Chapter 13: The Secret Nia Was Afraid to Tell Me
I called Nia six times.
Every call went straight to voicemail.
By the seventh attempt, I was standing in the bank parking lot with Daniel beside me, trying not to imagine the worst.
"She was crying," I said.
"She said there was something about the baby's conception she never told me.""
Daniel remained calm.
"Let's not assume what it means.""
"Her sister just signed a statement questioning the baby's paternity. My mother has been manufacturing evidence for months. What am I supposed to assume?""
"That we need to hear Nia's explanation before making any decisions.""
I hated how reasonable he sounded.
I called Camille.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Where is Nia?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I'm not.""
"Your signature is on a sworn statement claiming my wife concealed information about our baby's father.""
Camille went silent.
"Who gave you that document?"" I demanded.
"Your mother.""
"Why did you sign it?""
"I didn't know she was going to submit it like that.""
"You keep saying you didn't know. You signed a statement, Camille. Your name is on it.""
"I thought it was a statement about Nia's medical history.""
"Then why does it mention paternity?""
She started crying.
"I didn't write that part.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you know something about Nia's pregnancy that I don't?""
There was a long pause.
Then Camille whispered:
"Yes.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"Marcus, I need to speak to Nia first.""
"She's not answering.""
"Then you need to come here.""
"Where?""
"My house.""
Daniel shook his head, warning me not to go alone.
I told Camille we would arrive with him.
When we reached her house, she opened the door before we knocked.
Her face was pale.
She looked as if she hadn't slept.
"Where's Nia?"" I asked.
"She's with a friend. I called her after your message, but she hasn't answered me either.""
"Tell me what you know.""
Camille stepped aside.
On the kitchen table lay a folder filled with medical documents.
"I kept these because I thought your mother might use them against Nia.""
Daniel approached the folder.
"Where did these come from?""
"From the clinic where Nia received treatment before she became pregnant.""
I looked at Camille.
"What treatment?""
She swallowed.
"About a year before she married you, Nia had an emergency procedure after an ectopic pregnancy.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I knew Nia had once told me she had experienced a painful medical emergency before we met.
She had never described the details.
I had never asked her to.
"Why does that matter?"" I asked.
Camille shook her head.
"It doesn't mean what Mom is claiming.""
"Then explain.""
Camille sat down.
"After the procedure, Nia was told that conceiving naturally might be more difficult. The doctors said she could still have children, but she might need help.""
I stared at her.
"She never told me.""
"She was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
"That you would think she couldn't give you a family.""
I looked down at the papers.
The documents confirmed what Camille had said.
They contained no indication that Nia had been pregnant by another man during our marriage.
They didn't establish anything about the baby's paternity.
"Why did my mother get these records?""
Camille wiped her cheeks.
"She asked me about Nia's previous pregnancy. I told her what I knew. Then she said she wanted to help prepare a family medical history.""
Daniel looked up.
"Did you authorize her to obtain these documents?""
"No.""
"Did you give her copies?""
Camille hesitated.
"She already had them.""
I turned toward her.
"How?""
Camille lowered her eyes.
"She found an old folder in my house when she visited.""
I felt anger rising again.
"Why were you keeping my wife's medical records?""
"I wasn't trying to hurt her.""
"You signed a statement against her.""
"I know!""
Her voice cracked.
"I know what I did. Mom told me Nia had been hiding something important and that the baby might have medical problems. She said the trust needed accurate information.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Those are two different issues. Medical history does not establish paternity, and nobody is entitled to disclose another adult's medical records without authorization.""
Camille nodded.
"I understand.""
I stared at her.
"Did Nia know you had these documents?""
"No.""
"Did you know my mother was going to use them to challenge the baby's paternity?""
Camille shook her head.
"Not until yesterday.""
I leaned against the counter.
My wife had been carrying a secret because she was afraid I might see her differently.
And while she struggled with that fear, my mother had turned her medical history into a weapon.
"Where is Nia?"" I asked again.
Camille looked down.
"She went to the clinic this morning.""
"Which clinic?""
"The fertility specialist she saw before she got pregnant.""
I immediately called her.
This time, she answered.
"Marcus?""
"Where are you?""
"I'm at the clinic.""
"Are you okay?""
"I'm fine.""
Her voice sounded distant.
"I need to talk to you.""
"I'm coming.""
"No. Please don't.""
I froze.
"Nia, why?""
"Because I need to tell you something, and I can't do it while you're angry.""
"I'm not angry with you.""
She began crying.
"That's what I'm afraid of.""
I lowered my voice.
"Sweetheart, whatever happened before we met, it doesn't change who you are.""
There was silence.
Then she whispered:
"Before I met you, I was engaged.""
I closed my eyes.
"Okay.""
"He was a man named Adrian. We were together for three years. When I became pregnant, he panicked. He said he wasn't ready to be a father.""
I listened.
"After the ectopic pregnancy, he left. I didn't tell many people because I was ashamed of how much I had trusted him.""
"Did he contact you again?""
"Once. Before our wedding.""
My stomach tightened.
"When?""
"About two years ago. He said he wanted to apologize.""
"Did you see him?""
"No. I told him I had moved on.""
"Then why did you say the baby's conception was something I didn't know?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Because Adrian contacted me again after I became pregnant.""
I went still.
"What?""
"He sent me a message. He said he had heard I was expecting and wanted to know whether the baby could be his.""
I felt a cold wave pass through me.
"Could he?""
"No, Marcus.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I hadn't seen him in years. I blocked him. I never met him after our wedding.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid your mother would find out and twist it into something horrible.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you respond?""
"No. I showed the message to Camille because I was frightened. I asked her to help me make sure he couldn't contact me again.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was listening carefully.
"Do you still have the message?""
"Yes.""
"Can you send it to Daniel?""
"Why?""
"Because my mother has filed a statement using your sister's signature. We need to know whether Adrian is involved.""
Nia began crying harder.
"I never cheated on you.""
"I believe you.""
"Please don't make me prove that I deserve to be your wife.""
Those words broke something inside me.
I sat down.
"You don't have to prove anything. I'm coming to get you.""
This time, she didn't object.
When I arrived at the clinic, she was sitting in the waiting room with her hands folded over her stomach.
I knelt in front of her.
"I'm sorry.""
She looked surprised.
"For what?""
"For letting all this chaos make you feel as if you were on trial.""
She touched my cheek.
"I should have told you.""
"We'll talk about that. But not because you owe me an explanation for your past.""
I took her hand.
"You're my wife. This is our child. That's what matters.""
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against mine.
Then her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She turned the phone toward me.
The message contained a photograph of a man standing outside the clinic.
Beneath it were six words.
*Ask your husband why Adrian is here.*
I looked through the glass entrance.
A man was standing across the street.
May you like
He was watching us.
And when our eyes met, he smiled.
