Chapter 14: The Man My Mother Brought Back
I didn't chase him.
I wanted to.
Every instinct told me to run outside, grab the man by his coat, and demand to know why he was following my pregnant wife.
But I remembered my promise to Nia.
No reckless decisions.
I called the police and showed them the photograph.
By the time an officer arrived, the man had disappeared.
Daniel contacted the clinic and arranged for Nia to leave through a secured entrance.
We went directly to his office.
Nia sat beside me while Daniel examined the message.
"Do you recognize the man in the photograph?"" he asked.
She nodded slowly.
"That's Adrian.""
I looked at her.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes.""
Daniel enlarged the image.
"Has he contacted you recently?""
"Only through messages. I blocked his original number, but he keeps using different ones.""
"Have you saved them?""
Nia nodded.
She opened her phone and showed him the messages.
Most were apologies.
Some asked whether she was happy.
Others asked whether she had ever thought about what their child might have been like.
Then came one sent three days earlier.
I know you're having a boy. I deserve to know whether he's mine.
I stared at the screen.
"How did he know the baby's sex?""
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Daniel continued scrolling.
Another message appeared.
Your mother-in-law contacted me. She says there's money involved.
I felt my jaw tighten.
"What?""
Nia looked at me.
"I never saw that one.""
Daniel took screenshots.
"Did you respond?""
"No.""
"Good. Don't delete anything.""
I leaned forward.
"Adrian is working with my mother?""
"We need to establish that," Daniel said.
He turned to Nia.
"Do you know whether your sister had any contact with him?""
Nia looked sick.
"I don't know.""
Daniel opened the sworn statement.
"There's a paragraph claiming you told Camille that you were uncertain about the baby's biological father.""
Nia shook her head immediately.
"I never said that.""
"Could Camille have misunderstood something you told her?""
"No. I told her Adrian had contacted me. I also told her I had blocked him.""
I looked at the statement again.
"Why would she sign this?""
Nia lowered her eyes.
"Because my mother-in-law promised to pay for David's surgery.""
I turned toward her.
"Camille told you?""
"She confessed to me last night.""
I sat back.
For the first time, I understood how my mother had recruited people.
She didn't always threaten them.
Sometimes she found what they desperately needed and offered to pay for it.
Then she used their signatures as weapons.
Daniel called Camille.
She arrived an hour later.
Nia barely looked at her.
Camille stood near the door.
"I know you hate me.""
Nia remained silent.
"I deserve that.""
"You signed a statement saying my baby might belong to another man.""
Camille began crying.
"I know.""
"You told my husband I was hiding something.""
"I know.""
"Did you contact Adrian?""
Camille looked up.
"No.""
Nia's expression hardened.
"Then how did he know about the baby?""
Camille hesitated.
Finally, she admitted:
"Mom gave him your number.""
The room went silent.
I stood.
"How?""
"She said she wanted him to answer questions about the past.""
"What questions?""
"She told him there was a possibility he was the father.""
Nia covered her mouth.
Camille continued.
"She promised him money if he cooperated.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"How much?""
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
I felt sick.
"Did he accept?""
"I don't know.""
Camille looked at Nia.
"Mom said if Adrian claimed the baby might be his, the trust would remain frozen. She believed that would give her time to take control.""
Nia stared at her sister.
"You helped her bring my former fiancé into my marriage.""
Camille began sobbing.
"I thought she was only trying to protect the family.""
"From what?""
Camille had no answer.
Daniel asked her to leave her phone and any communications with Diane or Adrian.
Then he warned her that the false statement could have serious legal consequences.
Camille nodded.
Before leaving, she turned toward Nia.
"I am sorry.""
Nia looked away.
"Don't apologize because you got caught. Apologize because you knew I was frightened and chose to make it worse.""
Camille left without another word.
That evening, Daniel received confirmation from the trustee.
The trust objection had been placed under review.
The original inheritance could not be distributed until the paternity allegation was resolved.
But the trustee had also received a separate notice.
Diane had requested an emergency hearing to appoint a temporary guardian for the unborn child.
The application relied on three claims:
Nia had concealed relevant medical information.
Nia had received contact from a former partner who questioned paternity.
And Nia's family members believed she was emotionally unstable.
The third claim included Camille's signature.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"She's trying to make the false story look like a family consensus.""
