Chapter 9: The Confession That Wasn't His
By sunrise, my face was on every local news website.
*HAYES FAMILY HEIR ACCUSED IN MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD SCANDAL.*
The article included an old photograph of me leaving the company's headquarters.
Below it was a statement from the police confirming that I was wanted for questioning.
Matthew read the headline twice.
"They're trying to make you the criminal.""
I sat at the edge of the motel bed.
"Daniel has access to every document Dad ever signed.""
"And Olivia has access to the company.""
"Together, they can make almost anything look real.""
My mother stood near the window.
"They've been planning this for years.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me about Daniel?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I didn't know he was involved.""
Matthew closed the laptop.
"Then we need someone who can expose him.""
I thought about the flash drive.
The recording was useful, but it didn't prove everything.
We needed the original contracts.
The medical records.
And most importantly, we needed Ethan.
I called Dr. Bennett.
He answered immediately.
"Mr. Hayes, are you safe?""
"For now. Has anyone contacted the hospital about Ethan?""
"Yes. A woman claiming to be his legal guardian called this morning.""
"Who?""
"Olivia Hayes.""
I clenched my jaw.
"What did she want?""
"She requested copies of the child's medical records and authorization to transfer him to another facility.""
"Did you give them to her?""
"No. We contacted the authorities.""
I exhaled.
"Thank you.""
Then Dr. Bennett added, "There's something you should know. The child has a distinctive medical condition.""
"What condition?""
"A rare blood disorder. It's inherited through the biological father's family.""
My mother turned toward me.
"What did he say?""
I repeated the doctor's words.
She looked confused.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"Why?""
"Because your father has no history of that condition. Neither does Olivia.""
Matthew leaned forward.
"Could it come from another relative?""
Mom's expression changed.
She walked toward the table and opened the old photograph album.
There was a photograph of my grandfather standing beside a young woman.
"That's your grandmother's sister," she said.
"She had the same condition.""
I stared at her.
"Then Ethan could be related to us?""
"Yes.""
"But Olivia is his biological mother.""
Mom nodded.
"That doesn't explain the father.""
I remembered the DNA report in the storage unit.
The one that listed me as the biological father.
Then I remembered the hospital bracelet with Matthew's name.
Two identities.
One child.
And a medical condition that neither Olivia nor Dad could explain.
I called Dr. Bennett again.
"Can you tell me whether Ethan's blood test identified a paternal genetic marker?""
There was a pause.
"I can't disclose detailed medical information without proper authorization.""
"Please. I'm trying to protect him.""
He hesitated.
Then said, "The results were inconsistent with the identity provided by Olivia.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"What does that mean?""
"It means the biological father may not be the person listed on the records.""
The call ended.
Matthew looked at me.
"Someone changed the DNA report.""
I nodded.
"And Daniel knows.""
We needed to find him.
That afternoon, we drove to his law office.
The reception area was empty.
His assistant wasn't there.
The front door was unlocked.
I stepped inside.
"Daniel?""
No answer.
Matthew checked the conference room.
I went toward the private office.
The desk drawers were open.
Paper was scattered across the floor.
Someone had searched the room.
On the desk sat a small envelope.
My name was written on it.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of my father sitting in an interrogation room.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*YOUR FATHER ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CONFESS.*
I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
He looked exhausted.
His tie was loose, and there was a bruise near his cheekbone.
"Marcus.""
I didn't move.
"You're going to tell me everything.""
He closed the door.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Did you help Olivia?""
He looked at the photograph in my hand.
Then he sighed.
"Yes.""
Matthew stepped into the room.
"Why?""
Daniel looked at him.
For a moment, his face showed genuine surprise.
"Matthew Reed?""
Matthew's eyes narrowed.
"You know me?""
"I know who you are.""
"Then tell me why my name is on a child's birth certificate.""
Daniel sat down.
"Because Olivia needed a legitimate heir to access the family trust.""
"Why use me?""
"Because your grandfather's documents included a provision allowing a missing heir's child to receive the inheritance.""
Matthew laughed bitterly.
"So you helped her manufacture a grandson?""
Daniel nodded.
"But it was supposed to be temporary.""
I stepped forward.
"Temporary?""
"Olivia promised to restore the documents after the trust was released.""
"Where is Ethan?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I slammed my hand onto the desk.
