Chapter 4: The Baby That Was Never Supposed to Exist
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at my father.
Then I looked at the DNA results in my hand.
Finally, I turned toward Nia.
"Explain.""
She shook her head violently.
"Marcus, I swear I didn't know.""
"Didn't know what?""
"That Olivia had a baby.""
My father stepped inside and closed the storage unit door behind him.
"She's telling the truth about one thing," he said.
"Olivia has a child. But she doesn't know the entire story.""
I held up the DNA results.
"Then explain this!""
Dad placed his folder on the cabinet.
"Six months ago, I received an anonymous package. Inside were medical records, photographs, and a DNA report. The report suggested that a newborn boy was biologically related to you.""
I felt the room tilt.
"How is that possible?""
"Because Olivia stole your medical information.""
"What medical information?""
Dad looked at Nia.
She lowered her eyes.
I remembered something from two years earlier. After Nia and I struggled to conceive, I had undergone fertility testing. My doctor had explained that my results were normal, but that Nia needed additional examinations.
We had eventually stopped discussing it.
I had assumed we would try again later.
Now my father was telling me those records had been used against me.
"Did Olivia steal my samples?"" I asked.
Dad nodded.
"She had access to the clinic's records through someone she knew. She also obtained your identification information.""
Nia covered her mouth.
I looked at her.
"How did Olivia know about my fertility tests?""
Nia hesitated.
Then she whispered, "I told her.""
My chest tightened.
"You told her everything?""
"She was my friend.""
"She was my sister.""
"She said she wanted to help us!""
I laughed bitterly.
"Help us?""
Nia started crying.
My father opened his folder.
"There's more. Olivia arranged for a woman to carry a child using genetic material connected to you. She wanted the child to be recognized as your heir.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because she needed a legal reason to challenge your position in the company.""
That made no sense.
I had never wanted control of Hayes Construction.
Dad had repeatedly offered me a senior position, and I had refused. I preferred managing my own investments and living quietly.
Olivia, however, had spent years working in the company.
She knew every department, every contract, and every weakness.
"She wanted me to inherit the company?"" I asked.
"No," Dad replied.
"She wanted to control the person who would inherit it.""
He pulled another document from the folder.
It was a guardianship agreement.
My name appeared at the top.
The child's name was Ethan.
Underneath was a section stating that if I became incapacitated or died before the child reached adulthood, Olivia would become the child's legal guardian.
I stared at the signature.
It looked like mine.
But I had never signed it.
"She forged my signature.""
Dad nodded.
"That's why I started investigating.""
I turned toward Nia.
"And you knew about this?""
"No. Marcus, I swear.""
"Then why did you pretend to be pregnant?""
"Olivia said she needed time. She told me that if I helped her remove your father from the house, everything would be easier.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed your father had evidence against her.""
Dad looked at Nia.
"She was right.""
He removed a small flash drive from his pocket.
"This contains the original recording from the night your mother was injured.""
I looked at him.
"You said Olivia hit Mom.""
"She did.""
"Why did you hide it?""
My father's expression crumbled.
"Because I made the worst decision of my life.""
He sat down on an old wooden crate.
"Six years ago, Olivia was driving home after a party. Your mother was in the passenger seat. They argued. Olivia was drunk, driving too fast, and lost control.""
His voice became unsteady.
"The car hit a barrier. Your mother suffered serious injuries. Olivia had minor injuries.""
I swallowed.
"Then what?""
"I arrived at the hospital. Olivia was terrified. She kept saying she would lose everything. Her career, her future, her freedom.""
"And Mom?""
"Your mother survived the initial accident. But she had complications. She needed another operation.""
Dad lowered his head.
"Olivia begged me to protect her. I should have called the police immediately. Instead, I made arrangements to keep Olivia away from investigators.""
I stepped backward.
"You covered it up?""
"Yes.""
The word landed like a hammer.
My father had spent six years allowing me to mourn a woman who was still alive.
"Why did you tell us she died?""
"Your mother asked me to.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She was afraid Olivia would try to finish what she had started. She knew your sister had become dangerous. She asked me to let the world believe she was dead while she recovered under another identity.""
"Did you tell me she was dead?""
"Yes.""
"Did you attend her funeral?""
He nodded.
I felt something inside me break.
"How could you do that to me?""
Dad's eyes filled.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"You let me cry over an empty coffin!""
He said nothing.
For a moment, the only sound was the distant hum of the storage facility's ventilation system.
Then Nia spoke.
"Marcus, there's something about Ethan.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She hesitated.
"Olivia told me she had already arranged for the baby to be adopted.""
My father stood abruptly.
"She what?""
Nia nodded.
"She said the baby would disappear once the company shares were transferred.""
I looked at the guardianship papers again.
"Where is Ethan now?""
Nia reached into her handbag and removed a folded hospital discharge document.
"I don't know. But Olivia sent me this.""
The document showed a hospital name and a discharge date.
The child's name was Ethan Hayes.
The person authorized to collect him was Olivia.
But the emergency contact listed beneath her name made my blood run cold.
*NIA HAYES.*
I looked at my wife.
"Why are you listed as his emergency contact?""
Nia's lips trembled.
"Because Olivia told me to.""
"Why?""
She looked at my father.
Then back at me.
"Because she said if anything happened to her, I would have to raise him.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke urgently.
"Mr. Hayes? My name is Dr.
Bennett. I'm calling from St. Mary's Children's Hospital.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What's wrong?""
"Your son was discharged yesterday. We have reason to believe the person who collected him provided false identification.""
My stomach dropped.
"Where is he?""
"We don't know.""
Then the doctor added something that made my legs weak.
"But before the child disappeared, he repeatedly called one name.""
"What name?""
May you like
The doctor paused.
"Marcus.""
