Chapter 13: The Man Behind the Door Wasn't My Brother
The darkness swallowed the bedroom.
I stood motionless, listening to two people arguing on opposite sides of the door.
"Marcus, open up!"" Matthew shouted.
"You need to see these documents!""
Then the woman's voice returned.
"Don't you dare open that door!""
I reached for my phone and switched on the flashlight.
"Who are you?""
The woman outside began crying.
"I'm your mother.""
"Prove it.""
Silence.
Then she whispered something that made my knees weaken.
"When you were five, you fell into your grandfather's swimming pool. You couldn't swim. Your father jumped in after you, but it was your brother who pulled you out.""
I frowned.
I remembered that afternoon.
My father had always told the story differently.
He said he had rescued me.
But I remembered two small hands grabbing my shirt.
Matthew's hands.
The woman continued.
"Your brother was only five years old, but he refused to let go of you.""
I approached the door.
Then Matthew shouted again.
"Marcus! She's lying!""
A loud crash followed.
I opened the door.
Nobody stood in the hallway.
The front entrance was wide open.
A figure disappeared through the garden.
I ran outside.
"Matthew!""
A car accelerated down the driveway.
I caught a glimpse of the driver's face.
Daniel Foster.
The same lawyer who had been helping Olivia.
He was driving away with someone in the passenger seat.
A woman.
I recognized her silver hair.
Elena.
My mother.
I stood in the rain, watching the taillights disappear.
My phone rang.
Matthew.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
"At the police station. Marcus, listen to me. I found something in the original birth register.""
"What?""
"The hospital recorded three infants, but only two were registered under Elena's name.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then who was the third?""
"Olivia.""
"I know that.""
"No, Marcus. I mean something else.""
He paused.
"Olivia wasn't the third baby.""
I felt the world tilt.
"What?""
"She was born seven minutes before us. The hospital records were altered to make her appear younger.""
I leaned against the garden wall.
"Why would they do that?""
"Because she was the firstborn.""
I frowned.
"What difference does that make?""
"Grandfather's inheritance agreement gave controlling rights to the firstborn child of the family.""
I stared at the house.
Matthew continued.
"Olivia wasn't trying to become the heir. She already believed she was entitled to everything. She wanted the records changed so nobody could challenge her claim.""
I swallowed.
"Then why did she create all these fake identities?""
"Because the original birth register identifies all three of us as children of the same biological mother.""
I remembered the will.
Three siblings.
One condition.
Reunification.
But there was still something missing.
"Matthew, what did you find about Ethan?""
He went quiet.
Then he said:
"The original fertility clinic records show that Nia used your genetic material.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then the DNA report was real.""
"Yes. But there's another problem.""
"What?""
"The child was registered under Olivia's identity because she paid someone to change the birth certificate.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why would she do that if Ethan was mine?""
"Because she wanted to make him the legal heir through the firstborn branch of the family.""
I suddenly understood.
Olivia had wanted Ethan recognized as her child, but biologically connected to me.
That would allow her to claim control over him through guardianship.
She could use my son's inheritance to secure the company.
But Matthew interrupted my thoughts.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The woman in your house isn't Elena.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who is she?""
"Claire Morgan.""
I looked toward the open front door.
"Then where is our mother?""
Matthew's voice cracked.
"Daniel took her to the old hospital.""
I immediately called Dr. Whitmore.
He answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"Where is Elena?""
A pause.
Then he whispered:
"She's at St. Agnes Medical Center.""
"Why?""
"Because she has been undergoing treatment for the last six months.""
I frowned.
"What treatment?""
"She's been recovering from a neurological injury. Her memory is incomplete, and Olivia has been using that weakness to manipulate her.""
I felt anger rise.
"How could you let this happen?""
"I didn't know Olivia had found her.""
"Where is Daniel taking her?""
The doctor sighed.
"To the hospital's restricted archives.""
I looked toward the street.
"Why?""
"Because the original birth register is stored there.""
I ran to my car.
Within minutes, Matthew joined me.
We drove through the rain toward St. Agnes.
When we arrived, the hospital's emergency entrance was crowded.
Matthew went to the reception desk.
I headed toward the basement archives.
A security guard tried to stop me.
"Sir, you can't enter.""
"My mother is down there.""
"Nobody is allowed—"
I showed him my identification.
He checked it, then stepped aside.
The archive room was at the end of a narrow corridor.
The door stood open.
Inside, Daniel was standing beside a filing cabinet.
Elena sat in a wheelchair.
Her face was pale.
And beside her stood Claire.
I froze.
"Get away from her.""
Daniel turned.
"Marcus.""
I approached.
"Let my mother go.""
Claire smiled sadly.
"You're still so easy to manipulate.""
I stared at her.
"Where is the original register?""
She pointed toward the cabinet.
"Right there.""
Matthew entered behind me.
"Don't touch anything.""
Claire laughed.
"You boys still think this is about money.""
She opened a drawer and removed a yellowed document.
"Your grandfather had a secret.""
I looked at the papers.
"Tell us.""
Claire held up the register.
"Elena didn't give birth to three children.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"She gave birth to two. Olivia was born to Eleanor Hayes, the woman who raised you.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
Claire shook her head.
"Your grandfather arranged the adoption because Eleanor couldn't have children. He wanted the three of you to be raised together.""
Matthew looked at me.
"So Olivia isn't our biological sister?""
Claire smiled.
"No.""
She turned toward Elena.
"Your real mother was the woman who raised you, Marcus. The woman you called Aunt Claire was the one who gave birth to Matthew.""
I felt my head spin.
Then Claire delivered the final blow.
"And the woman sitting in that wheelchair isn't Elena either.""
I looked at the woman.
She slowly lifted her face.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Marcus," she whispered.
I recognized her voice.
It was Nia.
She pulled off the silver wig.
Underneath was my wife.
I stumbled backward.
"What have you done?""
Nia looked at me.
"I tried to tell you.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Enough. We need to leave.""
Matthew blocked the doorway.
"Nobody is leaving.""
Then a loud voice came from the corridor.
"That's enough!""
Police officers rushed inside.
Behind them stood Dr. Whitmore.
He was holding a document.
"The original DNA records have been verified," he announced.
He looked at Claire.
"And we finally know who altered them.""
He turned toward Nia.
"Your husband isn't the only person you've deceived.""
Nia began crying.
Then the doctor said:
"The woman who gave birth to Marcus and Matthew was not Elena Morgan.""
May you like
He pointed at Claire.
"It was her.""
