Chapter 3: The Man in the Photograph
Ethan read the message three times.
*Ask Sarah who Marcus is.*
His fingers went cold.
He slowly raised his eyes toward his mother.
Sarah saw the phone in his hand.
Her face changed instantly.
“Who texted you?””
“I don't know.””
“Let me see.””
Ethan didn't move.
“Who is Marcus?””
Sarah's lips parted.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The reaction was enough.
Ethan stepped backward.
“You both know him.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Ethan, this isn't—”
“Who is Marcus?””
“Lower your voice.””
“Why?””
“Because people are watching.””
Ethan looked around.
She was right.
Families were whispering now. A grandmother in the front row leaned toward her daughter. Two graduates near the curtain glanced over. A teacher pretended to organize programs while watching them.
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Mom, who is Marcus?””
Sarah's eyes filled.
“Not today.””
He stared at her.
“That's what everybody keeps saying.””
Vanessa spoke quietly.
“Ethan, you need to walk away.””
“From what?””
“From this.””
“You created this.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. I tried to protect you from it.””
“By hiding my mother’s seat?””
“That wasn't my idea.””
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“Whose idea was it?””
Vanessa said nothing.
He looked at the phone again.
The anonymous message remained on the screen.
He typed:
*Who are you?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*Someone who promised your father I'd tell you the truth if they tried to stop you from seeing the report.*
Ethan stopped breathing.
He showed Sarah.
She made a small sound.
“Turn that off.””
“Mom—”
“Please.””
“No.””
Sarah reached for him.
Ethan stepped away.
“Tell me who Marcus is.””
Sarah stared at the floor.
Then she whispered,
“Marcus was your father's best friend.””
Ethan frowned.
“My father's best friend?””
“Yes.””
“What does he have to do with me?””
Sarah didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“Everything.””
Sarah turned sharply.
“Vanessa!””
“You can't keep doing this.””
“Doing what?””
“Pretending he deserves half the truth.””
Ethan's voice dropped.
“What half?””
Sarah looked at him.
For a moment, she seemed ready to speak.
Then the principal's assistant approached.
“Ethan?””
He turned.
“Mr. Carter, you're up in three minutes.””
Ethan nodded automatically.
The assistant smiled.
“Your speech is next after the honors announcement. Your family must be very proud.””
Ethan looked at Sarah.
She forced a smile.
“They are.””
The assistant walked away.
Ethan watched him disappear.
Three minutes.
He had dreamed about this moment since freshman year.
But now the stage felt like a trap.
Vanessa leaned toward him.
“You have to go.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Not until I know the password.””
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward the phone.
“I don't know it.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“You were holding the report.””
“I was given the report.””
“By who?””
She hesitated.
Then said, “Marcus.””
Sarah's knees nearly buckled.
Ethan caught her elbow.
“Mom?””
“I’m fine.””
“You're shaking.””
“I said I'm fine.””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“You said my father was dead.””
“He is.””
“Then why is his best friend sending me messages?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because Marcus has been trying to reach you for eighteen years.””
The sentence hit harder than anything she'd said before.
Ethan stared at her.
“Eighteen years?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't I know?””
Sarah answered this time.
“Because I told him to stay away.””
“Why?””
Sarah looked at him.
Her voice became almost inaudible.
“Because your father made me promise.””
Ethan's eyes widened.
“What promise?””
Sarah's tears finally fell.
“That you would never know Marcus existed.””
A loud burst of applause came from the auditorium.
The ceremony was beginning.
The principal stepped to the podium.
“Welcome, families, teachers, and graduates…”
Ethan remained frozen.
Then Vanessa's phone vibrated.
She looked down.
A new message.
Her face drained of color.
Ethan grabbed the phone before she could stop him.
The message was from Marcus.
*THE PASSWORD IS YOUR BIRTHDAY.*
Ethan looked at the locked paternity report.
His birthday.
He entered the numbers.
The file opened.
At the top was a photograph.
Not a laboratory.
Not a medical form.
A photograph of a young Black man standing beside Sarah.
The man had Ethan's exact eyes.
Beneath the photograph was one name:
*MARCUS REYNOLDS.*
Sarah whispered,
“Oh God.””
Ethan scrolled.
A second document appeared.
*PATERNITY TEST — ETHAN CARTER*
He tapped it.
The result began loading.
Vanessa suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
“Ethan, don't.””
He turned toward her.
“Why?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“Because once you see that result, there is no way to put your family back together.””
Ethan stared at the screen.
May you like
The loading bar reached the end.
And then the result appeared.
