin twelve years earlier.
He was alive.
“Where is he?”” I asked.
Dr. Harrison sat down.
“I don't know his current location.””
“You have a photograph taken less than a month ago!””
“It was sent anonymously.””
“By whom?””
He shook his head.
“That's what I've been trying to establish.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Tell me everything.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I didn't know he was alive at first.””
“Then when did you find out?””
“Seven years ago.””
Seven years.
My wife had been dead for only five years when Vanessa discovered my brother was alive.
And she'd hidden it.
“Why?””
“Because Daniel contacted me.””
“What did he want?””
She looked at the photograph.
“He wanted to see Nia.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Why would he want to see my daughter?””
Vanessa stared at me.
“Because she's his.””
I sat down.
I couldn't remain standing.
“Start from the beginning.””
Dr. Harrison opened the medical file.
“Twelve years ago, Daniel donated genetic material during Elena's fertility treatment. At the time, you and Elena had been told that the procedure had failed. The hospital records show that one embryo was transferred successfully, but the paperwork was altered afterward.””
“By whom?””
Dr. Harrison glanced at Vanessa.
“She had access to the clinic's administrative records.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't alter anything. Elena knew.””
“Then why did she tell me Nia was mine?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“Because she loved you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's your explanation?””
“Elena knew you wanted a family more than anything. She knew you'd never accept Daniel's involvement.””
I stood again.
“Daniel was my brother! I would have accepted the truth!””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“You wouldn't have. You hated him after the argument.””
I froze.
She was referring to the last time Daniel and I had spoken.
Twelve years earlier, we had fought over a business deal. He accused me of taking advantage of our father's company. I told him never to contact me again.
Three weeks later, his car was found burned near a highway.
The police identified him through dental records.
At least, that's what I had been told.
“You're saying Daniel knew about the pregnancy?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He knew before the accident.””
“And Elena?””
“She knew everything.””
I looked at Dr. Harrison.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
He lowered his head.
“Because Elena asked me to wait.””
“Wait for what?””
“For the right time.””
I laughed again.
“The right time? She's been dead for six years!””
“I know.””
“Then why are we having this conversation now?””
Dr. Harrison took a deep breath.
“Because Daniel recently contacted the hospital. He requested access to Nia's medical records.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“He said she might have inherited a condition from his side of the family.””
“What condition?””
“A rare cardiac disorder. It can remain undetected for years before causing sudden complications.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Does Nia have it?””
“We don't know. She needs proper screening.””
I thought about the way Nia had looked in the kitchen.
The dark circles beneath her eyes.
Her trembling hands.
Her exhaustion.
I had blamed Vanessa's cruelty for everything.
Now there was another possibility.
Had my daughter been carrying a medical risk all these years without anyone telling me?
“Why did Vanessa take her to a doctor without my knowledge?””
Dr. Harrison looked at her.
“That's something she needs to explain.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I was trying to get the test done.””
“Then why did you keep it secret?””
“Because I didn't want Marcus finding out about Daniel!””
I turned toward her.
“You let me believe my brother was dead.””
“You had already lost Elena. I thought telling you would destroy you.””
“You don't get to decide what truths I can handle!””
Vanessa stood and walked toward the window.
“I did everything for Nia.””
I looked at the basement door visible through the hallway.
“No. You did everything for yourself.””
My phone rang.
It was Rachel.
She was upstairs with Nia.
I answered immediately.
“What's wrong?””
“Marcus, you need to come upstairs.””
“Is Nia okay?””
“She's asking for you. But there's something else.””
“What?””
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Someone is outside the house.””
I moved toward the staircase.
“Who?””
“I don't know. He's been sitting in a black SUV for twenty minutes.””
I looked through the living room window.
A black vehicle was parked across the street.
The driver's side window was down.
A man sat behind the wheel.
Even from a distance, I recognized the shape of his face.
I walked closer.
The man stepped out.
He looked straight at me.
Then he raised one hand.
A familiar gesture.
Two fingers against his forehead.
The same greeting Daniel had used since childhood.
My legs nearly gave out.
“Marcus,” Vanessa whispered behind me.
I turned.
She was staring at the man outside.
“That's him.””
I rushed toward the front door.
Dr. Harrison caught my arm.
“Wait.””
“Let go.””
“There's something else you need to know about Daniel.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“He didn't disappear because of the car accident.””
“Then why?””
Dr. Harrison's expression was grave.
“Because the night of that accident, someone reported seeing him leave the hospital with Elena's original medical file.””
I stared at him.
Outside, the man began walking toward the house.
And then my phone buzzed.
May you like
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Don't let Daniel inside. Ask him what happened to your father first.*
