Chapter 6 - THE SON WHO WAS NEVER MICHAEL’S
For several seconds, Ethan could not understand the words.
They sounded impossible.
They sounded like another lie.
But that was the problem.
After everything he discovered, nothing felt impossible anymore.
Not the fake funeral.
Not his mother being buried alive.
Not the hidden brother.
Not the stolen inheritance.
But this…
This was different.
Because his entire identity depended on it.
“You’re lying.”
Michael watched him carefully.
A small smile appeared.
“That is exactly what I expected you to say.”
Ethan looked at the DNA report again.
His hands tightened.
“Where did you get this?”
Michael stepped closer.
“Your mother knew.”
Ethan froze.
“No.”
“She knew before you were born.”
“Stop.”
“She knew you were not my biological son.”
Ethan felt anger rising.
“You expect me to believe you?”
Michael laughed quietly.
“After everything you found?”
Silence.
Because that was the cruelest part.
Michael had spent years lying.
But sometimes…
a liar could still reveal the truth.
The door opened.
Claire entered.
The moment she saw the document in Ethan’s hand, her face changed.
Not surprise.
Pain.
Ethan looked at her.
“Mom.”
She stopped.
“Tell me.”
Claire closed her eyes.
And Ethan knew.
Before she said anything.
He already knew.
“Is it true?”
A long silence.
Then Claire whispered:
“Yes.”
The answer destroyed him.
Not because of his blood.
Not because Michael was not his father.
Because his mother had known.
And she never told him.
“You knew?”
Claire stepped forward.
“Ethan…”
“You knew?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The question came out broken.
“Why would you let me believe my entire life was something it wasn’t?”
Claire reached for him.
But Ethan stepped back.
Because for the first time since finding her alive…
he felt hurt by her.
Michael watched.
Satisfied.
Because this was what he wanted.
Division.
Pain.
A family destroying itself.
“You see?”
Michael said.
“Everyone lies.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You too.”
Michael’s smile faded slightly.
Because Ethan was right.
Michael had spent years using the truth as a weapon.
But Ethan was beginning to understand something.
The truth was not the weapon.
The person controlling it was.
Claire finally spoke.
“When you were born, Michael knew.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Knew what?”
“That you were not his biological child.”
The room became silent.
“Your biological father was someone else.”
“Who?”
Claire looked toward Noah.
Noah lowered his eyes.
Because he already knew.
Claire whispered:
“Your father was Lucas Walker.”
Ethan froze.
The room stopped.
Lucas.
The name from the vault.
The original heir.
The man everyone thought died.
Michael laughed.
A bitter laugh.
“That is the part she never wanted you to know.”
Ethan stared.
“What does that mean?”
Michael looked at Noah.
“Tell him.”
Noah remained silent.
Michael continued:
“Lucas was not dead.”
Ethan felt cold.
“What?”
“Your real father survived.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
Michael smiled.
“Yes.”
He looked at Ethan.
“And he was killed because of you.”
The accusation hit like a punch.
Ethan looked at Claire.
“What is he talking about?”
Claire was crying now.
“Michael is twisting the truth.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
She looked at him.
And finally…
she did.
Years ago, Lucas Walker discovered what Michael was planning.
The inheritance.
The manipulation.
The fake identities.
He tried to expose him.
But Michael was faster.
He removed Lucas from the family records.
Made everyone believe he died.
Then he took control.
But before Lucas disappeared…
he left one thing behind.
A child.
Ethan.
The rightful heir.
The one person Michael could never control completely.
That was why Michael hated him.
Not because Ethan was weak.
Because Ethan was proof.
Proof that Michael was never the rightful successor.
Ethan looked at Michael.
“You knew all along.”
“Yes.”
“You raised me anyway?”
Michael smiled.
“I raised an obstacle.”
The words hurt more than anything.
Ethan stared at him.
“You never loved me.”
Michael said nothing.
And that silence was the answer.
Then Noah stepped forward.
“That’s not the whole truth.”
Everyone looked at him.
Michael’s expression changed.
“Noah.”
But Noah continued.
“Lucas didn’t die because of Ethan.”
Ethan looked at him.
“What?”
Noah stared at Michael.
“He died because he found out what you did.”
Michael’s face changed.
Noah continued:
“You killed my mother too.”
Silence.
Ethan looked shocked.
“Noah…”
Noah’s voice shook.
“My mother discovered Michael was creating fake identities.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Enough.”
“No.”
Noah looked at him.
“You destroyed everyone.”
The police arrived moments later.
Because Noah had recorded everything.
Every confession.
Every document.
Every lie.
Michael finally realized.
May you like
For the first time in his life…
he had lost control.