I stared at the application.
"Can she actually get guardianship before the baby is born?""
"Not simply because she asks. The court will require evidence and legal grounds. But we need to respond immediately and prevent her from presenting fabricated claims as established facts.""
I looked at Nia.
"Do you want to fight this?""
She lifted her chin.
"I want my baby.""
"Then we'll fight.""
Daniel began preparing the response.
He included the clinic records, the messages from Adrian, the hospital's access investigation, the forged paternity report, and evidence of the unauthorized trust transfer.
But there was another problem.
Adrian had agreed to meet Diane.
We learned this from a message sent to Nia's phone.
Your mother-in-law has offered me enough money to disappear. I don't want trouble. Tell her I won't be involved.
Nia read it twice.
"He's afraid.""
Daniel nodded.
"That may help us.""
I called the number.
Adrian answered after three rings.
"Who is this?""
"Marcus Williams.""
Silence.
Then he said:
"I was wondering when you'd call.""
"Why are you following my wife?""
"I'm not following her.""
"Your photograph says otherwise.""
He exhaled.
"Your mother contacted me.""
"How much did she offer you?""
"I didn't take her money.""
"Did you tell her you might be the father?""
"No.""
"Did you sign anything?""
"No.""
"Then why are you involved?""
He was quiet for a moment.
Finally, he said:
"Because she told me Nia was in danger.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What kind of danger?""
"She said Nia was being controlled by your family and that you were using the pregnancy to secure an inheritance.""
I almost laughed.
"My mother told you that?""
"Yes.""
"And you believed her?""
"I didn't know what to believe.""
I lowered my voice.
"Adrian, my wife is pregnant with my child. You have no parental claim here. But if my mother is paying you to interfere, I need to know.""
He sounded frightened.
"She didn't pay me.""
"Then what did she promise?""
He hesitated.
"She said she'd help me find a job and pay off some debts if I answered questions about Nia.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes.""
"Can you meet us?""
Adrian agreed.
The meeting took place the next morning in Daniel's office.
He arrived carrying a brown envelope.
Inside were printed messages from Diane.
One read:
You don't have to claim anything. Just confirm that Nia told you she was unsure who the father was.
Another said:
The family needs a reason to delay the trust. Help us, and you'll be compensated.
The final message was sent the previous night.
If Marcus contacts you, tell him Nia admitted the baby might be yours. Do not change your story.
Adrian looked embarrassed.
"I never wanted to be part of this.""
I studied him.
"Why didn't you tell Nia immediately?""
"Because I thought she would hate me for contacting her again.""
I couldn't argue with that.
Daniel copied the messages.
Then he asked Adrian whether he would provide a formal statement.
Adrian nodded.
"Yes.""
Before leaving, he looked at me.
"I want to say something.""
I waited.
"I know I hurt Nia years ago. I regret that. But I never wanted to take her child.""
I nodded.
"Then help us make sure nobody else tries.""
He left.
For the first time in weeks, we had evidence that could dismantle my mother's paternity story.
But it wasn't enough to stop her.
That afternoon, Diane called me.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"Marcus.""
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Mom.""
"I heard you've been speaking to Adrian.""
"Yes.""
"He's a liar.""
"His messages say otherwise.""
She laughed softly.
"You believe a stranger over your own mother?""
I looked at Nia.
She was sitting beside me, listening.
"I believe evidence.""
Diane's voice hardened.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
"No. You made one when you tried to take my child.""
"That baby is part of this family.""
"He is part of my family. Nia and me.""
"Don't speak to me like that.""
"Then stop treating my wife like an obstacle.""
There was a long silence.
Then Diane said:
"You have no idea what your father left behind.""
I froze.
"What do you mean?""
"That trust is not the only thing he hid.""
Daniel motioned for me to keep her talking.
I asked:
"What else?""
She laughed.
"Ask Thomas what happened to the original property deeds.""
I looked at Daniel.
Then Diane delivered her final blow.
"Your father didn't just leave you money, Marcus. He left you a secret about your birth.""
The call ended.
Nia stared at me.
"What secret?""
I had no idea.
But when Daniel searched the documents from the safety deposit box, he found something we had overlooked.
A birth certificate.
May you like
My birth certificate.
And beside my father's name, someone had written a question mark in red ink.
