THE BABY WASN’T THE ONLY LIE

I read Rachel's message again.

The baby Vanessa gave birth to that night wasn't Jacob.

For a moment, I wondered if I was losing my mind.

I looked at Vanessa.

She had stopped crying.

Her face was completely blank.

“What does that mean?”” I asked.

She shook her head.

“I don't know.””

Ethan stepped forward.

“Enough. This has gone too far.””

I turned toward him.

“Sit down.””

He laughed.

“You don't give me orders.””

“Then get out.””

He glanced at Vanessa.

She wouldn't look at him.

I took out my phone and called Rachel.

She answered almost immediately.

“Marcus?””

“Yes. Where are you?””

“I'm at a hotel near the hospital. Can we meet?””

“I'm coming.””

“Not alone.””

I frowned.

“What?””

“Bring someone you trust. Ethan has been watching me.””

My stomach tightened.

“Watching you?””

“I saw his car outside my apartment twice this week.””

I looked toward my brother.

He was staring at me.

“Rachel, don't go anywhere. I'll be there in twenty minutes.””

I ended the call.

Andrew had arrived by then.

He stood near the doorway, carrying a leather briefcase.

“Marcus, we need to discuss the documents.””

“Later. I need to meet Rachel.””

Andrew nodded.

“I'm coming.””

Ethan stepped toward the door.

“You're making a mistake.””

I turned.

“Which one?””

“Trusting Rachel.””

“Why?””

He smiled bitterly.

“Because she knows how to manipulate people.””

I walked past him.

“Then she should have no problem proving what she's saying.””

At the hotel, Rachel was waiting in the lobby.

She was in her early forties, with shoulder-length brown hair and tired eyes.

I recognized her immediately.

She looked exactly like Laura.

The moment she saw me, she stood.

“Marcus.””

“Rachel.””

We shook hands.

Her fingers trembled.

Andrew introduced himself.

Then we moved to a private meeting room.

Rachel placed a small silver recorder on the table.

“This belonged to Laura.””

I stared at it.

“You said she left a recording.””

Rachel nodded.

“Three days before she died, she asked me to keep it safe.””

“Why didn't you come forward earlier?””

Rachel looked down.

“Because Ethan threatened me.””

“With what?””

“My daughter.””

I leaned forward.

“Did he hurt her?””

“No. But he sent me photographs of her school. He knew where she lived. He told me that if I ever spoke about what happened to Laura's baby, my daughter would lose everything.””

Andrew took a notebook from his briefcase.

“Did you report the threats?””

Rachel shook her head.

“I was afraid.””

She pressed the recorder's play button.

At first, there was static.

Then Laura's voice filled the room.

Weak.

But unmistakable.

“Rachel, if you're listening to this, I need you to promise me something.””

A pause.

“Don't let Ethan take my daughter.””

Rachel covered her mouth.

The recording continued.

“I know he's telling everyone that I've agreed to let Vanessa raise her. That's not true. Vanessa has been asking questions about the baby for months. She says she wants a daughter of her own.””

I felt my stomach tighten.

Laura's voice became quieter.

“Ethan says he has arranged everything. He says Marcus will raise the little girl and believe she's his. He thinks it's better that way.””

I gripped the edge of the table.

The recording continued.

“But there's something Ethan doesn't know. I found out that Vanessa's pregnancy isn't what she claims.””

Andrew looked at me.

I leaned closer.

Laura's voice became strained.

“Vanessa told everyone she was expecting one baby. But the doctor said there may be two. One is hers. The other belongs to someone else.””

The recording crackled.

Then Laura said something that made Rachel begin sobbing.

“Ethan knows. He's planning to use both babies to settle a debt.””

I felt cold all over.

A debt?

The recording continued.

“I don't know what he's promised Daniel. I don't know what he's promised the adoption agency. But I know he intends to separate the children.””

There was a long pause.

Then Laura whispered:

“Marcus, if you ever hear this, please don't blame the babies. They are innocent. They deserve to know who they are.””

The recording stopped.

Nobody spoke.

I stared at Rachel.

“What does she mean by two babies?””

Rachel wiped her cheeks.

“Vanessa had complications during her pregnancy. Laura discovered something through a nurse who worked at the hospital.””

“What?””

Rachel looked at Andrew.

“I'm not sure about all the details. But Vanessa was carrying twins.””

I frowned.

“Then why did the hospital only register one baby under her name?””

Rachel reached into her bag.

