Chapter 4: The Mother Who Knew Which Baby Lived
"She knows which one of you was supposed to die.""
Daniel's words kept repeating inside my head long after the call ended.
I stood in the doorway, staring at my mother.
She was sitting at the kitchen table, both hands covering her face. The photograph of my father and the medical document lay between us.
For thirty-four years, I had believed my life was an ordinary story.
A father who died too young.
A mother who worked too hard.
A son who grew up determined to give her a better life.
Now, every memory felt like something someone had carefully arranged.
I closed the front door.
"Mom.""
She didn't look up.
"Tell me the truth.""
"I have told you everything I can.""
"No. You've told me enough to make me question everything.""
She slowly lowered her hands.
"Marcus, please understand. I was trying to protect you.""
"From whom? Richard Whitmore? Claire? My own brother?""
Her face crumpled.
"From what happened to your father.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Then tell me what happened to him.""
She stared at the photograph for a long time.
Finally, she began.
"Your father wasn't a watch repairman when I met him. He was an engineer. A brilliant one. He helped develop the original software infrastructure for Whitmore Technologies.""
I leaned forward.
"Then why did he tell everyone he repaired watches?""
"Because he left the company.""
"Why?""
"Richard wanted to use their technology to monitor private communications. Your father refused. They argued for months.""
She picked up the old photograph.
"Robert believed technology should protect ordinary people. Richard believed everything had a price.""
I looked at the three men in the photograph.
"Where does Claire fit into this?""
"She was Richard's wife at the time. She handled the company's legal documents. She knew where everything was.""
"And Daniel?""
My mother hesitated.
"Daniel was Richard's nephew. He was involved in the financial side.""
I remembered the way Daniel had laughed at her in the restaurant.
A cold anger settled in my chest.
"Why did my father leave?""
"Because he discovered that someone had been transferring company assets into private accounts. He collected evidence. Before he could report it, the police received an anonymous accusation that he had stolen company property.""
"Was it true?""
"No.""
She said it with absolute certainty.
"Your father was innocent.""
I looked down at the medical document.
"And the twins?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"When you and your brother were born, the hospital told us one of you had died. Your father refused to accept it. He hired an investigator.""
"Did he find my brother?""
"Yes.""
"Then what happened?""
"He discovered that Richard had arranged for the surviving baby to be taken to another medical facility. Your father believed it was connected to the company dispute.""
I stood.
"Why would Richard steal a baby?""
My mother began crying again.
"I don't know, Marcus. Your father never told me the whole plan.""
"Was I the baby who was taken?""
She nodded.
"Your father found you. He brought you home for one night. I remember holding you. You were so small.""
Her voice broke.
"Then someone came to the house.""
"Who?""
"Claire.""
I stared at her.
"She took me?""
"She said she had legal documents. She claimed your father had no right to keep you.""
"Why would she have any rights?""
"She showed me papers saying that one of the twins had been placed under a private guardianship agreement. Your father told me they were forged.""
I gripped the chair.
"Then why didn't you call the police?""
"Your father had already been arrested once. He was afraid Richard would make sure neither of us ever saw you again.""
I shook my head.
"This is insane.""
My mother reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed two newborn babies lying side by side.
One had a tiny birthmark near his left ear.
The other had a small red mark on his right shoulder.
I stared at the photograph.
"Which one am I?""
My mother pointed to the baby on the left.
"The birthmark near your ear. That's you.""
"And the other one?""
She looked away.
"Your brother.""
"What's his name?""
She whispered something I could barely hear.
"Michael.""
I sat down.
Michael.
I had never known that name belonged to someone connected to me.
"Where is he?""
My mother shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Then why did Daniel say you knew which one of us was supposed to die?""
She stood suddenly.
"Because I made a choice, Marcus!""
The words echoed through the kitchen.
We both froze.
She covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
"What choice?""
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Your father came home the night before he died. He told me there was a way to protect one of you. But he needed me to cooperate.""
"Protect one of us from what?""
"Richard had discovered where the babies were. He wanted one of you returned to him.""
I couldn't breathe properly.
My mother continued.
"Your father told me that if anything happened to him, I had to take the baby who was with me and disappear.""
"Which baby?""
She looked at me.
"You.""
I felt the room spin.
"Where was Michael?""
"I don't know. Your father took him somewhere safe.""
"Then why does Daniel think you know which one was supposed to die?""
My mother opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, headlights swept across the living-room curtains.
A black SUV had stopped outside our house.
My mother went completely still.
"Marcus.""
I turned toward the window.
A man stepped out of the vehicle.
He wore a dark overcoat and carried a leather folder.
My mother backed away from the glass.
"Who is that?"" I asked.
She whispered:
"Richard Whitmore.""
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then a voice came through the door.
"Evelyn, I know you're in there.""
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Don't open it.""
But Richard spoke again.
May you like
And this time, his words made my blood run cold.
"Open the door, Evelyn. I believe it's time Marcus learned which of his parents actually died that night.""
