Chapter 3: The Man Listed as My Son's Father
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
I sat on the sofa with the photograph in one hand and my phone pressed against my ear.
"Could you repeat that?"" I finally asked.
Mrs. Patterson sounded uncomfortable.
"Vanessa submitted an updated emergency contact form last year. It listed another man as Noah's father.""
"Who?""
"His name is Daniel Brooks.""
I closed my eyes.
Daniel Brooks.
The name meant nothing to me.
"Did she provide legal documents?""
"She submitted a signed statement claiming that you were no longer involved in Noah's life and that Daniel was acting as his father.""
"That's a lie.""
"I understand.""
"Did the school change Noah's records?""
"Only the emergency contact section. We did not change his legal parent information.""
I looked at the little girl in the photograph.
"Mrs. Patterson, do you have a copy of that form?""
"Yes. I'll prepare it for your meeting tomorrow.""
I thanked her and ended the call.
Noah was watching me.
"Is Daniel my dad?"" he asked.
I turned toward him immediately.
"No. I'm your dad.""
"But Mom said Daniel was helping us.""
"Have you met him?""
Noah nodded slowly.
"Sometimes he comes to the house.""
"When?""
"When you're working.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"What does he do?""
"He brings Mom presents. Sometimes they go upstairs and tell me to stay in my room.""
I kept my voice gentle.
"Does he ever hurt you?""
"No.""
"Does he ever tell you to do things you don't want to do?""
Noah looked down.
"He told me I should call him Dad once.""
My fingers curled around the photograph.
"What did you say?""
"I said I already had a dad.""
I swallowed.
"Good answer, buddy.""
Noah looked at the floor.
"Mom got mad.""
I wanted to ask a hundred questions.
Instead, I hugged him.
He had already endured enough interrogation for one day.
That evening, I ordered food and let Noah choose whatever he wanted.
He chose a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake.
He ate slowly at first, almost as if he expected someone to take the food away.
When I offered him another burger, he shook his head.
"I'm full.""
"Okay.""
Then he looked at me.
"Can I keep the fries?""
I smiled sadly.
"Of course.""
He took the remaining fries to the kitchen and put them in a container.
I didn't stop him.
Later, after he fell asleep, I went through my bank records.
The first transfer had been made thirteen months earlier.
$3,200.
The second was $4,900.
Then $2,750.
Then $3,600.
Month after month.
I had sent Vanessa money for tuition, medical expenses, groceries, and Noah's activities.
The total came to $38,740.
I printed every transaction.
Then I called my bank.
The representative confirmed that all transfers had gone to the same account.
"Sir, would you like to dispute these transactions?""
"Not yet. I need copies of the statements and transfer records.""
"Certainly.""
I asked for the account holder's name.
She couldn't disclose the full details, but she confirmed that the account was not a joint account.
It belonged solely to Vanessa.
I sat back.
She had asked me to send money into an account I couldn't access, then told everyone I wasn't supporting my son.
I called my attorney again.
His name was Robert Ellis.
He had handled my father's estate and helped me with my divorce from Noah's biological mother years earlier.
"Robert, I need help.""
I explained everything.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he said, "Marcus, first, make sure Noah stays somewhere safe. Second, don't confront Vanessa alone. Third, preserve every document.""
"What about the money?""
"We'll deal with that. Right now, your son's safety comes first.""
"What if she tries to take him?""
"You're his legal father. We'll review the custody documents and make sure everything is handled properly.""
I looked toward Noah's bedroom.
"Can I keep him with me?""
"We'll take the appropriate legal steps. But given what you've described, I want you to contact the relevant child protection authorities and get a medical record of his injuries.""
I agreed.
Then Robert asked a question.
"Did you say the school listed another man as his father?""
"Yes. Daniel Brooks.""
There was a pause.
"Have you ever heard that name before?""
"No.""
"Send me the photograph and everything you found.""
I emailed him the documents.
Twenty minutes later, my phone rang.
It was Robert.
"Marcus, I looked into the name you gave me.""
"What did you find?""
"Daniel Brooks is listed as the owner of a company that has received several payments from an account connected to your wife.""
I stood up.
"What company?""
"Brooks Family Services.""
