Chapter 4: The Man at the Door
Darius kept his eyes on the front door.
The bell rang again.
Once.
Twice.
Then a hard knock shook the glass.
Simone's fingers tightened around his arm.
“Don't open it,” she whispered.
Darius slowly turned toward her.
“You know him.””
Simone said nothing.
“Who is he?””
“I can't do this right now.””
“You've been saying that all night.””
Another knock.
This time, the man outside called through the glass.
“Darius!””
The dining room went completely still.
Darius stepped toward the entrance.
Simone caught his sleeve.
“Please.””
He pulled free.
“Stay here.””
He walked across the marble floor, every eye following him.
When he reached the door, he stopped.
The man standing outside was Black, tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a charcoal coat over a white shirt. He looked to be around forty.
Darius stared through the glass.
The man stared back.
Then he lifted both hands.
“I need to talk to you.””
Darius unlocked the door but didn't open it completely.
“Who are you?””
The man looked past him.
His eyes landed on Simone.
Her face crumpled.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
Darius's stomach dropped.
Marcus stepped forward.
“I'm sorry.””
Darius blocked the doorway.
“You have thirty seconds.””
Marcus glanced at the family gathered behind Darius.
“Not here.””
Darius's voice hardened.
“You came to my house.””
“I know.””
“You knew my name.””
“I know.””
“You're on my wife's secret phone.””
Marcus swallowed.
“I didn't want it to happen like this.””
Darius stared at him.
“What didn't you want to happen?””
Marcus looked directly at Simone.
“The truth.””
Simone shook her head.
“Marcus, stop.””
He took a breath.
“You've already waited too long.””
Darius turned.
“Waited for what?””
Simone's eyes filled with tears.
“Darius…”
Marcus spoke before she could continue.
“For the baby.””
A gasp came from the dining room.
Darius's face went completely blank.
He looked down at Simone's pregnant belly.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Simone.
“No.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Darius, I didn't know she was going to marry you.””
Darius stepped outside.
“Get off my property.””
Marcus didn't move.
“I need you to hear me.””
“I said leave.””
“You deserve to know why she ordered the test.””
Darius stopped.
Marcus reached into his coat.
Simone suddenly screamed.
“Darius, don't!””
Darius's hand clenched.
Marcus pulled out a folded envelope.
He held it between two fingers.
“I didn't bring this for her.””
He looked at Darius.
“I brought it for you.””
Darius stared at the envelope.
“What is it?””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Something Simone never wanted you to see.””
Behind Darius, a chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Nia stood beside her aunt, watching.
“Daddy?””
Darius didn't answer.
He couldn't take his eyes off the envelope.
Marcus extended it.
“Open it.””
Darius reached for it.
Simone rushed toward the doorway.
“No!””
She grabbed his wrist.
The envelope slipped.
It hit the marble floor.
And something small slid out.
A photograph.
Darius bent down.
He picked it up.
His eyes moved across the image.
His face changed.
It was a picture of Simone.
But she wasn't alone.
She was standing beside Marcus.
And on the back, written in Simone's handwriting, were four words:
*Three weeks before our wedding.*
Darius looked up.
Marcus whispered, “There's more.””
Then the second phone vibrated in Darius's pocket.
He pulled it out.
May you like
A new message appeared.
*YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CLINIC.*
