Chapter 7: The Eight Million Dollar Secret
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.
Eight million dollars.
My wife had transferred eight million dollars to someone named Samuel Carter, a man none of us had known existed until that afternoon.
And now she was telling me she'd paid him to stay away from our family.
I looked at the bank statement again.
“Denise, where did this money come from?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Your father's estate.””
“That money was supposed to be divided between Richard and me.””
“I know.””
“Then why was it in your account?””
Richard answered before she could.
“Because Dad left instructions.””
I turned toward him.
“What instructions?””
Richard removed a folded document from his briefcase.
“Dad knew Samuel would eventually come looking. He set aside money to keep him quiet.””
Jordan laughed bitterly.
“So Grandpa knew there was another grandson, stole his childhood, and then paid him to disappear?””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“That's not what happened.””
“Then explain it!””
Richard placed the document on the table.
“Samuel's mother was Evelyn's sister. She raised him after the hospital situation. When he was old enough, he started asking questions.””
Aaliyah looked up.
“Evelyn had a sister?””
Richard nodded.
“Margaret.””
“My mother never mentioned her.””
“She had reasons.””
I stepped closer.
“Stop speaking in riddles. Who was Samuel's father?””
Richard looked at me.
“Your father.””
The room went silent.
My father had fathered a child with Evelyn's sister?
I felt physically sick.
“Are you telling me Samuel is my half-brother?””
Richard nodded.
“And Aaliyah?””
“Your half-sister.””
Jordan rubbed his face.
“Then why did Grandpa pay Samuel eight million dollars?””
“Because Samuel threatened to expose the family.””
“Expose what?””
Richard hesitated.
Denise finally spoke.
“The truth about the babies.””
I turned toward her.
“What truth?””
She looked at Aaliyah.
“Your mother didn't just have twins. There was a third baby.””
Aaliyah went completely still.
“Three?””
Denise nodded.
“Evelyn gave birth to triplets.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Denise.””
“No. I'm done protecting you.””
I stared at my wife.
“Three children?””
She nodded.
“One girl. Two boys.””
Jordan looked at the photograph of Samuel.
“Then who is the other boy?””
Richard didn't answer.
Denise continued.
“Your father arranged for one boy to be raised by him, one boy to be placed with another family, and the girl to remain with Evelyn.””
Aaliyah's voice trembled.
“Why would he separate us?””
“Because he believed the boys were valuable to the family.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Denise looked at me.
“Your father had discovered something about Evelyn's children.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Denise ignored him.
“He believed the boys carried a rare genetic condition that ran in Evelyn's family. He wanted to know whether it could affect the family's future.””
I stared at her.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does if you understand your father.””
Richard slammed his hand against the table.
“Denise, stop talking!””
Jordan stepped between them.
“You don't get to silence her anymore.””
Richard looked furious.
For a moment, I saw the same arrogance my father had displayed whenever someone questioned his decisions.
Then Richard turned toward me.
“Your father wasn't trying to hurt anyone. He believed he was protecting the family's future.””
“By stealing newborn babies?””
“By making difficult decisions.””
I shook my head.
“You sound exactly like him.””
Richard's expression changed.
I picked up the bank statement.
“Where is Samuel now?””
Denise looked down.
“I don't know.””
Richard gave a humorless laugh.
“Of course you don't.””
“What does that mean?””
“He's been contacting her for months. She paid him to stay away, but he never stopped.””
I turned toward Denise.
“Did you know where he lived?””
She nodded reluctantly.
“An apartment near the old railway station.””
“Have you seen him?””
“Once.””
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
Jordan looked at her.
“Six months ago? That's when Aaliyah and I started dating.””
Denise closed her eyes.
I suddenly understood.
She hadn't recognized Aaliyah's necklace by accident.
She had been waiting for something.
Or someone.
“Denise,” I said slowly, “did you know Aaliyah was Evelyn's daughter before she came here?””
She didn't answer.
“Did you arrange for Jordan to meet her?””
Her head snapped up.
“No!””
Richard looked at her.
“Don't lie now.””
Denise began crying again.
“I didn't arrange their relationship. I swear.””
Jordan stepped away from her.
“Then what did you do?””
Denise looked at him.
“I found out Aaliyah was coming to the family dinner. I saw her name on your phone. I searched for her mother, and I recognized the photograph.””
I stared at my wife.
“So you knew.””
“I suspected.””
“And instead of telling us, you tried to break them apart.””
“Because I knew the truth would destroy everything!””
Aaliyah stood.
“You were more worried about your family reputation than about me.””
Denise reached toward her.
“I'm sorry.””
Aaliyah stepped back.
“Don't.””
A sudden knock interrupted us.
Three sharp knocks.
Everyone turned toward the door.
Richard looked at the clock.
“That's him.””
“Who?”” I asked.
Richard didn't answer.
The door opened before anyone could move.
A man in his early thirties stepped inside.
He wore a charcoal coat and carried a leather folder.
His eyes moved across the room before stopping on Aaliyah.
Then Jordan.
Finally, Denise.
He smiled without warmth.
“Hello, Aunt Denise.””
Denise gripped the sofa.
“Samuel.””
He nodded.
“It's been a long time.””
Jordan stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
Samuel placed his folder on the table.
“The person your grandfather spent millions trying to erase.””
Aaliyah stared at him.
“Are you my brother?””
Samuel looked at her.
“Yes.””
Then he turned toward Jordan.
“And you are the reason I've spent thirty years looking for answers.””
Jordan frowned.
“What did I do?””
Samuel opened the folder.
He removed a photograph of three newborn babies lying beside one another.
Underneath it was a hospital document.
Then he said something none of us expected.
“Your grandfather didn't steal three babies.””
May you like
He pointed at Jordan.
“He stole four.””