"Stop lying!""
He flinched.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a thick envelope.
"I have something you need to see.""
Inside were copies of financial transfers.
Millions of dollars had moved through several companies.
One payment was dated six months earlier.
The recipient was a private fertility clinic.
The sender was Hayes Construction.
I looked at Daniel.
"Who authorized this?""
"Richard.""
My father.
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Your father knew about the arrangement.""
"Why would he?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because Olivia told him that if he didn't cooperate, she would expose what happened to your mother.""
I stared at him.
"That doesn't explain the baby.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Marcus, the child wasn't created through a normal fertility procedure.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What are you saying?""
"Olivia obtained biological material from a private medical archive.""
"Whose?""
He looked at me.
"Your brother's.""
Matthew went completely still.
"My what?""
Daniel nodded.
"Years ago, your grandfather arranged for Matthew's medical samples to be preserved when he was an infant. Olivia discovered the archive and used it without authorization.""
Matthew stepped closer.
"So Ethan is my biological son?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know. The original test results were altered.""
I looked at him.
"Who altered them?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Olivia.""
"Why?""
"Because she needed you two to fight each other. She wanted Marcus to believe the child was his, and Matthew to believe he had been robbed of a son.""
I felt sick.
The DNA report had never been proof.
It had been another weapon.
Matthew grabbed Daniel by the collar.
"Where is the original report?""
Daniel pointed toward a locked cabinet.
"Inside.""
I opened it.
There were dozens of files.
Among them was a sealed medical envelope.
I opened it carefully.
The original laboratory report contained a different conclusion.
The biological father was not Marcus Hayes.
It was not Matthew Reed.
The report listed a third name.
*VICTOR HALE.*
I looked at Daniel.
"Victor is Ethan's father?""
Daniel nodded.
"Olivia used his genetic material, but she registered the child under a false identity.""
Matthew released Daniel.
"Then why did she need my inheritance?""
"Because Victor was already married. If the child were connected to him, his family would have challenged the arrangement.""
I stared at the report.
"So Olivia had a child with Victor, then used our family to claim the inheritance.""
Daniel nodded.
"Exactly.""
A terrible silence settled over the office.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"There's one more thing.""
I looked up.
"Of course there is.""
He removed a second envelope.
This one contained a photograph of Olivia and Victor standing outside a courthouse.
Between them stood a little boy.
Ethan.
But the photograph had been taken just two weeks earlier.
And behind them stood someone else.
A woman wearing a red coat.
My mother gasped.
I looked closer.
The woman had my mother's face.
But she was supposed to be dead.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Who is that?""
He swallowed.
"Your mother.""
"That's impossible. She's with us.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Marcus, the woman staying at the lake house isn't Eleanor.""
My blood turned cold.
"What?""
He pointed to the photograph.
"Look at her left hand.""
I zoomed in.
The woman outside the courthouse wore a silver ring.
The same ring my mother had worn for thirty years.
The same ring she had shown me at the lake house.
I slowly turned toward the office door.
Matthew followed my gaze.
Neither of us spoke.
Then Daniel whispered:
"The woman you brought to the lake house is Claire Morgan.""
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke softly.
"Marcus, don't believe Daniel.""
I recognized it immediately.
My mother's voice.
"Where are you?"" I asked.
"With Ethan.""
"Mom, who is at the lake house?""
A pause.
Then she said:
"Your sister.""
My stomach dropped.
"Olivia?""
"No, sweetheart.""
Her voice trembled.
"Your twin brother's mother.""
I looked at Matthew.
He went pale.
Then my mother delivered the final revelation.
"Marcus, the woman who raised you and Matthew wasn't your biological mother.""
She began crying.
"Your real mother died giving birth to you.""
The line crackled.
Then she whispered:
"And the woman who has been pretending to be Eleanor Hayes is the person who stole both of you from the hospital.""
The call disconnected.
I stood motionless.
Matthew slowly lowered himself into a chair.
Daniel closed his eyes.
And suddenly, I understood why Olivia had spent so many years controlling our family history.
She hadn't simply wanted the company.
She had been hiding the truth about who we really were.
Then Daniel's computer chimed.
A new email appeared.
The sender was listed as *ELEANOR HAYES*.
May you like
The subject line contained five words.
*ONE OF YOU IS NOT ALIVE.*
