Chapter 13: My Mother Was Hiding One Last Secret
“Don't come inside. There's something about Leo you still don't know.””
I read my mother's message again.
Then I looked at the farmhouse.
Vanessa stood beside the black SUV, her champagne-colored dress replaced by a dark coat. She looked directly at me through the windshield.
There was no fear in her expression now.
Only impatience.
Adrian opened his door.
“I'm going in.””
Officer Bennett caught his arm.
“Wait. We have reason to believe a child is being held inside. We'll handle the entry.””
Adrian pointed toward the upstairs window.
“That's my daughter.””
“And we'll get her out.””
I stepped out of the car.
My mother appeared behind the farmhouse's front window.
She held up one hand.
A moment later, the front door opened.
Eleanor stepped onto the porch.
“Marcus, please don't make this worse.””
I stared at her.
“Where is Sophie?””
“She's safe.””
“Stop saying that. Everyone keeps saying she's safe while using her as a bargaining chip.””
My mother looked toward Adrian.
“I need to speak to my son alone.””
“No,” I replied.
She swallowed.
“Then at least listen before you do something you'll regret.””
I walked closer, stopping several feet away.
“Tell me what I don't know about Leo.””
Eleanor looked down.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she said, “Your father knew.””
I frowned.
“My father?””
“About the embryo transfer. About Vanessa. About the clinic.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“My father died before Leo was born.””
“I know.””
“Then how could he know?””
Eleanor began crying.
“Because he was the one who introduced Peter to the clinic.””
I stared at her.
She continued.
“Your father had a private agreement with the clinic's original owner. He wanted a grandchild who would inherit the family business without any complications involving the Carter name.””
I shook my head.
“That makes no sense.””
“He believed you were too young to take over the company. He wanted an heir who could be raised under his family's influence.””
I looked toward the farmhouse.
“And Vanessa?””
“Your father knew her before you met her.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“He met her at a charity event. She was working at the fertility clinic. He believed she was ambitious enough to help him arrange everything.””
I felt sick.
“So my father chose my wife?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Peter helped carry out the arrangement after your father died.””
I looked at her.
“And you knew?””
She covered her face.
“I found out after Emily became pregnant.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Peter threatened to expose certain financial transactions involving your father. I was afraid you'd lose everything.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everything? You were willing to let me lose my wife?””
Eleanor sobbed.
“I thought Emily would survive.””
I stared at her.
“You don't get to say that.””
Behind her, the farmhouse door opened wider.
Vanessa stepped onto the porch.
“Eleanor, that's enough.””
My mother turned.
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You promised.””
“I've spent six years keeping your secrets. I'm finished.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You're finished because Marcus has finally discovered what kind of woman you are.””
I looked at her.
“Where is Sophie?””
She folded her arms.
“Inside.””
“Bring her out.””
“No.””
Officer Bennett moved forward.
“Mrs. Carter, step away from the entrance.””
Vanessa ignored him.
Then she looked at me.
“Marcus, we can still fix this.””
I stared at her.
“You had six years to fix it.””
“You don't understand what happened.””
“I understand that you used my son.””
She shook her head.
“I loved Leo.””
“Then why did you make him afraid of you?””
Her expression softened.
For a second, I thought she might genuinely regret what she had done.
Then she said:
“Because he was the only thing standing between me and the life I deserved.””
The words were unmistakable.
Officer Bennett signaled to his colleagues.
Two officers moved toward the farmhouse.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“Don't!””
One officer reached for the door.
A child's scream came from upstairs.
“Daddy!””
Adrian rushed forward.
“Sophie!””
Officer Bennett shouted for everyone to remain outside.
Then a loud crash came from inside the house.
I heard footsteps.
A door slammed.
And my mother screamed.
“Vanessa, stop!””
The officers entered.
Adrian followed despite their instructions.
I ran after him.
Inside, the farmhouse smelled of dust and wood smoke.
A small suitcase lay open near the staircase.
The stuffed rabbit from the video was on the floor.
“Adrian!”” I shouted.
“Upstairs!””
We reached the landing.
The first bedroom was empty.
The second contained a narrow bed and a small wooden desk.
On the desk were photographs of Leo and Sophie.
Some had been taken at our house.
Others showed Sophie at the farmhouse.
I picked one up.
On the back was a handwritten note:
Both children must remain separated until the trust transfer is complete.
My blood ran cold.
Then I heard a soft whimper.
It came from a closet.
Adrian opened it.
Sophie was sitting inside, holding her stuffed rabbit.
Her yellow shoes were covered in dust.
“Daddy?””
Adrian dropped to his knees.
“Yes, sweetheart. It's Daddy.””
She looked at him uncertainly.
“Are you taking me home?””
He nodded, crying.
“Yes.””
She threw herself into his arms.
I stood in the doorway, unable to speak.
For six years, this little girl had been moved between adults who treated her like a document.
Now she was finally being held by someone who had come looking for her.
A police officer appeared behind us.
“Sir, we need to move everyone downstairs.””
Adrian lifted Sophie.
I picked up her backpack.
As we walked toward the staircase, I noticed a second door at the end of the hallway.
It was slightly open.
Inside was a small office.
A laptop sat on the desk.
Beside it was a stack of documents marked with my name.
I stopped.
“What is this?””
The officer looked inside.
“Don't touch anything.””
I stepped closer.
The top document was a medical report.
It contained Leo's name.
And beneath it was a heading I didn't understand.
*GENETIC MATCH — CARTER FAMILY REPRODUCTIVE FILE.*
I read the first paragraph.
Then I looked at Adrian.
“Did you know about this?””
He shook his head.
I continued reading.
The report listed three genetic samples.
Mine.
Adrian's.
And a third sample belonging to an unidentified male.
I looked at the date.
It was six years old.
Then I saw a handwritten note in the margin.
The biological discrepancy must never be disclosed to Marcus.
My throat tightened.
“Why is my DNA in this file?””
Adrian looked at the report.
“Marcus, I thought Leo was genetically mine.””
I stared at him.
The document contained a second page.
It indicated that the original embryo transfer had been cancelled and replaced with a different genetic sample before implantation.
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
“Then whose child is Leo?””
A voice answered from behind us.
“Mine.””
I turned.
My mother stood at the end of the hallway.
Her face was pale.
She looked at the report.
Then she looked at me.
“Your father arranged a second substitution before the transfer,” she whispered.
I couldn't move.
“What?””
Eleanor began crying.
“Leo is biologically your father's grandson through a separate arrangement. He isn't Adrian's biological son.””
Adrian stared at her.
“That is impossible.””
My mother shook her head.
“Your father used his own stored genetic material.””
I looked at the report again.
The third sample.
The unidentified male.
My father's name was written beside it.
I felt physically sick.
“My father?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He wanted to ensure that the child inheriting the company would carry his genetic line.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then I heard a tiny voice from behind Adrian.
Sophie.
“Does that mean Leo isn't my brother?””
I looked at her.
Then I knelt.
“No, sweetheart.””
I glanced at the report.
“Whatever the papers say, nobody gets to decide who your family is except the people who love you.””
But before I could say anything else, Eleanor whispered:
“There's one more thing.””
I looked at her.
May you like
She was staring at the bottom of the document.
“Your father didn't die naturally either.””
