Chapter 6: The Father Who Was Erased
Matthew read the message again.
*Bring Lucy’s real father.*
The words should have been impossible.
The birth certificate had already answered the question.
He was Lucy’s father.
The DNA request.
The hospital record.
The hidden documents.
Everything pointed to the same truth.
But someone wanted him to believe otherwise.
Someone wanted him to doubt the one thing he had finally discovered.
Matthew stared at Daniel’s photograph.
His friend.
His investigator.
The man who had risked everything to uncover the truth.
Now sitting somewhere unknown.
Waiting for Matthew to find him.
His first instinct was to call security.
His second instinct was to destroy whoever had done this.
But then he looked at the second message.
*Bring Lucy’s real father.*
A dangerous thought entered his mind.
Whoever took Daniel knew about Lucy.
They knew about the birth records.
They knew Matthew was searching.
And they wanted him to make a mistake.
Matthew slowly put his phone down.
“No.””
He whispered the word to himself.
Not this time.
For six years, everyone else had made decisions about Lucy’s life.
His father.
His aunt.
His brother.
The company.
The people who believed power gave them the right to control everything.
Not anymore.
Angela opened her apartment door and immediately knew something had happened.
Matthew’s face told her.
“What’s wrong?””
“Where is Lucy?””
Her expression changed.
“She’s with my neighbor.””
“Good.””
Angela stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Matthew showed her the message.
She read it.
Then her hand covered her mouth.
“Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“They took him?””
Matthew nodded.
Angela looked terrified.
“Matthew, you can’t go.””
“I have to.””
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“You don’t understand.””
Matthew looked at her.
“Then explain.””
Angela looked toward Lucy’s room.
Then lowered her voice.
“Six years ago, Jonathan told me something.””
Matthew froze.
“About who took Lucy?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“About who wanted to.””
Matthew waited.
“Before your father died, Jonathan discovered someone inside Carter Holdings was trying to gain control of the company.””
“Victoria.””
Angela nodded.
“And your father knew.””
Matthew’s expression changed.
“He knew she was dangerous?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he keep her close?””
Angela looked away.
“Because he was afraid.””
That answer surprised him.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Angela’s voice softened.
“Your father was powerful, Matthew. But powerful people can still be trapped.””
Matthew thought about the letters.
The secrets.
The hidden files.
His father had always seemed untouchable.
But maybe he wasn’t.
“Why didn’t Jonathan tell me?””
Angela looked down.
“Because he tried.””
Matthew frowned.
“What?””
“He came to your office.””
“When?””
“Five years ago.””
Matthew went still.
“I never saw him.””
Angela nodded.
“Because he was stopped before he reached you.””
A cold silence filled the room.
“By who?””
Angela looked at him.
“You already know.””
Matthew made one decision.
He would not go alone.
But he also wouldn’t involve the police.
Not yet.
Because whoever was behind this had access to private records, company systems, and possibly law enforcement connections.
He needed someone he trusted.
Unfortunately, that list had become very short.
He called one person.
The phone rang.
A woman answered.
“Matthew?””
He paused.
“Rachel.””
Rachel Morgan.
Carter Holdings’ chief financial investigator.
The only executive who had never belonged to his father’s inner circle.
“What happened?”” she asked.
“Can you access old company security records?””
A pause.
“That depends.””
“On what?””
“Why.””
Matthew looked at the photograph of Daniel.
“Because someone inside my company kidnapped someone who was helping me uncover the truth about my daughter.””
Silence.
Then Rachel said:
“I’ll send you everything I find.””
Two hours later, Matthew sat in his car outside an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city.
Rachel had tracked Daniel’s phone.
The location.
A place owned by a Carter Holdings subsidiary.
Another connection.
Another betrayal.
Matthew stared at the building.
His security team waited nearby.
He had told them to stay back.
If someone wanted him alone, he needed to know why.
Before entering, he received a call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Where is Daniel?””
A woman’s voice responded.
“Still protecting people who betray you?””
