Chapter 8: The Child Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
Carter stood on the staircase, gripping the wooden railing.
His face had gone pale.
Lily appeared behind him.
"What's happening?""
Carter didn't answer.
He was staring at Vanessa.
"Mom, you said Ethan died when he was little.""
Vanessa stood.
"Carter, sweetheart, come downstairs.""
"Is he alive?""
"Please.""
"Is he alive?""
Vanessa looked at me.
I had never seen her so frightened.
"Yes," she whispered.
Carter began crying.
"You lied to me?""
Vanessa reached for him.
He stepped back.
"Don't touch me.""
Those three words seemed to hurt her more than anything I had said.
I looked at my wife.
"How old is Ethan?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Ten.""
I did the calculation.
Ten.
Noah was eight.
Lily was eleven.
Carter was nine.
Vanessa had a ten-year-old son who had never been mentioned in our household.
A child who apparently had a claim to Noah's inheritance.
"Where is he living?""
"With his father.""
"Why did you tell your children he was dead?""
"Because I didn't want them asking questions.""
Carter shook his head.
"You made us believe he was in heaven.""
Vanessa started sobbing.
I wanted to feel sympathy.
But every time I looked at the boy on the stairs, I thought about how many lies had been planted in this house.
"Who is Ethan's father?"" I asked.
Vanessa sat down.
"Daniel.""
I frowned.
"Daniel who?""
She looked at me.
"Daniel Reed.""
Patricia gasped.
I turned toward her.
"You know him?""
Patricia slowly nodded.
"He's Dr. Richard Reed's son.""
Vanessa's younger brother.
I looked at my wife.
"So Ethan is your brother's child?""
She shook her head.
"No. Daniel isn't my brother.""
Patricia closed her eyes.
"Vanessa, stop lying.""
My wife looked at her.
Patricia continued.
"Daniel is your father's son from his first marriage. You grew up in the same house, but you have different mothers.""
The room fell silent.
I was beginning to understand why the family history had been so carefully concealed.
But there was another problem.
"Why is Ethan a beneficiary of Noah's trust?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Because your mother believed he deserved something too.""
"Why?""
"Because she knew about him.""
I stared at her.
"My mother knew about Ethan?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Vanessa's voice became barely audible.
"Because Daniel was the man Emily was accused of having an affair with.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I remembered the photographs.
The accusations.
The messages.
The way Vanessa had insisted Emily was involved with another man.
I had believed her.
But Daniel was not Emily's lover.
He was the father of Vanessa's secret son.
I looked at Patricia.
"Is that true?""
Patricia nodded slowly.
"Daniel and Emily were close. He helped her after Noah was born. Your mother misunderstood their relationship, or deliberately twisted it.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"You accused Emily of cheating with your own relative?""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"I didn't know what my mother was going to do with the photographs.""
"Your mother?""
"Margaret found out Daniel had a child. She was furious. She believed he was irresponsible and wanted to make sure Ethan would never become involved with your family.""
"Then why put Ethan in Noah's trust?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because Margaret changed her mind.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Convenient.""
"She believed Ethan deserved financial security. But she didn't want Daniel controlling the money.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Is there proof?""
She nodded.
"Adrian's company records should show the beneficiary amendment.""
I returned to my phone.
I called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Is Ethan your son?""
A long silence.
Then Daniel said, "Yes.""
"How long have you known Vanessa was hiding him?""
"Since he was born.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Vanessa begged me not to. She said her father would take Ethan away if anyone found out.""
I glanced at my wife.
"Where is he now?""
"With his mother during school holidays. He lives with me most of the time.""
"Does he know anything about the trust?""
"No. He's ten, Marcus. He thinks his grandmother left him some money for college.""
I sat down.
"Did you know Margaret transferred almost four million dollars?""
Daniel's voice became serious.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you stop her?""
"I tried.""
"What happened?""
"She threatened to accuse me of stealing hospital records. She said she'd make sure I lost custody of Ethan.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Daniel, I need the truth. All of it.""
He sighed.
"Your mother contacted me six months before she died. She said she wanted to create a trust for Noah and Ethan. I thought it was a good thing.""
"And?""
"Then she told me she wanted to amend the documents so that Vanessa would control the money until both boys turned twenty-one.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why?""
"She said Vanessa was the only person she trusted.""
Daniel continued.
"I refused to sign. I told her the boys needed an independent trustee.""
"What did she do?""
"She said I would regret it.""
I stared at the ceiling.
Then Daniel said something unexpected.
"Marcus, I think Noah is in danger.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"Adrian called me yesterday. He said the money was no longer available. He also asked whether I knew where Noah would be staying during the school holidays.""
I stood immediately.
"Why?""
"I don't know. But I told him I wasn't giving him that information.""
I looked at the photograph on the tablet.
The stranger beside Noah.
Adrian.
"Has he approached Noah before?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Marcus, I need to tell you something.""
"What?""
"That photograph isn't the first time Adrian has been near him.""
I felt cold.
"How many times?""
"Three.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know who he was until yesterday. Emily recognized him.""
I turned toward Patricia.
She was already taking out her phone.
"Marcus, call the police," she said.
But before I could move, the front door opened.
Noah walked inside.
His school jacket was unzipped, and his backpack hung from one shoulder.
"Dad?""
I rushed toward him.
"Buddy, you're home early.""
He nodded.
"The school office called. They said someone had come to pick me up.""
My stomach dropped.
"Who?""
Noah looked toward Vanessa.
"Mom's friend.""
Vanessa stood.
"What friend?""
"The man with the gray car.""
I crouched in front of him.
"Did you get in the car?""
Noah shook his head.
"No. He said you were busy and asked me to come with him.""
I swallowed.
"What did you say?""
"I told him I wasn't allowed to leave with strangers.""
I hugged my son tightly.
"Good boy.""
Noah looked confused.
"He knew my name, Dad.""
I pulled back.
"What?""
"He called me Noah Hayes. He said Grandma Margaret had sent him.""
Patricia covered her mouth.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was trembling.
Noah reached into his backpack.
"There's something else.""
He pulled out a small white envelope.
"That man gave this to me.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a little boy standing in front of a birthday cake.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*Happy birthday, Noah. Your grandmother promised that one day you and Ethan would share everything.*
I looked at my son.
"Did he say anything else?""
Noah nodded.
"He said I should tell you that Ethan wants to meet me.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Then Noah added:
"He also said Ethan knows something about Mom.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was staring at the photograph.
Her lips moved silently.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"No. Ethan wasn't supposed to know.""
