Chapter 5: My Brother's Price for Silence
Susan rushed toward Lily.
“Sweetheart, go upstairs and finish getting ready for school.””
Lily looked confused.
“But Mommy—”
“Please, honey.””
The little girl glanced at me, then slowly walked away.
I waited until her bedroom door closed.
Then I turned toward Susan.
“What did she mean?””
Susan wiped the spilled coffee with a dish towel.
“She's been asking questions.””
“What questions?””
“About her birth parents. About why she looks different from us. About why we don't have any pictures of her as a baby.””
I looked at the drawing still lying on the table.
“Does she think her biological father is looking for her?””
Susan nodded.
“Ethan contacted us last month. He told us Lily's biological father wanted to meet her.””
I stared at her.
“He said that?””
“Yes.””
“Did he tell you the father's name?””
Susan shook her head.
“He said it would be explained later.””
I laughed without humor.
“Of course he did.””
I took out my phone.
“Do you still have his messages?””
Susan nodded.
“Everything.””
“Can you forward them to me?””
She hesitated.
“Marcus, I don't want to lose Lily.””
I looked at her.
“You won't lose her because you tell the truth.””
“Ethan said he had documents proving the adoption was invalid.””
I froze.
“What documents?””
“He claimed the original consent forms contained incorrect information. He said the birth father had never been properly identified.””
My jaw tightened.
“That's because he used my name without permission.””
Susan looked horrified.
“You didn't know?””
“Not until yesterday.””
She sat down.
“Then what happens now?””
I looked at the adoption paperwork.
“I don't know. But I won't let my brother use a little girl as part of some financial arrangement.””
Susan nodded slowly.
Then she reached into the folder and pulled out another sheet.
“This came with the email.””
It was a bank statement.
Several transfers were listed.
The first had been made eight years earlier.
The amount was $15,000.
The recipient was a company registered under Ethan's construction business.
The description read:
*PLACEMENT EXPENSES.*
I frowned.
“What is this?””
Susan looked uncomfortable.
“Ethan told us it was a legal fee and medical expense reimbursement.””
I studied the statement.
There were three more payments.
$8,000.
$12,500.
$20,000.
The total was $55,500.
I looked up.
“Did you pay this?””
Susan nodded.
“Over several months.””
I felt anger rising.
“Who received the money?””
“His company.””
I stared at the statement.
My brother had been paid more than fifty thousand dollars in connection with a child he claimed was dead.
And Vanessa had apparently been involved.
I stood.
“Do you have the original adoption agreement?””
“Yes.””
“Keep it somewhere safe. Don't sign anything Ethan sends you.””
Susan nodded.
I headed toward the door.
“Marcus?””
I turned.
“Please don't tell Lily anything until we know what's happening.””
I looked at the little girl's drawing.
“I won't tell her anything that hasn't been verified.””
Then I left.
The drive home took fifteen minutes.
I spent every second thinking about my brother.
Ethan had been there when Maya was born.
He had brought flowers to the hospital.
He had held my newborn daughter and told me how lucky I was.
Had he known Vanessa then?
Had he known what he'd done?
And why was he suddenly trying to get access to Lily?
When I reached home, my mother was in the kitchen.
She looked up immediately.
“Where have you been?””
“With Susan Bennett.””
Her face tightened.
“Why?””
“Because Lily is the baby you were told had died.””
Margaret sat down.
“Oh, Marcus.””
“Did you know Ethan arranged her adoption?””
She nodded.
“I knew he had been involved.””
“Did you know he received money?””
Her eyes widened.
“What?””
I placed the bank statement on the counter.
She studied the transfers.
Her lips began trembling.
“No. No, this can't be right.””
“Did Ethan ever mention the money?””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“Mom, I need you to stop protecting him.””
She looked up.
“I am not protecting him.””
“You knew about Vanessa's pregnancy. You knew Ethan was involved. You never told me.””
“I thought the baby had died.””
“And you never questioned it?””
Her eyes filled.
“I trusted my son.””
I swallowed.
“So did I.””
She reached for my hand.
“Marcus, please. Whatever Ethan has done, don't destroy your relationship with him before hearing his side.””
I gently pulled away.
“He had eight years to give me his side.””
My phone rang.
Ethan.
I answered and put it on speaker.
“Hello?””
“Marcus. We need to talk.””
“Funny. That's what everyone keeps saying.””
His voice hardened.
“Have you been to the Bennetts' house?””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“What did Susan tell you?””
“That you arranged Lily's adoption.””
He exhaled.
“It's more complicated than that.””
“Did you tell my mother the baby died?””
Silence.
“Ethan?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa didn't want the baby.””
I looked at the bank statement.
“Then why did you receive fifty-five thousand dollars?””
His voice became sharper.
“What?””
I repeated the amount.
“Fifty-five thousand five hundred dollars. Transferred from the Bennetts to your company.””
He went quiet.
Then he laughed.
“Those were business expenses.””
“Business expenses?””
“Legal fees. Transportation. Medical arrangements.””
“Then why did Susan believe you were being paid to arrange the adoption?””
“Because she misunderstood.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Did you forge my signature?””
“Marcus, you need to stop listening to these people.””
“Did you?””
He sighed.
“I handled the paperwork. That's all.””
My mother covered her mouth.
I stared at the phone.
“You used my name.””
“It was necessary.””
“Necessary for what?””
“To protect everyone.””
“Who is everyone?””
He didn't answer.
Then he said, “Listen carefully. Vanessa is going to tell you all kinds of things. Daniel is going to make accusations.
Susan is frightened. But none of them know what really happened.””
“Then tell me.””
“I can't do that over the phone.””
“Come to the house.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa is coming here tonight.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Why is she coming to your house?””
Ethan paused.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
“Because we have a problem.””
“What problem?””
“She's trying to change the agreement.””
I looked at my mother.
“What agreement?””
Ethan lowered his voice.
“The agreement we made when Maya was born.””
The room seemed to shrink.
I stared at the phone.
“What did you just say?””
My mother stood.
“Marcus?””
Ethan continued.
“You deserve to know the truth. But not from Vanessa.””
I gripped the counter.
“Explain.””
He took a breath.
“Maya wasn't supposed to be yours.””
For a moment, I couldn't process the words.
Then my mother whispered, “Oh, God.””
I turned toward her.
“What does he mean?””
Ethan spoke again.
“Ask Vanessa who was in the delivery room when Maya was born.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
My daughter.
My little girl.
The child I'd raised for twelve years.
The child who had trusted me enough to risk everything by exposing Vanessa's lies.
And suddenly, my brother was suggesting that even her birth was part of a secret.
My mother started crying.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
I turned.
“What?””
She looked at the floor.
“There's something about Maya's birth that I never told you.””
My throat tightened.
“What?””
She slowly raised her eyes.
“I was there when she was born.””
“I know.””
“No, Marcus. I mean I was in the delivery room before you arrived.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
Margaret took a shaky breath.
“Because Vanessa asked me to keep a secret.””
I stepped closer.
“What secret?””
She closed her eyes.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Vanessa gave birth to twins.””
