Chapter 5: The Child in the Hospital Records
I barely remembered the drive to St. Mary's Hospital.
My father drove.
Nia sat in the back seat, crying silently.
I kept staring at the discharge document.
Ethan Hayes.
My son.
A child I had never held, never seen, and never known existed.
When we arrived, Dr. Bennett was waiting near the reception desk.
He was a tall man in his fifties, wearing a white coat and carrying a tablet.
"Mr. Hayes?""
"Yes. Where is the baby?""
"He's not here.""
"I know that. Where did he go?""
The doctor looked toward my father.
"Are you Richard Hayes?""
Dad nodded.
"Then I think all three of you need to come into my office.""
We followed him down a corridor.
The smell of disinfectant made my stomach turn.
Inside the office, Dr. Bennett closed the door and opened a medical file.
"Two days ago, a woman brought the child here for an examination. She identified herself as Olivia Hayes.""
"That's my sister," I said.
He nodded.
"She claimed she was the child's biological mother and that the father was deceased.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"She told you I was dead?""
"Yes.""
My father leaned forward.
"Did she provide documentation?""
"Several documents. Some appeared authentic. However, our staff became concerned when the woman accompanying her began asking questions about the child's legal status.""
I looked at Nia.
She lowered her head.
"That was you?""
Nia nodded.
"I went with Olivia once.""
"Why?""
"She told me the baby was sick. She wanted me to help.""
Dr. Bennett continued.
"During the examination, the child became distressed. He repeatedly reached toward a photograph of a man on the woman's phone.""
My heart pounded.
"What photograph?""
The doctor turned his tablet around.
It was a picture of me.
A photograph taken at my company's Christmas party the previous year.
I stared at it.
"Why does he recognize me?""
Dr. Bennett looked uncomfortable.
"Children can become familiar with photographs, particularly when they're repeatedly shown them.""
I swallowed.
"Did Olivia show him my picture?""
"Apparently, yes.""
Dad's hands curled into fists.
"Where is the woman who brought him?""
"She left with the child yesterday morning.""
"Did you report it?""
"We contacted the authorities after discovering inconsistencies in the discharge paperwork.""
I stood.
"Then why am I still standing here?""
Dr. Bennett raised his hands.
"Mr. Hayes, we are cooperating with the investigation. But I need to ask you something.""
"What?""
"Do you know a woman named Claire Morgan?""
My father looked up sharply.
"Claire?""
"Yes. She was listed as a secondary contact in the child's records.""
I turned toward him.
"Who is Claire Morgan?""
Dad hesitated.
Then he said, "Your mother's younger sister.""
I felt as though everyone in my life had been keeping a separate version of the truth.
"My aunt is involved?""
"I don't know," Dad replied.
Dr. Bennett opened another page.
"There's something else. The child was brought here with a bracelet containing an inscription.""
He showed us a photograph.
A small silver bracelet.
Engraved on it were the words:
*FOR THE SON WHO WILL SAVE OUR FAMILY.*
I stared at the screen.
"Who wrote that?""
"Olivia, according to the person who accompanied her.""
My father suddenly stood.
"We need to find Claire.""
He took out his phone and called her.
No answer.
He tried again.
Voicemail.
Then he sent a message.
A minute later, his phone buzzed.
He read it.
His expression changed.
"What?"" I asked.
Dad turned the screen toward me.
The message contained a photograph of Ethan sleeping in a white crib.
Beneath it were eight words.
*Stop looking for the baby. He's safer with me.*
The sender was Claire Morgan.
I stared at the image.
"She has him.""
Dad shook his head.
"Your aunt would never do something like this.""
"How do you know?""
"Because she helped your mother escape after the accident.""
I froze.
"You knew she was involved?""
"Yes.""
"Another secret.""
"Marcus—"
"No. I'm done.""
I walked out of the office.
Nia followed me.
"Marcus, wait.""
I turned.
"What now?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small envelope.
"I should have given you this earlier.""
I took it.
Inside was a photograph of Nia holding a newborn baby.
My stomach tightened.
"Where was this taken?""
"At Olivia's house.""
"When?""
"Four months ago.""
I examined the picture.
Nia looked younger, exhausted, and strangely happy.
The baby was wrapped in a blue blanket.
"Is this Ethan?""
She nodded.
I stared at her.
"You've held my son.""
Nia began crying.
"Yes.""
"And you still let me believe he didn't exist?""
"Olivia threatened me.""
"With what?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"She said if I told you, she would expose something I had done years ago.""
I felt sick.
"What did you do?""
Nia looked down the corridor.
Then she whispered, "I helped her get the medical records.""
I stepped backward.
"You were involved from the beginning.""
"I didn't know she would take the baby!""
"You knew enough to help her.""
She grabbed my sleeve.
"Please, Marcus. I made a terrible mistake.""
I pulled away.
"Where is Olivia's house?""
Nia hesitated.
"She doesn't live there anymore.""
"Where?""
"She has a second property. A cottage outside town.""
"Address.""
"I don't know it.""
I stared at her.
She began shaking her head.
"But I know how to get there.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang again.
This time, it was Daniel Foster.
"Marcus, where are you?""
"At St. Mary's.""
"Listen carefully. I just received an urgent notification from the company.""
"What happened?""
"Olivia has called an emergency shareholders' meeting.""
"Why?""
"She's claiming your father is mentally unfit to manage his estate.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can she do that?""
"She's filed a petition claiming Richard has been suffering from cognitive decline for months.""
I looked at my father.
He had gone pale.
Daniel continued.
"There's also a request to transfer temporary control of Hayes Construction to an independent trustee.""
"Who nominated the trustee?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Olivia did.""
"And who is it?""
"Her attorney.""
I felt anger rise in my chest.
"She can't just steal the company.""
"She has something else, Marcus.""
"What?""
"A signed affidavit from Nia.""
I slowly turned toward my wife.
Nia's face crumpled.
My father took the phone from my hand.
"What affidavit?""
Daniel's voice came through the speaker.
"She's claiming Richard threatened her, physically assaulted her, and admitted to planning to harm the unborn child.""
Dad closed his eyes.
Then Daniel delivered the final blow.
"The hearing is tomorrow morning. And if the judge believes the affidavit, your father could lose control of everything before we even have a chance to challenge it.""
I stared at Nia.
"Tell me you didn't sign that.""
She couldn't look at me.
I understood.
She had signed it.
And suddenly, I realized that Olivia hadn't needed the fake pregnancy to destroy my marriage.
She had needed it to destroy my father.
May you like
But the question that haunted me was no longer what Olivia wanted.
It was why she needed my son to disappear before the hearing.