Matthew recognized it instantly.
Victoria.
His grip tightened.
“You took him.””
“I gave you a chance to stop.””
“You kidnapped an innocent man.””
“He wasn’t innocent.””
Matthew’s eyes narrowed.
“He was looking into your crimes.””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Matthew.””
The way she said his name made him angry.
Like she was still his aunt.
Like she still had the right.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.””
“Then tell me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because you won’t believe me.””
Matthew looked at the warehouse.
“Try.””
Victoria was silent for a moment.
Then:
“Your father knew Lucy was yours.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Her voice sharpened.
“You know the version Angela gave you.””
Matthew frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means your father also knew Jonathan wasn’t just helping Angela.””
Matthew stayed quiet.
Victoria continued.
“Jonathan was planning to take Lucy away.””
The claim made no sense.
“Why?””
“Because he believed he was her father.””
Matthew’s jaw tightened.
“He wasn’t.””
“Are you sure?””
The question bothered him.
Not because he believed Victoria.
Because he remembered the photograph.
Jonathan standing beside Angela.
Jonathan helping her.
Jonathan disappearing.
Matthew looked down.
“Where is Daniel?””
Victoria ignored the question.
“Come inside.””
The call ended.
The warehouse was dark.
Old.
Empty.
Matthew entered through the main door.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
Daniel sat in a chair near the center of the room.
His hands were tied.
But he was conscious.
“Matthew!””
Matthew rushed forward.
Then stopped.
Because a second person stepped out of the shadows.
Victoria.
She looked older than she had the day before.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like years of carrying secrets had finally become too heavy.
“Let him go.””
She shook her head.
“You still don’t understand.””
Matthew looked at Daniel.
“Are you hurt?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not badly.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“You want the truth?””
Matthew stared at her.
“Yes.””
“Then listen carefully.””
She held out a folder.
Matthew didn’t move.
“What is that?””
“The original custody agreement.””
“You already showed me one.””
“No.””
Victoria’s eyes met his.
“That one was fake.””
The room went silent.
Matthew looked at Daniel.
Then back at Victoria.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying everyone has been lying.””
Matthew’s voice became dangerous.
“Everyone?””
“Yes.””
“Including you?””
Victoria looked down.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised him.
Then she said the one sentence he never expected.
“Lucy is your daughter.””
Matthew exhaled.
“But Jonathan was listed as her father because your father ordered it.””
“Why?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Because your father discovered something about Angela.””
Matthew waited.
Victoria opened the folder.
Inside was a DNA report.
Not between Matthew and Lucy.
Between Jonathan and Lucy.
Matthew stared.
The result was impossible.
Negative.
Jonathan was not Lucy’s father.
He looked up.
“Then why?””
Victoria’s voice trembled.
“Because your father was trying to protect you from the real danger.””
Matthew frowned.
“What danger?””
Victoria looked toward the warehouse door.
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Because the person who changed Lucy’s records…”
A sound echoed from the entrance.
Footsteps.
Someone else had arrived.
Victoria stopped speaking.
Matthew turned.
A figure stepped into the light.
And the voice that followed made Matthew feel like the ground had disappeared beneath him.
“Because I was the one who changed them.””
Matthew froze.
The man removed his coat.
Older.
Calmer.
Familiar.
A man Matthew thought had been dead for six years.
His father’s closest friend.
The person who had signed Lucy’s altered birth record.
The person nobody had suspected.
He smiled slightly.
“Hello, Matthew.””
A pause.
“You finally found out the truth.””
Matthew stared.
“How are you alive?””
The man’s smile faded.
“Because your father needed everyone to believe I wasn’t.””
Matthew’s heartbeat thundered.
The man stepped closer.
“And because six years ago, I was the only person who knew what Lucy’s existence really meant.””
Matthew’s voice was barely audible.
“Who are you?””
The man looked at him.
And answered:
“I’m the man your father trusted to protect your daughter.””
May you like
A pause.
“And the man who made sure you never met her.””