She removed a folded piece of paper.

“This is the original note Laura found.””

I unfolded it.

It was a handwritten message from a nurse.

*Two infants delivered. One male, one female. Mother: Vanessa. Additional infant transferred under separate maternal record.*

I looked up.

“Separate maternal record?””

Rachel nodded.

“That's what Laura was trying to investigate.””

Andrew examined the note.

“Do you know who the second maternal identity belonged to?””

Rachel shook her head.

“No. But Laura believed the second baby was connected to Ethan's business partner.””

I thought of Daniel.

Then I remembered the photograph.

The property documents.

The money.

Everything seemed connected.

“Who was Ethan's business partner eight years ago?””

Rachel looked at me.

“Daniel.””

My stomach dropped.

“Daniel was involved back then?””

“Yes.””

Andrew leaned forward.

“Rachel, do you have any evidence of financial arrangements?””

She reached into her bag again.

This time, she produced a small USB drive.

“Laura kept copies of Ethan's emails. She told me to give this to someone she trusted.””

I stared at it.

“Why didn't you give it to the police?””

“Because I didn't know what was on it. I was afraid it would put my daughter in danger.””

Andrew took the drive carefully.

“We'll preserve this properly.””

Rachel looked at me.

“There's one more thing.””

I waited.

“Laura didn't believe Maya was your biological daughter.””

I swallowed.

“I know. She's your sister's daughter.””

Rachel shook her head.

“No. You don't understand. Laura believed Maya was the only child Ethan had actually intended you to raise.””

I stared at her.

“What?””

Rachel took a breath.

“Laura thought Ethan had another plan for the other babies.””

“Which babies?””

“The twins Vanessa was carrying. And the baby Daniel was involved with.””

My mind raced.

“Are you saying there were three children?””

Rachel nodded.

“Possibly.””

I stood.

“This is insane.””

Rachel reached for my arm.

“Marcus, there's something else Laura wrote.””

She opened a small notebook.

Inside were several names.

Vanessa.

Ethan.

Daniel.

Then one name I didn't recognize.

*Rebecca Hale.*

I frowned.

“Who is Rebecca?””

Rachel looked at me carefully.

“Ethan's daughter.””

I stared.

“My brother doesn't have a daughter.””

“He did. Before he married Laura.””

I shook my head.

“That's impossible.””

Rachel nodded.

“Rebecca was adopted when she was very young. Laura found out about her shortly before Maya was born.””

Andrew looked up.

“Where is she now?””

Rachel turned a page.

“She lives in Ohio.””

Ohio.

The same state where Jacob had supposedly been raised.

I felt my blood run cold.

Then my phone buzzed.

A message from Maya.

*Dad, Noah is missing. Grandma says he was upstairs, but his bedroom is empty.*

My heart stopped.

I called home immediately.

Margaret answered.

“Marcus!””

“Where is Noah?””

“I don't know! He was watching television, and then I went to the kitchen. When I came back, he was gone.””

I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.

“Have you checked outside?””

“Yes! His shoes are missing.””

I turned toward Andrew.

He was already standing.

“Call the police,” he said.

I looked at Rachel.

“Did Ethan know we were coming here?””

She nodded slowly.

“He knew I had the recording.””

My blood ran cold.

I called Ethan.

He answered on the first ring.

“Hello, brother.””

“Where is my son?””

Silence.

Then he laughed.

“Which one?””

I felt something inside me snap.

“If you've touched Noah—”

“Relax. He's perfectly safe.””

“Where is he?””

“Somewhere he can learn the truth.””

I gripped the phone.

“What truth?””

Ethan lowered his voice.

“The truth about who his father really is.””

I stared at the wall.

“I'm calling the police.””

“Go ahead.””

“Bring him home.””

Ethan sighed.

“Marcus, Noah isn't your biological son.””

I couldn't breathe.

Then he said the words that destroyed whatever remained of my understanding of my family.

“Neither is Maya. Neither is Jacob. And if you want to know who Noah really belongs to, you should ask Vanessa about the man she was seeing before you met her.””

The call ended.

I looked at Andrew.

He was already dialing emergency services.

Then another message appeared on my phone.

A photograph.

Noah was sitting in the back seat of a car.

His eyes were red.

He was holding a piece of paper.

On it were six words:

*DAD, PLEASE FIND MY REAL FATHER.*

And beneath the photograph was a message from Ethan.

*Come alone if you want him back.*