Chapter 7: What My Mother Knew
Darius closed his eyes.
His mother’s voice had changed.
The woman who had raised him could usually hide anything behind a calm, polished sentence.
Not tonight.
Tonight, she sounded afraid.
“Mom,” Darius said, “answer me.””
A long silence followed.
Then Yvonne whispered, “Come home.””
“Why?””
“Because I don't want to discuss this over the phone.””
“You should've thought about that before you went to the clinic.””
“I didn't know you would find out.””
Darius opened his eyes.
Marcus was watching him.
Dr. Brooks stood near the desk.
The nurse had quietly closed the door.
Darius's voice became colder.
“You knew about the baby.””
“I knew Simone was frightened.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“Darius—”
“Did you know she was pregnant before I did?””
Silence.
His jaw tightened.
“Mom.””
“Yes.””
The word landed harder than he expected.
Darius leaned against the desk.
“How long?””
“I found out before the wedding.””
Marcus looked away.
Darius stared at the phone.
“And you said nothing.””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“Everybody keeps saying that.””
His voice cracked.
“Everybody is protecting me by lying to me.””
Yvonne began crying.
“I was trying to keep this family together.””
“What happened at that clinic?””
Another silence.
Then Yvonne said, “Simone didn't trust the test.””
“What test?””
“The first one.””
Darius looked at Dr. Brooks.
“The paternity test?””
“No,” Yvonne said.
“The genetic test.””
Darius's stomach tightened.
“What did it show?””
“I can't tell you.””
“You're my mother.””
“And she's your wife.””
“Then why were you there?””
Yvonne breathed shakily.
“Because Simone called me.””
Darius froze.
“Why would she call you?””
“She said she needed someone who understood.””
“Understood what?””
Yvonne didn't answer.
Darius's patience snapped.
“Mom!””
“I thought she was having a breakdown.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“She's still hiding something.””
Darius covered the phone.
“Don't.””
Marcus frowned.
Darius returned to the call.
“Mom, was Simone alone when she came to the clinic?””
“No.””
“Who was with her?””
Yvonne began crying harder.
“Darius, please come home.””
“Who?””
A long pause.
Then she whispered a name.
Darius's face went rigid.
“What?””
“I said—”
The call suddenly disconnected.
Darius stared at the screen.
He called again.
Straight to voicemail.
He tried a second time.
Nothing.
Dr. Brooks stepped forward.
“Darius.””
He looked at her.
“What did she say?””
The doctor hesitated.
“She said something?””
“She gave me a name.””
“Whose?””
Darius stared at the floor.
“Someone who shouldn't have been there.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“Who?””
Darius looked up.
“My father.””
Marcus went silent.
Dr. Brooks's face tightened.
“Your father died twelve years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then that isn't possible.””
Darius slowly shook his head.
“My mother didn't say he was there.””
He lifted the phone.
“She said she was with someone who knew Simone.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who?””
Darius didn't answer.
His phone buzzed.
A new message.
This time it came from Simone.
*DARIUS, DON'T COME HOME.*
He stared.
Another message arrived.
*YOUR MOTHER ISN'T SAFE.*
Then a third.
*NEITHER ARE YOU.*
Darius's heart hammered.
He immediately called Simone.
She answered.
But she wasn't speaking.
All he could hear was breathing.
“Simone?””
Nothing.
“Simone, where are you?””
A faint sound came through.
A door closing.
Then Simone whispered:
“Darius…”
He stood.
“Where are you?””
“I shouldn't have hidden the phone.””
“Forget the phone. Tell me where you are.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
Her breathing became ragged.
“Because someone followed me.””
Darius looked toward Marcus.
“Who?””
Simone didn't answer.
Instead, he heard her whisper something that made the blood drain from his face.
May you like
“Darius, if you love Nia, don't let anyone take her.””
The call ended.
