Chapter 14: The Truth That Destroyed the Hayes Family
Nobody moved.
Claire stood beside the filing cabinet, holding the original birth register.
Nia sat in the wheelchair, her silver wig lying on the floor.
Matthew looked at Dr. Whitmore.
"Are you saying Claire is our biological mother?""
The doctor nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at the woman who had spent years helping Olivia destroy our family.
"Why?""
Claire's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
"Because I was seventeen years old when I gave birth to you.""
She pointed at Matthew.
"Your biological father was Richard Hayes.""
Then she pointed at me.
"And your father was also Richard.""
I felt sick.
"Then who is Elena?""
Claire lowered her eyes.
"She was my older sister. She helped raise you because I was too young to take care of two babies.""
Matthew looked at her.
"Why did you let us believe she was our mother?""
"Because your grandfather wanted it that way.""
I stepped closer.
"And Olivia?""
Claire shook her head.
"Olivia was Eleanor's biological daughter. Richard raised her as his own, but she wasn't related to you by blood.""
I looked at Dr. Whitmore.
"Is that true?""
He nodded.
"The original medical records confirm it.""
Matthew laughed bitterly.
"So Olivia spent years trying to steal an inheritance she was never entitled to.""
Claire nodded.
"She knew the truth. That's why she wanted the records destroyed.""
I looked at Nia.
"And you?""
She wiped her face.
"I was trying to help.""
I almost laughed.
"Help?""
She looked at me.
"Olivia told me that if I helped her, she would give me enough money to start a new life.""
"You pretended to carry my child.""
"I did carry your child.""
I froze.
"What?""
Nia nodded.
"Ethan is yours, Marcus. The original DNA test was correct.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Then why did you let Olivia take him?""
"She told me she would make sure he was raised in a wealthy family. She promised I could see him whenever I wanted.""
"You believed her?""
Nia began crying.
"I was desperate.""
I stared at her.
"You had a husband. You had a home. You had a family.""
She looked away.
"I know.""
Dr. Whitmore stepped forward.
"There's something else you need to understand. Nia was never pregnant when she staged the fall. She had already given birth several months earlier.""
I looked at him.
"Then why did she fake the pregnancy?""
"To make the timeline believable. Olivia wanted everyone to believe Ethan was about to be born, so nobody would question the sudden appearance of the child.""
I remembered the padded belly.
The staged fall.
My father being thrown out.
It had all been designed to make me believe I was protecting my unborn child.
Instead, I had helped Olivia steal my son.
A police officer approached Claire.
"Ma'am, you're under arrest.""
She didn't resist.
Daniel tried to move toward the exit.
Another officer blocked him.
"Daniel Foster, you're also under arrest.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Marcus, you don't understand. I was trying to protect the family.""
I stepped closer.
"You protected yourself.""
He lowered his head.
The officers led them away.
Nia remained in the wheelchair.
I looked at her.
"Where is Ethan?""
She pointed toward the basement corridor.
"Olivia took him to the old family estate.""
"Why?""
"Because she plans to present him to the shareholders tomorrow.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Where exactly?""
Nia gave me an address.
I turned toward Matthew.
"We're going.""
He nodded.
But before we could leave, Nia grabbed my wrist.
"Marcus, wait.""
I looked down.
She was crying.
"There's something else about Ethan.""
"What?""
"Olivia isn't planning to keep him.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"She has already arranged for him to be transferred to another country.""
My blood turned cold.
"Why?""
"Because once she gets control of the company, she won't need him anymore.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Then why did she want him?""
Nia looked at me.
"Because the inheritance agreement contains a clause that makes the first male grandchild the beneficiary of the controlling shares.""
I shook my head.
"But Ethan isn't related to Olivia.""
"She doesn't care. She has forged the records.""
I turned toward Matthew.
He was already calling the police.
We drove to the old family estate with two officers following us.
The house stood behind tall iron gates.
The lights were on.
Several luxury cars were parked outside.
Inside, I could hear voices.
The shareholders had arrived.
Olivia was holding her own little press conference.
I entered through the front doors.
The room fell silent.
My sister stood beside a large screen.
She wore a white suit and held Ethan in her arms.
Behind her stood Victor Hale.
He smiled when he saw me.
"Marcus. I was wondering when you'd arrive.""
I ignored him.
"Give me my son.""
Olivia smiled.
"Your son?""
She held Ethan closer.
"He's mine.""
I stepped forward.
"He's not.""
She turned toward the shareholders.
"Everyone, this is exactly the behavior I've been warning you about. Marcus has become unstable. He's obsessed with taking my child.""
Matthew entered behind me.
"Your child?""
Olivia's smile faded.
Matthew held up the original birth register.
"Tell them who you really are.""
The room erupted in whispers.
Olivia's expression hardened.
"That document is fake.""
Dr. Whitmore entered with the police.
"It isn't.""
He placed the verified laboratory results on the table.
"The child's biological father is Marcus Hayes. The biological mother is Nia Hayes.""
Victor stepped backward.
Olivia turned toward him.
"Say something!""
Victor didn't move.
Then he looked at the police officers.
"I want a lawyer.""
Olivia's face changed.
"You promised!""
Victor shook his head.
"I'm not going to prison for you.""
He began walking toward the exit.
An officer stopped him.
Olivia screamed.
"YOU COWARD!""
Then she looked at me.
"You think you've won?""
I held out my arms.
"Give me my son.""
She began crying.
For a moment, I thought she might finally surrender.
Instead, she stepped backward toward the balcony.
"Nobody gets him.""
Matthew moved quickly.
"Olivia, stop!""
She pulled a small envelope from her pocket.
Inside was the original inheritance agreement.
She held it over the balcony railing.
"One more step, and this disappears!""
I stopped.
"Olivia, listen to me.""
She looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
"Do you know what it's like to spend your entire life believing you were unwanted?""
Her voice broke.
"To watch everyone choose someone else?""
I swallowed.
"You weren't unwanted.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Don't lie to me!""
"You were given a family. You were given a home. You were loved.""
"Not enough!""
Her hand trembled.
Ethan began crying.
I took one slow step forward.
"He's innocent. Whatever happened between us, don't punish him.""
Olivia looked down at the baby.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then Victor shouted from behind the officers.
"Olivia! Throw the papers!""
She turned toward him.
That was all the distraction Matthew needed.
He grabbed the envelope.
Olivia screamed and lost her balance.
The baby slipped from her arms.
I lunged forward and caught Ethan before he hit the floor.
Olivia collapsed against the railing.
The police rushed toward her.
She began sobbing.
I held my son against my chest.
His tiny fingers wrapped around my shirt.
I kissed his forehead.
"You're coming home, buddy.""
Then Olivia looked up at me.
Her eyes were filled with hatred.
"Marcus, you still don't know who your real father is.""
I froze.
She smiled through her tears.
"Richard isn't your biological father.""
The room fell silent.
She pointed toward Matthew.
"Neither is he.""
Then she looked at Victor.
"Ask him who donated the material used to create Ethan.""
Victor's face went white.
I looked at Dr. Whitmore.
He closed his eyes.
And suddenly, I understood.
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There was one final secret.
One that could destroy everything we had just uncovered.
