Chapter 9: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The front door opened.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Nobody moved.
The sound traveled through the house like a warning.
Adrian’s face had lost all color.
The officer immediately reached for his radio.
“Everyone stay where you are.””
But I couldn't move.
I was staring toward the hallway.
Because somewhere beyond that door was a person who should not exist.
A person whose voice I had just heard through my phone.
Ethan Hart.
Adrian’s brother.
A man who had supposedly died five years ago.
The footsteps came closer.
One step.
Then another.
Then a shadow appeared.
And a man walked into the room.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar running along his jaw.
But the eyes were the same.
I knew those eyes.
I had seen them in family photographs.
At Christmas dinners.
At our wedding.
Standing beside Adrian with his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Adrian whispered the impossible.
“Ethan.””
The man stopped.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Ethan smiled sadly.
“Hello, Adrian.””
Adrian took a step backward.
“No.””
Ethan looked at him.
“I know.””
“You’re dead.””
“I know what everyone was told.””
The officer raised his hand.
“Sir, don’t move.””
Ethan slowly lifted both hands.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.””
My voice finally returned.
“Then why did you let everyone believe you were dead?””
His eyes moved to me.
And something changed.
Regret.
Pain.
Something I couldn't understand.
“Because being dead was safer.””
“For who?””
“For all of you.””
I almost laughed.
After everything I had discovered tonight, that sentence sounded like another excuse.
“Everyone keeps saying they were protecting me.””
I stepped forward.
“But every person who claimed they were protecting me destroyed my life.””
Ethan lowered his eyes.
“You’re right.””
That answer surprised me.
No argument.
No denial.
Just acceptance.
The officer stepped closer.
“Mr. Hart, we need to clarify some things.””
Ethan nodded.
“I expected that.””
“First, are you legally alive?””
“Yes.””
“Why were you listed as deceased?””
“Because my father arranged it.””
Adrian stared.
“Our father?””
Ethan looked at him.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
“What are you talking about?”” Adrian asked.
Ethan sighed.
“Our father wasn’t the man you thought he was.””
I felt a familiar coldness.
Westbrook.
The records.
The embryos.
Everyone connected back to the same people.
“What did your father do?””
Ethan looked at me.
“He built a business empire using other people’s desperation.””
“Westbrook?””
He nodded.
“Our father helped create it.””
Adrian shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“I investigated him.””
“And you found only what he wanted you to find.””
Adrian looked stunned.
Ethan continued.
“He knew people would eventually discover the clinic.””
“Then why create it?””
“Because he wasn't interested in helping families.””
Ethan’s voice became darker.
“He was interested in ownership.””
My stomach tightened.
“Ownership of what?””
He looked at me.
“Children.””
The word made the room freeze.
I instinctively held my stomach.
Ethan noticed.
“I’m sorry.””
“You should be.””
He nodded.
“I am.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“What does this have to do with Olivia?””
Ethan looked at his brother.
“Everything.””
The officer crossed his arms.
“Explain.””
Ethan walked toward the table.
He didn't touch anything.
He just looked at the documents.
“Olivia was never supposed to be part of the program.””
I frowned.
“What program?””
“Our father’s program.””
My voice shook.
“What program?””
Ethan looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
“He created a system where wealthy clients could secretly purchase genetic material.””
I felt sick.
“And my embryos?””
“Were valuable.””
“Why?””
“Because of your family history.””
I stared.
“My family?””
Ethan nodded.
“Your mother knew.””
The room went quiet.
Again.
My mother.
Every answer led back to her.
“What did she know?””
Ethan looked at me carefully.
“Your mother was one of the original investors.””
I felt like the ground disappeared.
“No.””
“She was.””
“My mother would never.””
“She thought she was helping.””
“How?””
“She believed the research could help families who couldn't conceive.””
I shook my head.
“But then what happened?””
Ethan’s expression changed.
“She found out what your father was actually doing.””
“My father?””
He nodded.
“My father and yours.””
I stopped.
“My father?””
Ethan looked at Adrian.
Then back at me.
“The company was built by both families.””
The room went silent.
I couldn't breathe.
“My parents knew each other?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“They were involved in the same medical foundation.””
My memories came rushing.
My mother's warnings.
My father's old files.
The arguments I never understood.
I had spent years thinking my parents’ secrets were ordinary family problems.
They weren't.
They were buried crimes.
“Why was I involved?””
Ethan looked at the floor.
“Because you were the one person they couldn't control.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You were the first person who questioned the records.””
