Chapter 9: Two Children, One Terrible Secret
I stared at my father.
"Explain.""
Robert Cole calmly removed his gloves.
"You've spent years believing you understood your family. You didn't.""
Rebecca kept her weapon raised.
"Step away from the desk.""
My father ignored her.
"Marcus, Sarah was a wonderful woman. Too wonderful for the people around her.""
"Don't talk about my wife.""
He gave a small shrug.
"She knew the truth before you did.""
"What truth?""
He looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
"That the children were never going to be ordinary heirs.""
I clenched my jaw.
"Where is Emma?""
"Safe.""
"Stop saying that.""
My father sighed.
"Your daughter is with Vanessa. At least, she was the last time I checked.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"You're under investigation for identity fraud, forgery, financial crimes, and possible involvement in an unlawful child transfer.""
He laughed.
"That's quite a list.""
"Put your hands where I can see them.""
Instead, he looked at me.
"Do you remember the summer you were eighteen?""
I frowned.
"What?""
"You spent three months working at my construction company. You were desperate to prove yourself.""
I remembered.
I had worked long hours, carried supplies, and helped the crew build a small apartment complex.
My father had praised me for being reliable.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
"Do you remember the accident?""
I felt my stomach tighten.
There had been a serious incident at one of the construction sites.
A worker had fallen from scaffolding and suffered permanent injuries.
My father had told me it was an unfortunate accident.
I had never questioned him.
"Yes.""
My father nodded.
"That was the beginning.""
Daniel frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Robert looked at him.
"You were always the clever one. Surely you remember the paperwork.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Just tell us.""
My father smiled.
"The worker was never registered under the company. His medical expenses were paid through a private insurance arrangement. A policy that later became the foundation of the family trust.""
I stared at him.
"What worker?""
He looked directly at me.
"Your biological father.""
The words made no sense.
I laughed once.
Then I saw his expression.
"You were my father.""
"I raised you.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Robert walked toward the desk.
"Your mother and I married when you were two. Your biological father was a man named Thomas Reed. He worked for my company.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Your mother was pregnant when we met.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He was staring at our father.
"Then why did you tell me I was your son?""
Robert's expression hardened.
"Because I wanted you to be.""
I felt sick.
"Did Sarah know?""
"Eventually.""
"And the children?""
He nodded toward the photograph.
"That brings us to the twins.""
The room became silent.
"Twins?"" I whispered.
"Sarah gave birth to two girls. Emma and another child.""
I stared at him.
"Where is the other baby?""
My father smiled.
"That's what Vanessa has been trying to find.""
Rebecca moved closer.
"Who has the second child?""
Robert looked at me.
"Someone you know.""
Daniel suddenly stepped backward.
I turned.
"Daniel?""
He looked devastated.
"Marcus, I swear I didn't know about the twins.""
"Then what do you know?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Sarah told me there was another baby. She said the second child had been transferred to a different hospital.""
"Which hospital?""
"She never told me.""
My father chuckled.
"Of course she didn't. She knew your brother would eventually talk.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"Shut up.""
Robert smiled.
"Still pretending to be loyal? How touching.""
Rebecca ordered him to stop speaking.
But my father continued.
"The second child was placed with a family who could protect her. The first child was supposed to remain with Margaret.""
"Why?""
"Because Sarah believed you were too emotionally unstable to raise two children while grieving.""
I stepped toward him.
"Don't use my wife's name to justify what you did.""
Robert's face hardened.
"Your wife was dying. She made arrangements. I honored them.""
"You forged my signature.""
"Someone had to make the paperwork work.""
"You stole my daughter.""
"I protected the family assets.""
I looked at him.
"You're talking about children as if they're money.""
He shrugged.
"Everything is connected.""
Rebecca moved behind him.
"Robert, turn around. Hands behind your back.""
For the first time, my father seemed genuinely concerned.
He looked toward the storage unit entrance.
Then he smiled again.
"You should ask your brother what happened to the second child.""
Daniel went pale.
I turned toward him.
"Daniel?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
My father continued.
"Ask him why he visited a private adoption agency six months after Sarah died.""
I stared at my brother.
"Is that true?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
He took a breath.
"After Sarah died, Mom told me one of the babies had been placed with a family. She said the other one had medical complications.""
"What did you do?""
"I helped arrange a meeting with an adoption agency.""
My stomach dropped.
"Why?""
"Because Mom said the child needed a stable home.""
"Did you meet the family?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
He looked at the photograph of Emma.
Then he looked at me.
"I met a woman named Vanessa.""
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
"Vanessa?""
Daniel nodded.
"She was introduced as a family friend. She said she wanted to help care for the child.""
I felt dizzy.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought it was temporary.""
My father laughed.
"Daniel always was easy to manipulate.""
Rebecca finally grabbed my father's arm.
"That's enough. You're coming with us.""
Two officers moved in.
But before they could handcuff him, my father looked at me.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
I didn't answer.
"Vanessa isn't the one who has Emma.""
My heart began pounding.
"What?""
"She has been pretending to help me. She's been trying to get both children for herself.""
"Where is she?""
My father smiled.
"Ask your mother.""
Rebecca ordered the officers to move him outside.
As they escorted him away, he leaned toward me.
"One last piece of advice, son. Don't trust the woman who gave birth to you.""
I froze.
My mother.
Margaret.
I turned toward Daniel.
He was crying now.
"Marcus, we need to find Mom.""
Before I could respond, Rebecca's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Then her expression changed.
"What do you mean the building is empty?""
She walked away, speaking urgently into the phone.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, listen to me. There's something I haven't told you.""
I pulled away.
"Not another secret.""
He swallowed.
"When I met Vanessa at the adoption agency, she wasn't alone.""
"Who was with her?""
He hesitated.
"Sarah.""
I felt my world stop.
"What?""
"Your wife. Six months after she supposedly died.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I saw her. I spoke to her. She was alive.""
My mouth went dry.
"Then whose funeral did we attend?""
Daniel couldn't answer.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of a woman sitting in a dark room.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was thinner.
But I recognized her eyes.
Sarah.
Beneath the photograph were nine words.
*Marcus, if you want the truth, stop looking for your daughters.*
A second message appeared.
*Find me first.*
And then my phone rang.
May you like
The caller ID displayed a name I had spent four years believing I would never see again.
*Sarah Cole.*
