Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed To Stand Beside Him
Marcus stared at the name on the screen.
Darius Cole.
For a moment, nobody in the ballroom moved.
The name sat there like a crack running through everything we thought we knew.
Darius wasn’t just Marcus’s friend.
He was family.
The kind of friend who didn’t need an invitation to walk into the house.
The kind of friend who had known Marcus since college.
The kind of friend who stood beside him when he proposed to me.
The kind of friend who hugged me when we announced our pregnancy and said, “Marcus is going to be the best father.””
And now his name was written beside my baby.
As the biological father.
Marcus slowly looked up.
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
Not disbelief.
Denial.
“No.””
Daniel lowered the phone.
“The record shows his name was entered as the biological father.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That’s impossible.””
Brielle looked at him carefully.
“Marcus…”
“Don’t.””
His eyes moved to her.
“Not another excuse.””
Brielle stopped speaking.
Marcus turned back to the screen.
“Someone put his name there.””
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Someone could have typed anything.””
“That’s true.””
“Then why are we acting like this means something?””
Because he wanted it not to mean something.
I could see it.
Marcus wanted the answer to be a mistake.
A technical error.
Anything except betrayal.
Daniel took a breath.
“Because the record wasn’t just updated.””
He tapped the screen.
“It was verified.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means whoever entered the information provided supporting documentation.””
My stomach dropped.
“What kind of documentation?””
Daniel looked at me.
“A genetic test.””
The room became silent again.
Marcus looked at me.
“A test?””
I shook my head.
“I never took one.””
Daniel nodded.
“I know.””
“Then how?””
He looked down.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.””
Marcus walked away from the table.
His hand ran through his hair.
The perfect groom from earlier was gone.
The man standing in front of me looked exhausted.
Broken.
Like every person he trusted had handed him another piece of a nightmare.
“Darius,” Marcus whispered.
I watched his face.
The memories were probably flooding back.
Darius helping him move apartments.
Darius celebrating every promotion.
Darius joking that he would be the “fun uncle.””
Darius standing beside him at our wedding rehearsal.
The man had been everywhere.
And that was what made it hurt.
“Did he ever say anything strange?”” Marcus asked me.
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Did he ever try to contact you alone?””
“No.””
I paused.
Then remembered something.
“Actually…”
Marcus looked at me.
“What?””
I hesitated.
“There was one time.””
His expression changed.
“When?””
“About three months ago.””
“What happened?””
I looked down.
“Darius came to the house.””
Marcus frowned.
“He came over?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because it seemed normal.””
My voice became quieter.
“He said he wanted to check on me because you were busy.””
Marcus’s face hardened.
“What did he say?””
I closed my eyes.
The memory returned.
Darius standing in our kitchen.
His friendly smile.
His casual voice.
The way he looked at my pregnancy calendar on the refrigerator.
“He asked when my doctor appointments were.””
Marcus stared.
“And?””
“I told him.””
A heavy silence followed.
Daniel looked up.
“Did he ask anything else?””
I swallowed.
“He asked if I was sure about the baby’s due date.””
Marcus went still.
“Why would he ask that?””
“I don’t know.””
But now I did.
The question hadn’t been curiosity.
It had been information gathering.
Marcus turned away.
“Darius.””
The name sounded like an accusation.
Brielle suddenly spoke.
“There’s something else.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
She hesitated.
“You need to know why Mom believed it.””
“Why?””
Brielle looked ashamed.
“Because she saw something.””
My chest tightened.
“Saw what?””
Brielle looked at me.
“Your messages.””
I frowned.
“What messages?””
“Between you and Darius.””
My heart stopped.
“There were no messages.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Brielle.””
“I’m telling the truth.””
She looked desperate.
“Mom showed me screenshots.””
“Of what?””
“Conversations.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Why would she have them?””
“I don’t know.””
Marcus stared at me.
“Did Darius ever message you?””
I thought.
Then slowly nodded.
“Group messages.””
“Only group messages?””
“Yes.””
Marcus watched me.
“And private messages?””
I searched my memory.
“No.””
Brielle whispered:
“Then someone created fake ones.””
The words hit hard.
Daniel looked at her.
“You’re saying someone fabricated evidence?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Brielle looked at Marcus.
“Because Mom wanted you to believe Nia betrayed you.””
Marcus’s expression darkened.
“But why?””
Nobody answered.
Until Brielle did.
“Because she wanted to control what happened after the baby was born.””
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Brielle’s eyes filled with tears.
“Mom thought if Marcus believed the baby wasn’t his, he would leave.””
Marcus stared.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It does to her.””
Brielle looked down.
“She thought you would choose your family over Nia if you believed she hurt you.””
The cruelty of it made me sick.
His own mother had tried to destroy his marriage to keep him close.
Marcus laughed softly.
“My family.””
The words sounded bitter.
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He checked it.
Then his face changed.
“What now?”” Marcus asked.
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
“Someone accessed the hospital system again.””
My heart dropped.
“When?””
“Ten minutes ago.””
Everyone looked around.
The ballroom doors were closed.
Nobody else was inside.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“The access came from a registered device.””
“Whose device?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
“Darius Cole’s phone.””
Marcus froze.
Brielle covered her mouth.
“No.””
Daniel continued.
“He attempted to delete the original file.””
Marcus looked furious.
“Where is he?””
“I don’t know.””
I felt a strange fear settle inside me.
Because this was no longer a misunderstanding.
Someone was actively trying to erase the truth.
Someone who knew the truth.
Someone who was close enough to reach us.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“I’m calling him.””
“Marcus,” Daniel warned.
But he ignored him.
He pulled out his phone.
The call connected.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Then finally—
A voice.
But not Darius.
A woman.
Marcus’s face changed.
“Hello?””
The voice on the other end was trembling.
“Marcus?””
“Who is this?””
The woman took a shaky breath.
“It’s Rachel.””
Everyone looked confused.
Marcus frowned.
“Rachel who?””
I watched his face.
Because suddenly he knew.
“Rachel Bennett,” the woman said.
Marcus went silent.
Brielle looked at him.
“Who is that?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
His eyes moved to me.
Then to the phone.
Rachel continued.
“Marcus, I know you’re going to hate me.””
His grip tightened.
“What do you want?””
“I need you to hear me before Darius finds out I called.””
A chill went through me.
“Why would Darius care?””
Silence.
Then Rachel whispered:
“Because Darius didn’t change the records to make himself look like the father.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then why?””
Her voice shook.
“Because he was trying to hide who the real father is.””
Nobody breathed.
Marcus slowly asked:
“Who?””
Rachel hesitated.
Then came the words that made the entire room feel like it disappeared.
“The baby’s real father…”
May you like
She paused.
“Is someone standing in that ballroom with you right now.””
