Chapter 7: The Father I Never Knew
"Say that again.""
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
Detective Harris was still on the phone.
"According to the original medical records, Thomas Carter was listed as your biological father. We haven't independently verified the records yet, but the hospital archive contains supporting documentation.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She was standing beneath the maple tree, holding the photograph of my mother against her chest.
"Is it true?"" I asked her.
She didn't answer.
"Mrs. Carter, is Thomas Carter my father?""
Her lips trembled.
"Ethan, I wanted to tell you.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She looked toward the ground.
"Yes.""
The word struck harder than anything Adrian had said.
I stepped backward.
"All these years?""
"Your mother loved your father. She never intended to hurt him.""
"Then why was I told he was my biological father?""
Evelyn wiped her eyes.
"Because he chose to raise you as his own.""
I stared at her.
"Did he know?""
"Yes.""
"From the beginning?""
She nodded.
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"So my entire childhood was built on a lie?""
"No, Ethan.""
"Don't.""
She reached for my arm.
I moved away.
"Don't tell me he loved me. I know he loved me. I want to know why nobody trusted me enough to tell me the truth.""
Evelyn sat on the stone marker.
"Your mother was engaged to Thomas before she met your father. They were young. Thomas wanted to marry her, but his family was struggling financially. Robert Mitchell offered him a position in his company, and Thomas accepted.""
"What happened?""
"Robert discovered Thomas was planning to leave with your mother. He threatened to ruin him. Your mother eventually left Thomas and married your father.""
"And I was born?""
"Yes. Your father knew you weren't biologically his. He signed the papers himself.""
I looked at the photograph.
My father holding me as a newborn.
His face was full of happiness.
He had known.
He had known everything.
"And Adrian?""
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Adrian was born several years later. His biological father was Robert Mitchell. But Robert arranged for Thomas's name to appear on certain private records.""
I frowned.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because Robert wanted Thomas to remain financially dependent on him. He used the child to keep Thomas close.""
I stared at her.
"So Adrian and I share a mother?""
"Yes.""
My knees felt weak.
Naomi's boyfriend was my half-brother.
The man who had kissed her outside the graduation hall.
The man who had been trying to take my father's company.
I pressed my hands against my face.
"Does Naomi know?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"I don't think so.""
"Then why is she helping him?""
"Because Adrian told her a different story.""
I lowered my hands.
"What story?""
"That your father stole the company from Thomas Carter. That the original patent belonged to their family. That your mother had promised to return it.""
I looked at her.
"And you let her believe that?""
"I tried to stop her. But she wouldn't listen.""
I turned toward the factory.
"Where is Adrian taking her?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I don't know.""
My phone rang again.
Mr. Bennett.
"Ethan, I've reviewed the documents. The original patent agreement is authentic.""
"Good.""
"But we have a serious problem.""
"What now?""
"Sterling has submitted a claim that Thomas Carter was the original inventor and that your father's ownership was fraudulent.""
"That's ridiculous.""
"I agree. But they have supporting statements from two former employees.""
"Who?""
"Daniel Price and Naomi Carter.""
I closed my eyes.
Naomi.
She had signed a statement against me.
Mr. Bennett continued.
"There's a board hearing tomorrow. If they establish that the patent was stolen, the acquisition could proceed without your consent.""
"Can they do that?""
"They can try.""
I looked at the photograph in my hand.
"Then we'll give them the truth.""
At six that evening, I went to Naomi's apartment.
I hadn't planned to.
But I needed to look her in the eyes and ask whether she understood what she was doing.
She opened the door wearing an oversized sweater.
"Ethan?""
I held up the photograph.
"We need to talk.""
She looked at it.
Her face changed immediately.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my father's office.""
She stepped aside.
I entered.
Her apartment looked different from the last time I'd visited. Expensive furniture had replaced the old secondhand pieces. A new television hung above the fireplace.
On the dining table sat a laptop and several documents.
One of them carried Adrian's company logo.
I pointed at it.
"Are you still working with him?""
Naomi folded her arms.
"Yes.""
"Even after you found out about the money?""
"Adrian explained everything.""
"Did he explain that the money came from my father's company?""
"He said it was part of the acquisition financing.""
"Did he explain why your name appears on a document transferring ownership of my father's patents?""
Her expression hardened.
"You're twisting things.""
I placed the photograph on the table.
"Do you know who Adrian really is?""
She glanced down.
"He's my partner.""
"He's my half-brother.""
She laughed nervously.
"That's not funny.""
"I'm not joking.""
I showed her the hospital record.
She read it.
Then she shook her head.
"This is fake.""
"That's what I thought too.""
"Adrian told me your father was trying to manipulate the patent agreement. He said your family had hidden the original ownership documents.""
"Naomi, look at me.""
She finally did.
"Adrian is my mother's son. He was born before my father died. The hospital records identify him as my half-brother.""
Her lips parted.
"No.""
"Yes.""
She sat down.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she picked up her phone.
"I'm calling Adrian.""
"Don't.""
She ignored me.
He answered immediately.
"Hey, beautiful.""
Naomi put him on speaker.
"Adrian, where are you?""
"At the office. What's wrong?""
"Did you know about Ethan's mother?""
Silence.
Then Adrian sighed.
"Naomi, not now.""
"Did you know?""
"Who told you?""
Naomi looked at me.
"Is it true?""
Adrian's voice became colder.
"Listen carefully. Ethan has been digging through documents he doesn't understand. He's trying to destroy the acquisition.""
"Are you his half-brother?""
Another silence.
Then Adrian laughed.
"That's an old family issue.""
Naomi covered her mouth.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because it wasn't relevant.""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"Did you know our mother was the same woman?""
Adrian paused.
Then he said something that made my stomach turn.
"Of course I knew, Ethan.""
Naomi stared at the phone.
Adrian continued.
"Your father raised you because he felt guilty. Mine raised me because he knew what your family had taken from him.""
"Your father was Robert Mitchell," I said.
"Biologically, yes. But Thomas Carter was the man who raised me.""
Naomi whispered, "Thomas was my father.""
Adrian ignored her.
"Your father stole everything. The company. The patents.
The family. And now you expect me to walk away?""
"You're trying to steal a company that never belonged to you.""
Adrian laughed.
"Tomorrow, you'll find out how little your opinion matters.""
The call ended.
Naomi remained motionless.
I picked up the documents on the table.
The top page was a sworn statement.
It claimed that I had knowingly transferred company funds to Naomi in exchange for a future marriage agreement.
My name was forged at the bottom.
I looked at her.
"Did you sign this?""
Naomi nodded weakly.
"Adrian said it was necessary for the financial review.""
"You told them I gave you money in exchange for marrying me?""
"I didn't understand the wording.""
"You have a doctorate, Naomi.""
Her eyes filled.
"I thought I was protecting my research.""
I put the paper down.
"You're going to testify tomorrow.""
She looked up.
"What?""
"Tell the truth.""
Her phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Adrian.
She read it, and her face went white.
I glanced at the screen.
*If Ethan tells you about the baby, remember what happened to your father. You don't want to lose your mother too.*
Naomi dropped the phone.
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
She began crying.
"Ethan, there's something else I never told you.""
"What?""
May you like
She stared at the photograph of my mother.
"Adrian says Thomas Carter didn't die naturally.""