“I did?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before January 16.””
I stared.
“Then why don't I remember?””
Ethan’s eyes filled with guilt.
“Because you found out too much.””
My heartbeat quickened.
“Who erased my memory?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Adrian.
Then Ethan.
Then the officer.
Finally Ethan spoke.
“Camille.””
My chest tightened.
“She did it?””
“She helped.””
“Helped who?””
Ethan looked toward the door.
“Dr. Cole.””
The name made me angry.
“My doctor?””
“Yes.””
“He's alive.””
“Yes.””
“Where is he?””
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“He was never dead.””
I already knew.
But hearing it confirmed still hurt.
“Why fake his death?””
“To disappear.””
“From who?””
“From the people who wanted him silent.””
“Who?””
Ethan looked at Adrian.
“Your father.””
Adrian went still.
“Our father is dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
Ethan looked at him.
“Because he left instructions.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“Instructions for what?””
“For after his death.””
The officer stepped forward.
“Do you have evidence?””
Ethan reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“I have the original files.””
He placed them on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Medical records.
I looked at the first page.
My name.
My signature.
The real one.
Then another page.
A list of patients.
Names.
Dates.
Procedures.
I scanned down the list.
Then stopped.
Camille Reed.
January 16.
Embryo transfer.
But beside her name was a note.
*Recipient not approved.*
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan answered.
“Camille wasn't supposed to receive an embryo.””
“Then why did she?””
“Because she changed the recipient information.””
My stomach turned.
“She stole it.””
“Yes.””
“Whose embryo was it?””
Ethan went silent.
I knew before he spoke.
“Olivia.””
My heart stopped.
“No.””
“The embryo transferred to Camille belonged to you.””
The room blurred.
“But my baby…”
“Is yours.””
I covered my mouth.
Ethan continued.
“The embryo that became your daughter was created before January 16.””
“But how?””
He looked at Adrian.
“Because Adrian’s fertility problem was never real.””
Adrian froze.
“What?””
Ethan nodded.
“Our father manipulated your test results.””
I stared at Adrian.
“Your father made you believe you couldn't have children.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To make you desperate.””
I felt sick.
“So Camille…”
“Was part of the plan.””
Adrian stepped backward.
“No.””
Ethan looked at him.
“She was supposed to become the mother of the child created from Olivia’s embryo.””
I felt a chill.
“But why?””
“Because your father wanted control over the inheritance.””
The officer frowned.
“Explain.””
Ethan looked at me.
“Your daughter is the legal heir to assets from both families.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Your father and Adrian’s father created agreements years ago.””
“About children?””
“Yes.””
My voice shook.
“That’s insane.””
“I know.””
Adrian looked broken.
“All these years…”
Ethan nodded.
“You were manipulated.””
Then the room fell silent.
Because for the first time, I saw Adrian not as the man who betrayed me.
But as another victim of the same people.
A victim who still made unforgivable choices.
My phone buzzed.
Everyone looked.
A message.
From Dr. Cole.
*Ethan is telling you the truth. But he is leaving something out.*
Another message appeared.
*He wasn't trying to save you on January 16.*
My heart stopped.
A third message.
*He was the reason you were there.*
I looked at Ethan.
His face changed.
The guilt returned.
The officer noticed.
“Mr. Hart?””
Ethan didn't speak.
“Did you bring Olivia to Westbrook?””
Slowly…
Ethan nodded.
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
His voice was barely audible.
“Because I thought I could fix what our family had done.””
I stared at him.
“You drugged me?””
“No.””
“Then why did I lose my memory?””
He looked at the floor.
“Because the accident happened after I found you.””
“What accident?””
Ethan looked at me.
His eyes filled with tears.
“The night you disappeared…”
He swallowed.
“You weren't running away.””
A pause.
“You were running from someone.””
“Who?””
Ethan whispered:
“Adrian.””
The room froze.
I turned toward my husband.
Adrian’s face went white.
“No.””
Ethan looked at him.
“I’m sorry, brother.””
My heart pounded.
“Adrian?””
He shook his head.
“I didn’t.””
But Ethan continued.
“Because you don't remember what you did after you found out the truth.””
The officer reached for his handcuffs.
Adrian stared at me.
And for the first time all night…
I saw fear in his eyes.
Not guilt.
Not sadness.
Fear.
Then Ethan placed one final document on the table.
A security report.
The title read:
*INCIDENT REPORT — JANUARY 16*
May you like
And beneath it was a line that made my entire body go numb.
*Suspect: Adrian Hart.*
