Chapter 8: The Wrong Family
Daniel Carter didn't raise his voice.
He didn't need to.
The entire auditorium seemed to listen anyway.
He walked toward us with the confidence of someone who had spent his life entering rooms where other people made way for him.
I looked at the document in his hand.
“What is that?””
“Your original birth certificate.””
My mother shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.””
“You don't have it.””
“I do.””
“Charles destroyed it.””
Daniel's expression barely changed.
“Charles destroyed many things.””
Marcus stepped between us.
“Give Ethan the document.””
Daniel smiled.
“You're still protecting him.””
“Someone has to.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Do you know what your mother told the hospital?””
Sarah whispered, “Don't.””
Daniel ignored her.
“She said your father was Marcus Reed.””
I looked at Marcus.
Daniel continued.
“But Marcus wasn't listed as your father.””
My heart pounded.
“Then who was?””
Daniel held out the document.
I took it.
The paper was yellowed.
Official seals.
Hospital stamp.
My mother's name.
My birth date.
Then the father's name.
I read it once.
Then again.
*Daniel Carter.*
I looked up.
“No.””
Daniel's expression remained calm.
“Yes.””
Marcus swore under his breath.
Sarah covered her face.
I couldn't breathe.
“You're saying you're my father?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
My confusion turned into anger.
“Then why is your name here?””
“Because the record was changed.””
“By who?””
“Your mother.””
Sarah looked at him.
“You know that's not true.””
Daniel smiled sadly.
“You signed the second copy.””
I turned toward Sarah.
“Mom?””
She couldn't speak.
Daniel opened the folder again.
“There were two birth certificates.””
He handed me another page.
“This one listed Marcus Reed.””
I looked at Marcus.
His eyes were wet.
“And the third?””
Daniel's face hardened.
“There was never supposed to be a third.””
A cold silence settled over us.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked toward Dr. Reynolds.
“Tell him.””
The principal stared at the floor.
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
Dr. Reynolds took a shaky breath.
“The hospital received two infants that night.””
I already knew what he was going to say.
“Twins.””
He nodded.
“Angela gave birth to both.””
Marcus whispered, “Ethan…”
I looked at him.
“You knew.””
“I knew there were twins.””
“You knew?””
“I didn't know where the other child went.””
My voice rose.
“And nobody thought I deserved to know?””
Daniel interrupted.
“Because you weren't supposed to be Ethan.””
The words made my blood freeze.
“What?””
Daniel pointed at the birth certificate.
“The name Ethan Carter was assigned to the second baby.””
I stared at him.
“What was the first baby's name?””
Nobody answered.
Then Sarah said it.
“Elias.””
My knees almost buckled.
“Elias.””
Marcus nodded.
“Angela named him Elias.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Two babies.
One bracelet.
One missing identity.
“So where is Elias?””
Daniel's face changed.
“That is the question your mother has been avoiding.””
Sarah suddenly stepped toward him.
“Don't.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You owe him the truth.””
“I owe my son protection.””
“You've protected the wrong thing.””
Sarah slapped him.
The crack echoed across the auditorium.
Nobody moved.
Daniel slowly touched his cheek.
Then he looked at me.
“Ask her where she got you.””
I turned toward my mother.
“What does he mean?””
Sarah was shaking.
“I didn't steal you.””
“I didn't say you did.””
“He was sick.””
“Who?””
“Elias.””
My mother swallowed.
“Your brother was sick.””
I stared at her.
“Brother?””
She nodded.
“Angela couldn't afford the treatment.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Sarah continued.
“Charles offered to pay.””
“And in exchange?””
She couldn't answer.
Daniel did.
“In exchange, Charles took control of the baby.””
My stomach turned.
“What happened to Elias?””
Sarah whispered, “He died.””
Marcus suddenly shouted.
“No.””
Sarah looked at him.
“I saw him.””
Marcus shook his head violently.
“You saw the wrong child.””
Everyone froze.
I turned toward Marcus.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus stared at Sarah.
“The baby who died wasn't Elias.””
Sarah's face went white.
Marcus stepped forward.
“I saw the hospital bracelet.””
“What did it say?””
He looked at me.
“Ethan.””
My heart stopped.
Daniel suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Then you need to see this.””
He opened the final page of his folder.
It contained a photograph.
A hospital nursery.
Two bassinets.
Two babies.
And written beneath them:
*ETHAN — CARTER*
*ELIAS — REED*
I stared at the image.
Then I noticed something.
The photograph had been taken from inside the nursery.
Someone had circled the bassinet labeled *ELIAS*.
In red ink, three words were written:
*HE SURVIVED THE FIRE.*
I looked up.
“What fire?””
Daniel's face tightened.
“The hospital fire.””
“When?””
“The night you were born.””
“And Elias?””
Daniel looked toward the auditorium entrance.
“That's the problem.””
A phone rang.
Not mine.
Not Vanessa's.
Dr. Reynolds's.
He answered.
“Hello?””
His face changed.
He slowly lowered the phone.
I stepped toward him.
“What happened?””
May you like
He looked at me.
“Someone just found Elias.””
