Chapter 3: The Person She Feared
Darius turned slowly toward the family.
Everyone was watching him.
But Simone wasn't.
She was staring at one person.
Darius followed her eyes.
His older brother, Marcus, stood near the windows.
Marcus hadn't said a word all evening.
He was holding an untouched champagne glass.
“Marcus?”” Darius said.
Marcus blinked.
“What?””
“Why is she looking at you?””
Simone’s face drained of color.
“Darius, stop.””
Marcus put the glass down.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
Darius looked between them.
“You two know something.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Man, I came here to celebrate my nephew.””
“My baby.””
Marcus paused.
Darius caught it.
“My baby,” Darius repeated.
Marcus looked away.
Darius stepped toward him.
“Say it.””
Marcus frowned.
“Say what?””
“Congratulations.””
Marcus forced a smile.
“Congratulations.””
It sounded rehearsed.
Darius's jaw tightened.
Simone stepped between them.
“This is enough.””
Darius looked at her.
“No.””
“Darius, please.””
“You've been hiding a phone.””
“I know.””
“You involved Nia.””
“I know.””
“There's a DNA test.””
“I know.””
“And now you're terrified of Marcus.””
Simone’s eyes filled again.
“I am not terrified of Marcus.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Simone.””
She flinched at the sound of her name.
Darius noticed.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Don't make this worse.””
Darius stared at him.
“Make what worse?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Darius took out his own phone.
“I'm calling the testing center.””
Simone's face changed instantly.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because—”
She stopped.
Darius waited.
“Because what?””
Simone looked at Nia.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Darius.
“I didn't want you to find out like this.””
Darius's voice became quiet.
“Find out what?””
Simone covered her mouth.
Her shoulders trembled.
Nia moved closer to her father.
“Daddy?””
Darius reached down and took her hand.
“Stay with me.””
“But Mama's crying.””
“I know.””
Simone wiped her cheek.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
Darius stared at her.
“You're talking like I've already been hurt.””
She said nothing.
The phone in his hand vibrated again.
This time, the screen showed an incoming call.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER.*
Everyone saw it.
Marcus whispered, “Don't answer.””
Darius slowly looked at him.
“Why not?””
Marcus's face tightened.
“Because you don't know who's calling.””
Darius pressed the green button.
He lifted the phone to his ear.
“Hello?””
For a moment, there was only static.
Then a man's voice came through.
Low.
Calm.
Familiar.
“Darius, you need to listen to me before you open that message.””
Darius's eyes narrowed.
“Who is this?””
The caller breathed once.
Then said,
“Ask Simone what happened the night she—”
The call abruptly disconnected.
Darius lowered the phone.
Simone was crying openly now.
He turned toward her.
“What happened the night you what?””
She shook her head.
Darius looked at the second phone.
The unread message was still waiting.
*ABOUT THE BABY’S FATHER—*
His thumb moved toward it.
Simone suddenly whispered,
“Darius…”
He stopped.
Her eyes met his.
“There’s something you don't know about Marcus.””
Darius turned toward his brother.
May you like
Marcus had already backed away from the windows.
And the second phone began ringing.
