Chapter 7: The Baby in the Photograph
Malik couldn't move.
The faded photograph trembled between his fingers.
Evelyn stood three feet away, her lavender dress perfectly pressed, her silver-gray hair still pinned into its neat bun.
But her face had collapsed.
“Mom,” Malik said.
“What baby is that?””
Evelyn looked at the floor.
“His name was Samuel.””
Malik frowned.
“Samuel who?””
“Samuel Brooks.””
The name hung in the air.
Malik looked at the photograph again.
The newborn's face was barely visible.
“Why did you say that baby wasn't me?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Because you were born the next morning.””
Malik stared at her.
“What?””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Your mother gave birth to you at 6:12 the next morning.””
Malik slowly turned.
“Then whose baby is Samuel?””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“My first son.””
The room went silent.
Malik's face changed.
“You had another son?””
“Yes.””
“And nobody told me?””
“I thought he was dead.””
Marcus shook his head.
“He wasn't.””
Evelyn looked at him sharply.
“Don't.””
“He lived.””
Malik's breathing stopped.
“You said he was dead.””
“I was told he was.””
“By who?””
Evelyn couldn't answer.
Malik stepped closer.
“Mom. By who?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Your father.””
The guests exchanged stunned looks.
Malik shook his head.
“My father died when I was nine.””
“I know.””
“So you kept this secret for thirty years?””
“I was protecting you.””
“From my dead father?””
Evelyn gripped her clutch.
“Your father told me Samuel died during delivery.””
Marcus spoke quietly.
“He lied.””
Malik looked at him.
“How do you know?””
“Because I was there.””
Tiana suddenly whispered, “Marcus…”
He ignored her.
“I was twenty-one. Your mother was twenty-nine. I worked at the hospital.””
Malik stared at him.
“You worked there?””
“I saw the records.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“You don't understand what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
Evelyn looked toward the guests.
“Everyone needs to leave.””
Nobody moved.
Malik's voice hardened.
“No one leaves.””
His mother looked at him.
“This is my family.””
“Then they can hear the truth.””
Tiana wiped her cheeks.
“Malik, please.””
He turned toward her.
“You knew about Samuel.””
Her silence was enough.
His eyes widened.
“How?””
Tiana swallowed.
“Marcus told me.””
“When?””
“Before I met you.””
Malik stared at her.
“So you knew my mother had another son?””
“I knew there was a child.””
“And you never told me.””
“I didn't know where he was.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You knew more than that.””
Tiana shook her head.
“No.””
“You saw him.””
Malik's head snapped toward her.
“You saw Samuel?””
Tiana looked down.
Marcus reached into his pocket and removed his phone.
“I have the messages.””
Tiana's face drained of color.
“Marcus, don't.””
He held up the screen.
“She met him six months ago.””
Malik looked at Tiana.
“Where?””
She whispered, “At a café.””
“Why?””
“He contacted me.””
“Why would your husband's ex-wife contact my mother's son?””
Tiana's eyes filled with tears.
“He said he needed help.””
Malik looked at Marcus.
“Where is he?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Where is my brother?””
Evelyn suddenly grabbed Malik's arm.
“Don't look for him.””
“Why?””
“Because he's dangerous.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You still believe that?””
“He hurt people.””
“He was a child when they took him.””
Malik froze.
“Who took him?””
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
Marcus nodded toward the photograph.
“Your father arranged everything.””
Malik's voice dropped.
“Why?””
“Because Samuel wasn't supposed to survive.””
Tiana gasped.
Malik stared at the photograph.
“Why would my father want his own son dead?””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Because Samuel wasn't his.””
Evelyn shut her eyes.
Malik stopped breathing.
The room seemed to tilt.
“What?””
Marcus looked directly at him.
“Samuel was mine.””
Evelyn whispered, “Marcus…”
Malik stepped backward.
“You're saying my brother is your son?””
“Yes.””
“And my mother…”
“She was married to your father.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“But Samuel was born from our affair.””
Malik's face went blank.
For thirty years, he had believed his parents had given him an ordinary family.
Now he was learning that his mother had hidden an older son.
A son who was biologically Marcus's.
A son his father had allegedly tried to erase.
Malik looked at Tiana.
“And you found him.””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Tiana hesitated.
Marcus answered.
“She's not going to tell you.””
Malik's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
Tiana's phone suddenly vibrated.
She looked down.
One new message.
Her entire body stiffened.
Malik reached for it.
“Show me.””
She pulled it against her chest.
“No.””
“Tiana.””
She slowly handed him the phone.
The message contained only one sentence:
*I know what your mother did to Samuel.*
Malik looked up.
“Who sent this?””
May you like
Tiana whispered,
“Samuel.””
