Chapter 4: The Result
The result appeared in black letters beneath the laboratory seal.
*ALLEGED FATHER: MARCUS REYNOLDS PROBABILITY OF PATERNITY: 99.99%*
Ethan stared at the screen.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The applause from the auditorium sounded impossibly far away.
His eyes moved back to the name.
Marcus Reynolds.
Not his father's name.
Not the name on his birth certificate.
Not the man whose photograph had sat in the family album as “Ethan's father.””
Marcus.
Ethan looked at Sarah.
“Mom?””
She covered her mouth.
He turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa shook her head slowly.
“I knew there was a possibility.””
“You knew enough to order a DNA test.””
“I didn't order it.””
“You had the report.””
“Marcus sent it to me.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked toward the stage.
Because she didn't answer, Ethan raised his voice.
“Why?””
A few people nearby turned again.
The principal paused at the podium.
Sarah grabbed Ethan's sleeve.
“Please don't do this here.””
Ethan pulled his arm free.
“You knew my whole life was built on a lie.””
Sarah flinched.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From him.””
Ethan looked at the photograph again.
Marcus's face was young, but unmistakably familiar.
The same eyes.
The same slight crease beside the left eyebrow.
Even the shape of his smile looked like Ethan's.
He felt suddenly dizzy.
“Where is he?””
Sarah's eyes widened.
“Who?””
“Marcus.””
Vanessa looked toward the back of the auditorium.
Ethan followed her gaze.
At first, he saw only rows of Black parents and grandparents.
Then a man stood near the rear doors.
Black.
Late forties.
Tall.
Dark suit.
His hair was closely cropped, with gray at the temples.
He wasn't looking at Sarah.
He was looking directly at Ethan.
Ethan's heart slammed against his ribs.
“Is that him?””
Sarah turned.
The color vanished from her face.
“No.””
But the man had already started walking toward them.
One step.
Then another.
The principal's voice echoed through the auditorium.
“And now, graduates, please prepare to welcome our valedictorian…”
The man stopped.
His eyes met Ethan's.
For one strange second, neither moved.
Then the man lifted one hand.
Not a wave.
A warning.
Ethan's phone buzzed.
He looked down.
A new message.
*Don't let Sarah tell you the story first. Ask her about the night your father died.*
Ethan looked up.
The man was gone.
He scanned the crowd.
Nothing.
“Where did he go?””
Vanessa grabbed his wrist.
“Ethan, listen to me.””
He pulled away.
“No. I'm done listening to everyone except the person who can answer me.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“Your father didn't die the way I told you.””
The words stopped him.
Ethan stared.
“What?””
Sarah's breathing became uneven.
“I told you there was an accident.””
“You said he died before I was born.””
“He did.””
“Then why are you talking about the night he died?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
Vanessa whispered, “Sarah…”
“No,” Sarah said.
She opened her eyes.
“He died three weeks after you were born.””
Ethan went completely still.
The auditorium seemed to tilt.
“You told me he died before I was born.””
“I know.””
“For eighteen years?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Sarah looked toward the doors.
“Of Marcus.””
Ethan shook his head.
“You said Marcus was your husband's best friend.””
“He was.””
“Then why would you be afraid of him?””
Sarah's voice broke.
“Because Marcus knew the truth.””
“What truth?””
Sarah looked at the paternity report.
“That you were his son.””
Ethan swallowed.
“Why hide that?””
“Because your father knew.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“Because he never got the chance.””
A teacher approached.
“Ethan, they're ready for you.””
He didn't move.
The teacher looked confused.
“Mr. Carter?””
Ethan folded the phone into his palm.
“I'll be there.””
The teacher nodded and walked away.
Sarah touched his cheek.
“Please give me one hour.””
“One hour?””
“Give your speech. Let today be about what you've accomplished.””
Ethan stared at her.
“How can I stand up there and talk about my family?””
“Because you're still my son.””
He looked at her hand against his face.
Then at the report.
“Am I?””
Sarah's expression shattered.
“You will always be my son.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
She couldn't answer.
The principal announced his name.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our valedictorian, Ethan Carter.””
The crowd erupted.
Ethan stepped toward the stage.
His mother watched him go.
Vanessa stayed behind.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the caller ID.
Her face tightened.
*MARCUS REYNOLDS.*
She answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Did he see it?””
Vanessa glanced at Ethan standing beneath the stage lights.
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He knows.””
A pause.
Then Marcus said quietly,
“Then you need to get Sarah out of that building.””
Vanessa frowned.
“Why?””
“Because the person who killed his father knows Ethan has the report.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“Marcus, you told me there was no danger.””
“I was wrong.””
Across the auditorium, Ethan reached the podium.
The microphone squealed.
He adjusted it.
His eyes found Sarah.
Then Vanessa.
Then the rear doors.
He opened his mouth.
“Good afternoon.””
A phone in the audience began ringing.
Not his.
Sarah's.
She looked down.
The caller ID displayed a number she hadn't seen in eighteen years.
Her lips parted.
*DANIEL CARTER.*
Her dead husband's name.
May you like
And when she answered, the voice on the other end whispered,
“Sarah, why is our son reading a DNA report?””
