Chapter 3: The Baby in the Photograph
The door slammed so hard that Lily screamed.
Marcus spun around.
The guests jumped.
For a moment, everyone looked toward the rear of the church.
But nobody was there.
The bright sunlight remained beyond the closed doors.
Marcus slowly turned back.
Vanessa was staring at the floor.
“Who is Caleb?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa.””
Nothing.
Marcus walked toward her.
“Who is Caleb?””
Andre folded his arms.
“She knows.””
Vanessa whispered, “Andre, you don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was scared.””
“You were always scared.””
“I was trying to protect someone.””
Andre’s face hardened.
“Six years ago, you said the same thing.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Six years ago, what happened?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I had a baby.””
“You said Elijah died.””
“He did.””
“Then why is Caleb involved?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I had twins.””
Marcus stopped.
Andre’s expression changed.
“You told me we had one child.””
“I know.””
“You told me Elijah was our only baby.””
“I know!””
Vanessa’s voice cracked across the church.
Several guests exchanged horrified looks.
Marcus stared at her.
“Twins?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Two boys.””
Andre took a step toward her.
“Where is the other one?””
Vanessa looked at him.
Her mouth opened.
No words came.
Marcus felt something cold crawl up his spine.
“Where is the other baby?””
Vanessa whispered, “I don't know.””
Andre laughed bitterly.
“You don't know?””
“I was told he died.””
“Who told you?””
“The hospital.””
“Which hospital?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You lied to me about being pregnant.””
“I know.””
“You lied about your husband.””
“I know.””
“You lied about having a child.””
“I know.””
“And now you're telling me you had twins?””
Vanessa cried.
“Marcus, I never wanted to hurt you.””
“You already did.””
Lily suddenly tugged Marcus’s sleeve.
“Daddy?””
He looked down.
“What's wrong?””
She pointed at Andre.
“He knows where the blue box is.””
Andre went still.
Marcus frowned.
“What blue box?””
Lily looked at Vanessa.
“The box under her bed.””
Vanessa’s face went white.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
“What box?””
Vanessa grabbed Lily’s hand.
“Don't listen to her.””
Marcus pulled Lily gently away.
“Don't touch my daughter.””
Vanessa released her.
Lily looked up at Marcus.
“She showed me.””
“When?””
“Last Tuesday.””
“What was inside?””
Lily hesitated.
“A baby picture.””
Marcus’s heart pounded.
“Of Elijah?””
Lily shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
Lily whispered:
“Me.””
Silence.
Marcus stared at her.
Vanessa looked terrified.
Andre took out his phone.
“I knew it.””
Marcus turned.
“Knew what?””
Andre opened an old photograph.
The picture showed two newborn boys wrapped in hospital blankets.
One blanket was blue.
The other was yellow.
On the bottom of the photograph, handwritten in black ink:
*Baby A — Elijah.*
*Baby B — Caleb.*
Marcus stared.
Andre zoomed in.
“There.””
Marcus leaned closer.
A tiny hospital bracelet was visible around the second baby’s wrist.
Marcus read the number.
Then his eyes widened.
“That number…”
He knew it.
He had seen it before.
Not on a hospital record.
Not in a photograph.
On Lily’s adoption paperwork.
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“No.””
Lily stared back.
“What, Daddy?””
Marcus’s hands began trembling.
The unknown number texted again.
This time, there was a photograph attached.
Marcus opened it.
His breath stopped.
It was Lily.
Not six-year-old Lily.
A newborn Lily.
Wrapped in a yellow hospital blanket.
The exact same blanket from Andre’s photograph.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She was crying now.
Not hiding it.
Not denying it.
Just crying.
Marcus whispered, “Lily isn't your daughter.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Andre stepped forward.
“She is.””
Marcus looked at him.
Andre’s voice broke.
“Caleb survived.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at Lily.
The little girl looked confused.
“Daddy, why are you crying?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
His phone buzzed again.
One final message appeared.
*THE MAN WHO RAISED LILY IS NOT HER FATHER.*
Marcus looked toward the church doors.
A shadow appeared beneath them.
Someone was standing outside.
Then a man's voice came through the wood.
“Marcus?””
Marcus froze.
The voice continued.
May you like
“I think it's time you met your son.””
The church doors began to open.
