Chapter 4: The Name on the Birth Certificate
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I stared at the birth certificate lying on Margaret's conference table.
Richard Coleman's name appeared beneath the word Father.
The man who had stolen from my father's company.
The man who had been communicating with Tiana before I met her.
The man who had just called me to threaten me.
According to that document, he was my biological father.
"No," I finally said.
Evelyn reached toward me.
"Ethan—"
"No.""
I pushed the certificate away.
"My father was Daniel Hayes.""
Margaret remained silent.
"Daniel Hayes taught me to ride a bicycle. He sat beside my hospital bed when I had pneumonia. He taught me how to drive that blue sedan. He was there when I graduated.""
My voice cracked.
"He was my father.""
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
"He loved you more than anything.""
"Then why would he hide something like this?""
She looked down.
"Because he didn't want you to grow up believing you were the result of someone else's betrayal.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Someone else's betrayal?""
Margaret closed the conference room blinds.
"Ethan, we need to establish whether this document is genuine before drawing conclusions.""
I turned toward her.
"Are you saying it's fake?""
"I'm saying Richard has access to people who can manufacture documents. We need a DNA test.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Daniel confirmed it.""
I looked at her.
"When?""
"Two months before he died.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Evelyn continued.
"Your mother told Daniel the truth when you were very young. She had been involved with Richard before she married Daniel. Richard knew about the pregnancy, but he refused to acknowledge you.""
"Why?""
"Because he was already married. He didn't want a child threatening his reputation.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"And Daniel?""
"He knew. He chose to raise you as his own.""
I looked away.
I remembered my father teaching me to tie a tie.
I remembered him waiting outside my school after football practice.
I remembered the day he gave me the keys to the blue sedan.
He hadn't been obligated to do any of those things.
He had chosen them.
And somehow, that made the truth hurt even more.
"Does my mother know?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She knows everything.""
I pulled out my phone.
My mother, Helen, lived in Connecticut. We'd spoken three days earlier. She had asked whether I was eating properly and reminded me to have my winter tires checked.
Ordinary things.
The kind of things mothers said.
I called her.
She answered on the second ring.
"Ethan? Is everything okay?""
I couldn't speak immediately.
Then I asked, "Mom, who is my biological father?""
Silence.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Silence.
"Oh, sweetheart," she whispered.
I closed my eyes.
"You knew.""
She began crying.
"Your father wanted to tell you.""
"Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"How long have you known?""
"Your entire life.""
I gripped the phone harder.
"And you let me believe Richard Coleman was just some former employee?""
"Because Richard abandoned you before you were born. Daniel never wanted you to feel unwanted.""
I looked at the birth certificate.
"Did Richard know about me?""
"Yes.""
"Did he ever try to contact me?""
My mother's breathing became uneven.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About six months ago.""
I straightened.
"What?""
"He came to my house. He said he wanted to make things right.""
"Did you let him in?""
"No.""
"What did he want?""
My mother hesitated.
Then she said something that changed everything.
"He asked whether Daniel had told you about the trust.""
I looked at Margaret.
She had heard every word.
"Mom, why would Richard care about Dad's trust?""
"Because your father told me he was afraid Richard would eventually come after you.""
I lowered my voice.
"Did he say anything else?""
My mother began sobbing.
"He said if you ever learned the truth, you would have to choose between the family that raised you and the family you came from.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She shook her head.
"Mom, I'm coming to see you.""
"Please don't.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard was here again last night.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"He left something at the front door.""
"What did he leave?""
My mother whispered:
"A photograph of you as a little boy.""
I stood up.
"Mom, listen to me. Lock your doors. Don't open them for anyone.""
"I already called the police.""
"Good.""
Then she added, almost inaudibly:
"He wrote something on the back.""
"What?""
"Tell Ethan the truth before Daniel's other son does.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Margaret looked concerned.
"Daniel had another son?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Not that I know of.""
I turned toward her.
"What aren't you telling me?""
She looked at the birth certificate.
"Your father discovered Richard had another child. A son. He was involved in the company, but Daniel never told me his name.""
"Why?""
"Because the boy was working with Richard.""
Margaret opened her laptop.
"Wait.""
She typed something into the company database.
A few seconds later, she turned the screen toward us.
An employee profile appeared.
*Adrian Coleman.*
Position: Executive Vice President, Strategic Development.
I recognized the name.
Adrian had been the youngest executive appointed to Hayes Global Holdings.
He was thirty-two, charming, ambitious, and frequently appeared in business magazines.
He had also been the person who approved several acquisitions during the period when millions disappeared.
I looked at Margaret.
"He's still working there?""
"Yes.""
"Does he know about me?""
She didn't answer.
Then her laptop chimed.
An email had arrived from the company's internal legal department.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: Emergency Board Meeting — 9:00 A.M.*
The message contained one sentence.
Mr. Adrian Coleman has requested an immediate vote to remove Ethan Hayes from all beneficiary and oversight rights pending investigation into suspected financial misconduct.
I checked the time.
8:42 A.M.
I looked at Margaret.
"He's trying to take the trust.""
Margaret nodded.
"He's trying to take everything.""
I picked up my father's envelope.
"Then let's find out what else Daniel left me.""
As we headed for the elevator, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Tiana sitting in the passenger seat of a black SUV.
Richard was driving.
The message beneath it contained seven words.
*She's not the only one lying. Ask Margaret.*
I slowly turned toward my father's attorney.
Her expression had changed.
May you like
And when I showed her the photograph, she whispered:
"Please, Ethan. Don't believe what you see.""
