Chapter 5: The Second Test
Nobody spoke.
Darius stared at Marcus.
“The only result?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at Simone.
She shook her head.
“Don't.””
Darius stepped between them.
“Both of you stop telling me what not to do.””
His voice echoed through the dining room.
“I've spent the last hour watching everyone protect a secret that apparently belongs to my own marriage.””
He held up the second phone.
“So I'm done asking politely.””
Simone wiped her tears.
“You deserve the truth.””
“Then give it to me.””
She looked at Nia.
Darius followed her gaze.
A family member was sitting with the little girl near the end of the table, keeping her occupied with a plate of fruit.
Simone whispered, “Not in front of her.””
Darius nodded.
“Then we talk here, and we don't lie.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“I should tell you.””
Darius looked at him.
“Then tell me.””
Marcus took a breath.
“The night of your bachelor party, Simone came looking for you because you weren't answering your phone.””
“I remember that part.””
“You were drunk.””
“I remember.””
“She found you arguing with someone.””
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
Darius's eyes sharpened.
“Who?””
Marcus finally said, “A woman.””
Simone whispered, “Marcus.””
Darius looked at her.
“What woman?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“I never saw her face clearly.””
Marcus said, “You did.””
Darius turned toward him.
“What?””
“You knew her.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Darius stared at Marcus.
“Who was she?””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“I can't say.””
Darius stepped forward.
“You've already said too much to stop now.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“She was connected to you.””
“How?””
“She said she knew something about your family.””
Darius frowned.
“My family?””
Marcus nodded.
“She claimed your father had left something behind.””
Darius laughed bitterly.
“My father has been dead for twelve years.””
“I know.””
“So what did she want?””
Marcus glanced at Simone.
“She wanted Simone to leave you.””
“Why?””
“She said your marriage wasn't what you thought.””
Darius stared at Simone.
“And you believed her?””
“No.””
“Then why hide this?””
“Because she disappeared.””
Darius's face tightened.
“Who disappeared?””
“The woman.””
Simone suddenly said, “She didn't disappear.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus stared at her.
Simone's voice shook.
“She called me.””
Darius's expression changed.
“When?””
“Two weeks ago.””
“You said nobody was calling you.””
“I lied.””
“What did she want?””
“She wanted me to take the test.””
“Why?””
Simone looked at the floor.
“She said the baby wasn't the only thing that needed to be tested.””
Darius's eyes narrowed.
“That's what Dr. Reed meant.””
Simone nodded.
“There were two samples.””
“One from me?””
“No.””
“Then whose?””
She didn't answer.
Darius's gaze shifted toward Marcus.
Marcus whispered, “Mine.””
Darius went still.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“They tested my DNA too.””
The room fell silent again.
Darius stared at his brother.
“Why would they test you?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Because she said we might be related.””
Darius blinked.
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know.””
“You're brothers.””
Marcus looked at him.
“That's what I thought.””
Darius stepped back.
For the first time, his anger gave way to confusion.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I'm saying I don't know what our father did before we were born.””
Darius looked at Simone.
“And you knew about this?””
“Not all of it.””
“When did you find out?””
“Two weeks ago.””
“Two weeks.””
He repeated the words slowly.
“You've been carrying this for two weeks.””
“Yes.””
“And sleeping beside me.””
“Yes.””
“And letting me believe everything was normal.””
Simone began crying again.
“I was trying to protect our family.””
Darius looked toward Nia.
“From what?””
Simone opened her mouth.
The second phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
Darius picked it up.
It showed a hospital corridor.
At the end stood Simone.
Much younger.
Beside her was a man whose face had been deliberately blurred.
Darius zoomed in.
The man's hand was resting on Simone's shoulder.
On his wrist was a distinctive silver watch.
Darius knew that watch.
He slowly looked at Marcus.
Marcus saw the photograph.
His face collapsed.
“No.””
Darius looked down at the image again.
“That's Dad's watch.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Dad died before that photo was taken.””
Simone whispered, “That's why I was scared.””
Darius looked at her.
“What happened in that hospital?””
She took one shaky breath.
Before she could answer, a new message appeared beneath the photograph.
*THE MAN IN THE PHOTO IS NOT WHO YOU THINK.*
Then another message arrived.
*AND SIMONE KNOWS HIS REAL NAME.*
Darius raised his eyes.
“Simone.””
She couldn't meet his gaze.
“What's his name?””
She remained silent.
Darius stepped closer.
“What's his name?””
May you like
Simone finally looked up.
And the name she whispered made Marcus take one step backward.