I frowned.
"What kind of services?""
"That's what I'm trying to establish. But there's something else.""
"What?""
"Your wife appears to have listed the company as the recipient of payments intended for Noah's educational expenses.""
I looked at the bank statements.
"How much?""
"At least fourteen thousand dollars based on the records you've provided.""
My stomach turned.
"Is Daniel the man she's seeing?""
"I can't confirm that yet.""
I stared at the photograph of the little girl.
"Then who is that child?""
Robert was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know. But I suggest we find out before you speak to Vanessa again.""
At 9:40 p.m., a car pulled into the driveway.
I recognized Vanessa's silver SUV.
I turned off the living room lights.
Noah was asleep upstairs.
I stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind me.
Vanessa climbed out of the car holding two shopping bags.
She stopped when she saw me.
"Where is Noah?""
"Inside. Sleeping.""
"Good. We need to talk.""
"We do.""
She looked at the porch light, then at the dark windows.
"Why did you take him to the hospital?""
"Because his arm needs medical attention.""
"He was already treated.""
"His doctor hasn't seen him in three weeks.""
She rolled her eyes.
"You're making this into something it isn't.""
I held up the photograph.
"Who's the little girl?""
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"Where did you get that?""
"Noah's backpack.""
She reached for the photograph.
I pulled it away.
"Who is she?""
Vanessa looked toward the street.
"Her name is Lily.""
"Why did Noah think she's his sister?""
"Because she is.""
My mouth went dry.
"Whose daughter is she?""
Vanessa tightened her grip on the shopping bags.
"Daniel's.""
I stared at her.
"Daniel Brooks?""
She said nothing.
"How long have you been seeing him?""
"Marcus, this is not the time.""
"How long?""
She finally looked at me.
"Almost two years.""
Two years.
I had been working out of state for thirteen months.
I felt as though the ground beneath my feet had shifted.
"And the money?""
She laughed bitterly.
"What money?""
"The $38,740 I sent for Noah.""
Her expression hardened.
"You're going to regret bringing up money.""
"Why?""
"Because you don't know what I've sacrificed for this family.""
I stepped closer.
"You made my nine-year-old son wash dishes with a broken arm.""
"He needed to learn that life isn't easy!""
"He's nine!""
"And you weren't here!""
Her voice cracked through the quiet street.
For the first time, she wasn't pretending to be calm.
"You left me to handle everything. You think sending money makes you a husband? You think a few phone calls make you a father?""
"I sent you money for his education.""
"You sent money for the household.""
"The transfers were labeled SCHOOL FEES.""
She looked away.
I continued.
"You told the school not to contact me. You told Noah I had stopped supporting him. You made him work to repay money that I had already sent.""
Vanessa put the shopping bags down.
Then she said something that made me realize she had no intention of admitting what she'd done.
"Daniel was supposed to take care of us.""
I stared at her.
"Daniel?""
"Yes. He has a real business. He has money. He understands what a family needs.""
"And what did he need from my son?""
Her eyes flashed.
"Don't talk about Daniel like that.""
I almost laughed.
"You're defending him?""
"He helped me when you were gone.""
"By taking money meant for Noah?""
She folded her arms.
"That money wasn't enough.""
"Then why did you buy a diamond bracelet?""
Her mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
I held up the receipt.
"Why did you buy this on the same day I sent the tuition payment?""
She snatched the receipt from my hand and crumpled it.
"You don't understand.""
"Then help me understand.""
She looked toward the house.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said:
"Daniel and I weren't just planning a future together, Marcus.""
My chest tightened.
"What does that mean?""
She stared at me.
"It means he was supposed to become Noah's legal guardian.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"Why would you do that?""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears, but her next words were not an apology.
"Because Daniel and I were going to get married. And Noah was going to live with us.""
I stared at her.
Then I heard a small voice behind me.
"Mom?""
We both turned.
Noah stood in the open doorway, wearing his pajamas.
His cast rested against his chest.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
And asked the question that changed everything.
"Is that why you told Daniel he could have my room?""
Vanessa's face went white.
Noah took one step forward.
May you like
Then he added:
"Because I heard you say you were going to send me away to boarding school after the wedding.""
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