Chapter 4: What Marcus Knew
The second phone kept ringing.
Darius stared at the screen.
Marcus stared at Darius.
Simone stood between them, one hand over her mouth and the other protecting her belly.
The caller ID was still nothing but *UNKNOWN*.
Darius answered.
“Who is this?””
No response.
“Talk.””
A faint breath crackled through the speaker.
Then the voice returned.
“Darius, listen carefully.””
Darius’s eyes narrowed.
“You know my name. I don't know yours.””
“You will.””
“Then start talking.””
Across the table, Marcus shook his head.
“Darius, hang up.””
Darius turned toward him.
“Why?””
Marcus didn't answer.
The caller said, “Because Marcus is standing in the room.””
Every face changed.
Darius slowly lowered the phone.
The voice continued.
“And because he knows exactly why Simone took that test.””
Darius looked at Marcus.
Marcus's shoulders dropped.
“Darius…”
“You knew?””
“I knew there was something wrong.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“I knew she was scared.””
“You knew about the DNA test?””
Marcus said nothing.
Darius stepped closer.
“You knew.””
Marcus looked at Simone.
She whispered, “Marcus, don't.””
He closed his eyes.
Then he said, “Yes.””
The room erupted.
“What the hell?”” someone shouted.
Another family member pulled Nia gently away from the adults.
Darius didn't move.
“You knew about the test.””
Marcus nodded.
“You knew she was hiding this phone.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
Darius laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Protect me from what?””
Marcus looked toward Simone.
She shook her head.
“Don't.””
Marcus swallowed.
“From something that happened before you two were married.””
Darius's expression changed.
“Before we were married?””
Simone stepped forward.
“That's enough.””
“No,” Darius said.
His voice was suddenly cold.
“Now it's not enough.””
He looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
Marcus hesitated.
Darius moved closer.
“What happened before my wedding?””
Marcus stared at the floor.
“It was the night of your bachelor party.””
Simone's face crumpled.
Darius looked at her.
“You were there?””
Simone nodded faintly.
“I wasn't supposed to be.””
“Why?””
“I came to get you.””
Darius frowned.
“I don't remember that.””
“You weren't sober.””
Marcus interrupted.
“And neither was she.””
Darius looked between them.
“Why are you both talking like something happened that I don't remember?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The second phone vibrated in Darius's hand.
A message appeared.
*YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. DON'T LET MARCUS TELL YOU THE WRONG STORY.*
Darius read it twice.
Then he showed Marcus.
Marcus's face went pale.
“You shouldn't have opened that.””
“I haven't.””
“Then don't.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent it wants you angry.””
Darius stepped toward him.
“Maybe I should be.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“I can't.””
Darius grabbed the front of Marcus's jacket.
Several family members gasped.
“Darius!”” Simone cried.
Marcus didn't fight him.
Instead, he whispered, “Ask her about the hospital.””
Darius released him.
He turned toward Simone.
“What hospital?””
Simone's lips trembled.
Marcus looked at her.
“You need to tell him.””
She shook her head.
“I was going to.””
“When?””
“When I knew what the results said.””
Darius stared at her.
“What happened at a hospital?””
Simone pressed both hands against her belly.
“That night, I woke up in a hospital.””
“Why?””
“I had been unconscious.””
“Because of what?””
“I don't know.””
Darius's eyes hardened.
“You don't know?””
“They told me I'd been brought in after an accident.””
“What accident?””
“A car accident.””
Marcus looked away.
Darius noticed.
“You know about the accident.””
Marcus nodded.
“I was there.””
Darius froze.
“You were driving?””
“No.””
“Then who was?””
Marcus looked toward the second phone.
Before he could answer, the phone rang again.
This time the caller ID displayed a name.
*DR. REED.*
Simone whispered, “No.””
Darius answered.
“Dr. Reed?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Mr. Cole?””
“Yes.””
“I'm calling because your wife listed you as a person who must not be contacted.””
Darius looked at Simone.
“She did?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Silence.
Then Dr. Reed said, “Because the results are ready.””
Darius gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
“I can't discuss them over the phone.””
“I'm her husband.””
“I understand.””
“Then tell me why she was tested.””
Dr. Reed hesitated.
“Mr. Cole, you need to ask your wife about the sample that was submitted.””
Darius frowned.
“What sample?””
Dr. Reed's voice became careful.
“The baby's.””
Simone began crying.
Darius looked at her.
“Why would you need a second sample?””
Dr. Reed didn't answer.
“Dr. Reed?””
“I think you should speak with Simone first.””
The line went dead.
Darius slowly lowered the phone.
He looked at Simone.
Then Marcus.
Then the unread message.
His finger moved toward it.
Simone stepped forward.
“Darius, please.””
He looked at her.
“You said I was going to hate you.””
“Yes.””
“You said you loved me.””
“I do.””
“Then tell me one thing.””
She waited.
“Is this baby really mine?””
Simone closed her eyes.
And Marcus whispered,
“Don't ask her that yet.””
Darius turned.
“Why?””
May you like
Marcus's face had gone completely white.
“Because the DNA result isn't the only result they ran.””
