Chapter 7: Do Not Show Monica
The laptop screen flickered again.
Darren's hand hovered over the trackpad.
“Video two,” he whispered.
Monica took another step backward.
“Don't play it.””
Darren turned toward her.
“Why?””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
I stared at her.
“You already said that.””
Her eyes met mine.
“I mean it this time.””
Jordan moved beside the laptop.
“Play it.””
Darren clicked.
The screen went black.
Then my mother's face appeared.
She sat in the same room as before, but this recording looked older. Her hair was pulled back. Her eyes were swollen, as though she'd been crying before the camera started.
She looked directly into the lens.
“If you're watching this, Arielle, you're eighteen.””
My breath caught.
My mother smiled sadly.
“I wish I could have been there.””
I covered my mouth.
Darren stood perfectly still.
Monica looked down.
My mother continued.
“There are things you deserve to know. Things people may have told you differently.””
The video paused.
A loading circle appeared.
Darren tapped the screen.
“Come on.””
Nothing.
Jordan leaned closer.
“The file may be corrupted.””
Monica suddenly laughed.
It was short and nervous.
“Maybe that's a sign.””
I turned toward her.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
Darren looked at Monica.
“You're going to sit down.””
She slowly sat.
The video resumed.
My mother's voice filled the room.
“Your biological father is Jordan Ellis.””
Jordan closed his eyes.
“I knew that,” I whispered.
My mother continued.
“He loved you before he ever held you.””
Jordan's eyes filled with tears.
“He tried to be part of your life.””
The video changed.
A photograph appeared.
Jordan, much younger, holding a newborn baby.
Me.
I stared at the screen.
My mother said, “But someone made sure he couldn't.””
The photograph disappeared.
A new document appeared.
A legal agreement.
My mother's voice became quieter.
“Monica told me she could give you a better life.””
Monica whispered, “That's not how it happened.””
Darren turned sharply.
“Let her speak.””
The recording continued.
“She promised to help me financially. She promised Jordan could still see Arielle.””
Jordan shook his head.
“She lied.””
My mother's voice continued.
“Then the threats started.””
My stomach tightened.
“Threats?”” I whispered.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
“She said if I took Arielle and left, she'd tell Darren I had abandoned him and stolen his child.””
Darren's face crumpled.
Monica covered her face.
“I was scared,” she whispered.
The video continued.
“She wanted me gone.””
A long pause.
Then my mother's expression changed.
“She also knew something else.””
Darren leaned toward the screen.
“What?””
My mother looked down.
“She knew Darren wasn't Arielle's biological father.””
Silence.
Darren closed his eyes.
My mother's voice continued.
“But I made a mistake.””
The screen changed to a close-up of another document.
A paternity test.
My name was printed at the top.
Jordan Ellis was listed as the biological father.
And Darren Carter was listed as—
*NOT THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER.*
I stared.
Darren stepped away from the laptop.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Dad…”
He raised a hand.
“Just…”
His voice broke.
“Just let me hear it.””
My mother appeared again.
“I never told Darren because I was afraid.””
She swallowed.
“But Arielle, listen to me.””
Her eyes softened.
“Being someone's daughter isn't only about blood.””
I started crying.
“You were the one who raised me.””
Darren looked at me.
My mother continued.
“If Darren is still in your life when you watch this, remember this: he is your father because he chose you every day.””
Darren turned away.
His shoulders shook.
I walked toward him.
He wiped his face quickly.
“Don't.””
I stopped.
He looked at me.
“Not yet.””
Then the video changed.
A new file appeared in the corner of the screen.
*SECURITY FOOTAGE — 2006.*
Jordan stared at it.
“What is that?””
My mother returned.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“There's one thing I never told anyone.””
Monica suddenly stood.
“Turn it off.””
Darren looked at her.
“No.””
“You don't understand.””
“Then make me understand.””
My mother's face filled the screen.
“If Monica ever tells you that I left willingly…”
She paused.
“Don't believe her.””
The video cut to black.
Darren slowly turned toward Monica.
“What did you do to her?””
Monica shook her head.
“I didn't hurt her.””
“Then where is she?””
Monica's mouth opened.
No words came.
Jordan stepped forward.
“That's what we've been trying to find out.””
I looked at the frozen screen.
My mother's final sentence echoed in my head.
If Monica ever tells you that I left willingly…
I turned toward Monica.
“You told me she abandoned me.””
Monica started crying.
“Yes.””
“You told me she didn't want me.””
“Yes.””
“You told me she left.””
Monica closed her eyes.
“I lied.””
Darren stared at her.
“Why?””
May you like
Monica whispered:
“Because she didn't leave.””
