Chapter 13: The Blood That Divided Us
I didn't sleep that night.
Catherine's words kept repeating in my head.
One of those boys isn't actually yours.
I had spent six years believing I had one son. Then I discovered I had three. Now, just as I was preparing to bring them together, someone was trying to convince me that one of them belonged to another man.
Detective Harris found Dr. Evelyn Moore at a small retirement community outside Hartford.
She agreed to meet us the following morning.
When we arrived, she was sitting beside a window, holding a photograph of three newborn babies.
She looked at me and immediately began to cry.
“Marcus Carter.””
I sat opposite her.
“You delivered my children?””
She nodded.
“All three.””
“Then I need the truth.””
Dr. Moore placed the photograph on the table.
“Your wife was terrified that something would happen to the babies. She asked me to keep a copy of their original medical records.””
“Why?””
“Because she had discovered discrepancies in the hospital's documentation.””
I leaned forward.
“What discrepancies?””
She hesitated.
“Before the delivery, Claire received a blood test that indicated an unusual genetic marker. It was inconsistent with the information in her medical history.””
I frowned.
“I don't understand.””
“Your wife had been told that her pregnancy was high-risk. The hospital recommended additional genetic testing. But someone altered the results.””
“Who?””
“Victor Hale arranged for a private laboratory to handle the samples.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why would a lawyer interfere with medical testing?””
“Because he wasn't acting only as a lawyer.””
She opened a folder.
Inside were copies of laboratory reports, hospital forms, and three separate birth records.
She pointed to the first.
“Leo.””
Then the second.
“Ethan.””
Finally, the third.
“Noah.””
I looked at the documents.
“Are they all Claire's biological children?””
“Yes.””
“And are they all mine?””
Dr. Moore looked down.
“That's what we need to discuss.””
My stomach tightened.
She removed another report.
“During Claire's pregnancy, the hospital discovered that one of the embryos had been created using genetic material that didn't match the original parental samples.””
I stared at her.
“Are you saying Claire was unfaithful?””
“No.””
Her answer came immediately.
“Claire never betrayed you.””
“Then whose genetic material was used?””
Dr. Moore took a breath.
“Your father had arranged a private fertility procedure years earlier. The clinic used stored genetic material from a family donor without properly documenting the transfer.””
I felt confused.
“My father?””
“He was involved in the family's medical arrangements. According to the records, he had authorized the preservation of genetic material before his death.””
I shook my head.
“This makes no sense.””
Dr. Moore continued.
“Victor Hale later gained access to those records. He discovered that one of the triplets had been conceived using a donor sample.””
“Who was the donor?””
She looked at me.
“Victor Hale.””
The room seemed to tilt.
I stared at her.
“That's impossible.””
“Victor was a donor at the clinic years before. The clinic's records show that his sample was mistakenly used in one of the embryos.””
“Which child?””
Dr. Moore pointed to the report.
“Ethan.””
I couldn't speak.
Ethan.
The little boy who had spent six years believing his father didn't want him.
The child I had only just found.
The child who had finally begun calling me Dad.
I pushed the papers away.
“No.””
“Marcus—”
“No. There has to be another explanation.””
Dr. Moore's eyes filled.
“Claire knew the truth shortly before she died. She was devastated, but she never blamed Ethan. She told me he was her son, regardless of whose genetic material had been used.””
I covered my face.
“Did Vanessa know?””
Dr. Moore nodded.
“Victor told her.””
“And Daniel?””
“I believe he discovered it later.””
I stood and walked toward the window.
For years, Victor had been close to my family. He had attended birthdays, weddings, funerals. He had sat at our dining table while Claire served him coffee.
He had known that Ethan was his biological child.
And he had allowed the boy to grow up believing he was unwanted.
“Why would Victor take Ethan?””
Dr. Moore opened another document.
“Because the family trust contained a provision that gave the biological firstborn male child a controlling interest in the company.””
I turned.
“But if Ethan was Victor's biological child—”
“Victor believed he could use that fact to challenge the inheritance and gain control.””
I looked at the report again.
“Then why did he take Noah?””
“Because Noah was listed as the firstborn male child in the original delivery record. Victor wanted the records changed so he could manipulate the succession.””
I felt sick.
“And Lily?””
Dr. Moore looked confused.
“Lily?””
I explained the photograph Claire had left behind and the mysterious girl Vanessa had mentioned.
The doctor went pale.
“Marcus, there was no fourth child.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Claire never gave birth to a daughter named Lily.””
My heart pounded.
“Then who was the baby in the photograph?””
Dr. Moore studied the image.
After a moment, she whispered:
“That's Catherine's daughter.””
I froze.
“Catherine had a child?””
“Yes. A little girl. She was born several months before the triplets.””
I sat down.
“Why did Claire have her photograph?””
“Because Claire helped Catherine during the pregnancy. She loved that little girl.””
The pieces began falling into place.
Lily wasn't Claire's daughter.
She was Catherine's.
But why had Claire written about her?
Dr. Moore explained.
“Catherine believed Claire had stolen everything from her. She thought Claire had taken her place in the family, won Victor's affection, and built the life Catherine wanted.””
I looked at the photograph.
“And Vanessa?””
“She was Catherine's closest friend. They worked together.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Amara.
Marcus, the boys are safe. But Catherine has called the house. She says she wants Ethan.
I immediately called her.
“Do not let anyone near the boys.””
“We have police outside.””
“Catherine knows Ethan's biological connection to Victor.””
Amara was silent.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Marcus, Ethan already knows.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“He heard Margaret and the officers discussing the test results.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is he?””
“In Leo's room.””
I heard a small voice in the background.
“Daddy?””
Ethan.
I swallowed.
“Put him on.””
There was a pause.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Am I not really your son?””
My heart broke.
“Ethan, listen to me.””
“Am I Victor's?””
“You are Claire's son. You are your own person. And you are my son because I love you.””
“But Victor is my real father.””
I struggled to find the right words.
“Biology tells us where we come from. It doesn't decide who loves us, who protects us, or who deserves to be called family.””
Ethan began crying.
“Will you still want me?””
I closed my eyes.
“Every single day.””
A quiet sob came through the phone.
Then Leo's voice joined him.
“He's my brother. Nobody gets to take him.””
I smiled through my tears.
“That's right.””
When the call ended, Detective Harris approached.
“We have a location for Catherine.””
I turned.
“Where?””
“An abandoned property owned by Victor Hale. The same property where Noah's school records were sent.””
I grabbed my coat.
“Let's go.””
As we reached the car, my phone rang again.
This time, it was an unknown number.
I answered.
Catherine's voice was calm.
“Did the doctor tell you about Ethan?””
“Yes.””
“Then you understand why Victor wants him.””
“Where is Noah?””
“With me.””
“Let him go.””
She laughed softly.
“Bring Ethan. Come alone.””
“No.””
“Then you'll never see Noah again.””
The call ended.
I looked at Detective Harris.
He was already calling for backup.
Then a second message arrived.
It contained a photograph of Noah sitting on a bed.
He was holding a piece of paper.
May you like
On it, in a child's handwriting, were five words:
*Please find my brothers, Daddy.*
