Chapter 5: The Truth Maria Buried
I didn’t remember sitting down.
One second, I was standing in the hallway.
The next, I was sitting on the edge of the staircase, staring at a photograph that had destroyed everything I believed.
Ava was still in my arms.
My daughter.
My little girl.
The word still felt true.
But suddenly, every memory had a shadow behind it.
Every birthday.
Every doctor appointment.
Every night I held her when she cried.
Was any of it built on the truth?
Or was I the only person in the room who didn’t know the story?
“Darius.””
Maria’s voice pulled me back.
I looked at her.
“Tell me.””
She wiped her tears.
“I should have told you sooner.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She nodded.
“You’re right.””
Her voice cracked.
“I was afraid.””
I looked at the bracelet on the table.
“You were afraid, so you let me raise a child without knowing the truth?””
Maria closed her eyes.
The pain on her face looked real.
“I know how that sounds.””
“It sounds like everyone made choices except me.””
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody could argue with that.
Simone stood near the doorway.
She looked smaller than I had ever seen her.
Not powerful.
Not elegant.
Just someone who had been caught.
“Darius,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“Don’t.””
The word stopped her.
For years, I had loved the sound of her voice.
Now every sentence felt like something I had to question.
Marcus stood near the door.
“You deserve the whole story.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell it.””
He nodded.
“Three years ago, Ava was born at Saint Catherine’s Hospital.””
Simone looked down.
“Stop.””
Marcus ignored her.
“Maria worked there before she came to your house.””
I turned to Maria.
“You worked at the hospital?””
She nodded.
“I was a nurse.””
The information hit me.
Not a housekeeper.
Not just someone who had been around my family.
Someone who had known Ava before I did.
Marcus continued.
“On the night Ava was born, something happened.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He looked at Simone.
“She made a choice.””
Simone suddenly shouted.
“Enough!””
The sound echoed through the mansion.
Ava jumped slightly.
I immediately covered her ears.
“Don’t do that.””
Simone froze.
Her eyes filled with regret.
“I’m sorry.””
But sorry wasn’t enough anymore.
Not after years of secrets.
I stood.
“Take Ava upstairs, Maria.””
Maria looked surprised.
“Darius?””
“Please.””
She nodded and carefully reached for Ava.
Ava didn’t want to let go at first.
“Daddy?””
I kissed her forehead.
“I’ll be right here.””
She looked at me.
“Promise?””
My heart broke.
“Yes.””
Maria carried her upstairs.
When they disappeared, I turned back.
“Now tell me.””
Marcus looked at Simone.
She didn’t fight anymore.
She just stood there.
Waiting.
Marcus spoke.
“The baby Simone gave birth to didn’t survive.””
The room became silent.
I stared at him.
“What?””
Simone closed her eyes.
“She was told the baby was gone.””
Marcus continued.
“But there was another baby in that hospital.””
Maria’s voice came from the stairs.
“She was Ava.””
I looked at her.
The pieces started connecting.
But I didn’t want them to.
I didn’t want the answer.
Because I already knew it would hurt.
Marcus said:
“Simone was grieving. She was desperate. She made a decision that changed four lives.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What decision?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Maria stepped down.
Tears were running down her face.
“She took Ava.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
I looked at Simone.
She didn’t deny it.
That was the worst part.
“Is that true?””
Her eyes met mine.
“Darius…”
“Is it true?””
A tear fell down her cheek.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“Why?””
She covered her mouth.
“I was broken.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“I lost my baby.””
Her voice cracked.
“I couldn’t go home empty-handed.””
I stared at her.
“So you stole someone else’s child?””
She cried.
“I loved her.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice became quiet.
“You loved having her.””
Simone looked destroyed.
But I couldn’t stop.
“You let me believe she was ours.””
“I wanted to tell you.””
“When?””
She looked away.
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“When she was five?””
“Darius…”
“When she was eighteen?””
She had no answer.
Then Marcus spoke.
“There’s more.””
I turned.
More.
That word was almost impossible to understand.
“How could there be more?””
Marcus looked toward the upstairs hallway.
“Because Ava wasn’t the only person Simone lied to.””
Simone’s face changed.
“Marcus.””
He ignored her.
“There was someone else who knew.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“This was delivered to me yesterday.””
He handed it over.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
One sentence.
My blood turned cold.
Because the handwriting was Simone’s.
May you like
And it said:
“If Darius ever finds out, take Ava and disappear.””
