Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Marcus walked away from everyone.
Only a few steps.
But it felt like he had created an entire world between himself and his mother.
He stood beneath the string lights hanging above the patio, holding the envelope like it was something dangerous.
I watched him struggle.
Because I knew Marcus.
He was the kind of man who fixed problems.
Broken appliances.
Family arguments.
Anything.
But this wasn’t something he could repair with a few words.
This was his entire life being questioned.
Evelyn moved toward him.
“Nobody needs to know everything.””
Marcus looked at her.
“That’s the problem, Mom.””
She stopped.
“The problem is that you keep deciding what everyone deserves to know.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I did what I had to do.””
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“You did what you wanted.””
She looked hurt.
“You think I enjoy this?””
“I think you’re used to controlling everyone.””
Evelyn glanced at me.
“You have no idea what she has done.””
My chest tightened.
There it was.
The same accusation.
The same weapon.
Make me the villain.
Make herself the victim.
Marcus noticed too.
“Stop talking about Nia like she’s the problem.””
“I’m trying to protect you.””
“From my wife?””
“From a truth she’s hiding.””
I stepped forward.
“I am standing right here.””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Then tell him.””
“Tell him what?””
She stared at me.
And for a moment, I thought she might finally say it.
Instead, she whispered:
“Tell him why you went to the clinic alone.””
Marcus turned toward me.
My heart dropped.
Because that was something I had never told him.
Not because I was hiding something.
Because I was scared.
The room became silent again.
Marcus looked at me.
“Nia?””
I swallowed.
“I went because I was worried.””
“Worried about what?””
I looked down.
“Because the doctor’s office called me about something unusual.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What unusual?””
I hated that this was happening in front of everyone.
I hated that the woman who caused this was forcing pieces of my private life into the open.
But there was no going back.
“They said there was a request for additional prenatal testing.””
Marcus looked confused.
“From who?””
I looked at Evelyn.
“She never told me.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“That’s not true.””
“Then tell us who requested it.””
Silence.
Marcus stared at his mother.
“Mom.””
Evelyn looked away.
That was the answer.
The guests murmured quietly.
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment.
Like he was trying to keep himself from breaking.
Then he opened them.
“Did you request another test?””
Evelyn didn’t answer.
“Mom.””
Finally, she whispered:
“Yes.””
The word landed like a stone.
Marcus stepped back.
“Why?””
She looked at me.
Then at him.
“Because I had doubts.””
“About what?””
Her eyes moved to my belly.
And I felt something inside me snap.
“You doubted my baby?””
Evelyn’s expression changed.
“I doubted the situation.””
“What situation?””
She looked at Marcus.
“I knew things you didn’t.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“Then tell me.””
Evelyn looked around.
The guests.
The decorations.
The phones recording.
The family members watching.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Not here.””
Marcus laughed.
A painful laugh.
“You really think you still get to choose?””
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“Marcus, please.””
I had never heard her say please so many times.
It sounded strange coming from her.
Almost frightening.
Marcus looked at the envelope.
Then at me.
Then back at his mother.
“I’m opening it.””
Evelyn’s face changed.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You don’t know what you’re doing.””
“I know exactly what I’m doing.””
He started tearing the seal.
The sound was small.
Almost impossible to hear.
But everyone heard it.
Because everyone was waiting.
Then Evelyn stepped forward.
“Marcus, if you open that envelope, you won’t just find out about the baby.””
He stopped.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“It means you’ll find out why your father left our family years ago.””
Marcus froze.
I felt my breath disappear.
Because suddenly the secret wasn’t just about my child.
It was about a family history nobody wanted uncovered.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“My father didn’t leave.””
Evelyn went quiet.
And that silence told us something was wrong.
Marcus’s voice became softer.
“You told me he abandoned us.””
Evelyn looked away.
The envelope remained half-open in his hand.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
And her entire body went still.
Because the name calling wasn’t unfamiliar.
Marcus saw it.
His eyes narrowed.
“Who is that?””
Evelyn didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
And then Marcus read the name on the screen.
May you like
His face turned pale.
“Why is my father calling you?””
