Chapter 11: The Truth Daniel Buried
The hospital was supposed to be the happiest place of my life.
The place where I first held Eli.
The place where I became a father.
But according to Daniel, it was also where everything was destroyed.
I stood in the hidden room, staring at the frozen screen.
Amelia stood beside me.
She looked exhausted.
Like carrying this secret for six years had aged her.
“I should have told you.””
I looked at her.
“Yes.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“I know.””
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But underneath that anger was something else.
Pain.
Because I could see the truth in her face.
She had been afraid.
Not just for herself.
For Eli.
“What happened that night?””
She took a breath.
“The night Eli was born, Daniel was there.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“He was your friend.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“He was my business partner.””
Amelia looked down.
“He was also obsessed with everything you had.””
I remembered the early days.
Daniel helping me build the company.
Daniel congratulating me when Eli was born.
Daniel standing beside me at every major moment.
I thought he was family.
Amelia continued.
“When Eli was born, Daniel found out something.””
“What?””
“He found out the hospital made an error.””
I looked at her.
“What error?””
She swallowed.
“The DNA records.””
The room went quiet.
“Victor…”
I waited.
“Eli’s original records were accidentally mixed with another patient’s information.””
My heart raced.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Daniel saw an opportunity.””
A terrible thought formed.
“He changed them.””
She nodded.
“He manipulated the records.””
I looked at the files.
“But why?””
Amelia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because he wanted to create doubt.””
“Doubt about what?””
“About Eli.””
I stepped back.
“So he spent years trying to make me question my own son?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Amelia looked toward the screen.
“Because if you believed Eli wasn’t yours, you would lose everything.””
I understood.
Daniel didn’t want my company.
Not really.
He wanted to destroy my family first.
He wanted me alone.
Then he could take whatever he wanted.
A sound came from downstairs.
A door closing.
Everyone froze.
Grace grabbed my arm.
“Sir.””
I looked toward the stairs.
Someone was moving through the house.
I checked my phone.
No signal.
The security system was still compromised.
Then Bianca appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
Her face was full of panic.
“Victor.””
I moved immediately.
“Where is Eli?””
She looked hurt.
“I don’t know.””
“Then why are you here?””
She looked behind her.
“Because Daniel isn’t alone.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“There’s someone else helping him.””
Amelia stepped forward.
“Who?””
Bianca hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone you trust.””
Everyone went silent.
I stared at her.
“Who?””
Before she answered, the front door opened.
A voice came from the entrance.
“Victor.””
I knew that voice.
I turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
A man who had worked for me for years.
My company’s head of security.
Marcus.
I stared.
“What are you doing here?””
He looked at Bianca.
Then at me.
“I came to help.””
I didn’t believe him.
Not after tonight.
Not after everyone I trusted had lied.
“Where is my son?””
Marcus looked away.
That was enough.
I stepped forward.
“Where is Eli?””
Marcus sighed.
“Daniel has him.””
“I know.””
My voice became dangerous.
“But you knew where he was taking him.””
Marcus said nothing.
Grace whispered:
“Sir…”
I watched him carefully.
Then I saw something.
A small camera device attached to his jacket.
Not ours.
His.
“You’ve been recording.””
Marcus looked down.
He knew he had been caught.
“Victor…”
“Who sent you?””
Silence.
Then his phone rang.
Everyone looked at it.
Marcus answered.
A voice came through.
Daniel.
“Bring them to the old place.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Daniel, this has gone too far.””
Daniel laughed.
“No.””
A pause.
“This is exactly where it was always going.””
The call ended.
I looked at Marcus.
“What old place?””
He didn’t answer.
Amelia did.
Her face was terrified.
“The hospital.””
My phone buzzed.
A new location appeared.
An address.
May you like
And beneath it:
*COME ALONE IF YOU WANT ELI BACK.*
