Chapter 14: The Son Who Wore My Name
I stared at the report.
Twenty-nine years ago.
That was the year I was born.
David placed another document beside it.
It was an original hospital birth record.
My name appeared at the top.
Marcus Alexander Carter.
Date of birth: June 14.
Mother: Eleanor Carter.
Father: Alexander Carter.
But there was a handwritten amendment at the bottom.
Infant exchanged following emergency medical intervention.
I looked at David.
“Explain.””
He took a breath.
“Your birth was complicated. Your mother suffered severe bleeding. According to the original records, two male infants were delivered within minutes of each other.””
I shook my head.
“Twins?””
“No. Different mothers.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“Another woman gave birth at the same hospital. Her name was Evelyn Carter.””
Victoria stood abruptly.
“My mother?””
David nodded.
“She delivered a boy. The hospital records indicate that one infant was placed in the wrong bassinette during an emergency transfer.””
I felt cold.
“Are you saying I was switched at birth?””
David looked uncomfortable.
“Possibly.””
Victoria stared at the documents.
“Then which one of us is Alexander's biological child?””
David turned the report.
“The DNA evidence suggests that Marcus is not Alexander's biological son.””
I looked at Victoria.
She covered her mouth.
“Then who is?””
David pointed toward the second birth record.
“The boy born to Evelyn Carter.””
I sat down.
My entire identity seemed to collapse.
I had spent my life believing Alexander was my father.
I had inherited his name, his business, his expectations.
I had defended him even after discovering what he had done.
But according to the records, I wasn't his biological son.
Victoria was.
And the boy who had been raised as my identity might have been someone else entirely.
“Who raised the other baby?”” I asked.
David looked at the document.
“Alexander and Eleanor.””
I frowned.
“Then who was I raised by?””
“Eleanor believed you were her biological child. The hospital records suggest the exchange happened without her knowledge.””
I stood.
“Who arranged it?””
David turned another page.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Dr. Robert Hales.
The same physician who had signed Nia's false death certificate.
I felt my jaw tighten.
“He's been involved from the beginning.””
David nodded.
“There's a note explaining the exchange. It says the original parents were informed of a temporary administrative error. But the correction was never made.””
“Why?””
“That's what the investigators are trying to establish.””
Victoria looked at me.
“Marcus, does that mean we're not brother and sister?””
I took her hand.
“Blood doesn't change what you are to me.””
She began crying.
I continued.
“You're my sister. You've always been my sister.””
She hugged me.
Then my phone rang.
Nia.
I answered immediately.
“What's wrong?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Marcus, Amelia is here.””
I looked at David.
“Is she safe?””
“Yes. But she wants to talk to you.””
“Put her on.””
A teenage girl's voice came through.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Hello, Amelia.””
“Are you really my father?””
I swallowed.
“I'm trying to understand everything. But I promise I'll tell you the truth.””
She was silent.
Then she asked:
“Why did you let them tell me you were a murderer?””
I closed my eyes.
“I didn't know what they were telling you.””
“You're supposed to know what happens to your children.””
Her words hurt because they were true.
“I should have found you sooner.””
“Why didn't you?””
I couldn't invent an answer.
“Because I was lied to. And because I believed the wrong people.””
She said nothing.
Then she whispered, “I don't know if I want to meet you.””
“I understand.””
“Can I think about it?””
“Of course.””
The call ended.
I sat down.
For the first time, I understood that finding my children was not the same as repairing what had been done to them.
Trust would take time.
Love would have to be proven.
And none of them owed me forgiveness simply because I had finally discovered the truth.
That evening, the investigators located Dr. Hales.
He was living in a retirement community in Bath.
At first, he refused to speak.
Then David showed him the recovered documents.
The old physician began crying.
“I was told it was temporary,” he said.
“Which part?”” I asked.
“All of it.””
He explained that Alexander had discovered the hospital's administrative mistake shortly after my birth.
Rather than correcting it, he had used it.
He wanted the child biologically related to him to inherit the family trust.
That child was Victoria.
But Evelyn had refused to give up her son.
Alexander had then arranged the exchange of documents and used Eleanor's influence to keep the truth hidden.
“Why didn't you report it?”” David asked.
Dr. Hales lowered his head.
“Because Alexander paid me.””
“How much?””
“Enough to make me believe I could never leave.””
I felt disgusted.
“You helped him steal my identity.””
The old man began crying.
“I know.””
“Did you know about Nia?””
He nodded.
“Alexander contacted me before the accident. He wanted the medical records altered if anything happened.””
“Did you know she was pregnant?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know she had triplets?””
He looked at me.
“I did.””
I gripped the table.
“Then tell me about the third child.””
Dr. Hales hesitated.
“She wasn't part of the original plan.””
“What does that mean?””
“Alexander wanted two children separated. Richard wanted all three placed under different identities. But when the third baby survived, the arrangement changed.””
“Why?””
The physician looked at David.
Then he said:
“Because the third baby was born with a medical condition that required a rare blood donor.””
I frowned.
“What condition?””
“A serious blood disorder. The baby needed regular specialist treatment.””
“Is she alive?””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Dr. Hales looked down.
“She was transferred to a specialist family under a different identity.””
“Who?””
He finally answered.
“Your father.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Alexander raised her?””
“No. He arranged for someone else to raise her.””
“Who?””
The physician hesitated.
Then he whispered:
“Your biological mother.””
I stared at him.
“Eleanor?””
He shook his head.
“No. Evelyn.””
Victoria stood.
“My mother?””
Dr. Hales nodded.
“She survived the fall. Alexander told everyone she died, but she was transferred to a private facility. She was the only person who knew the third child's location.””
Victoria began crying.
“Where is she?””
Dr. Hales closed his eyes.
“She died two years ago.””
The room went silent.
Victoria collapsed into a chair.
I moved beside her.
“I'm sorry.””
She shook her head.
“No. I need to know where.””
Dr. Hales gave us an address.
A small care home in the English countryside.
David immediately contacted the authorities.
But before we could leave, he received a call from the hospital.
He listened.
Then he turned toward me.
“Marcus, Amelia has disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She left the temporary accommodation about twenty minutes ago.””
“Where did she go?””
“We don't know.””
Nia called immediately.
“Marcus, she's gone. Her bag is missing.””
I stood.
“Did she leave a note?””
Nia began crying.
“Yes.””
“What does it say?””
She read it aloud.
I'm going to find the person who knows why I was born. Don't look for me. I need to know whether my whole life has been another lie.
I closed my eyes.
Amelia had gone looking for Evelyn's records.
And suddenly I remembered something from the hospital documents.
The third baby had required a rare blood donor.
The same condition Dr. Hales had described.
The same condition that had appeared in Amelia's medical history.
I looked at David.
“Amelia is the third child.””
He stared at me.
“What?””
“The records were switched. Amelia isn't Evelyn's daughter. She's Nia's daughter.””
David slowly nodded.
“That would explain the medical history.””
I called Nia.
“Listen carefully. Amelia may have gone to the care home.””
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn was the only person who knew the truth.””
Nia began crying.
“Marcus, please find our daughter.””
I grabbed my coat.
“I will.””
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
A woman's voice answered.
“Marcus Carter?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Dr. Helen Moore. I work at St. Catherine's Care Residence.””
I held my breath.
“Is Amelia there?””
“No. But someone has been asking about Evelyn Carter.””
“Who?””
The woman hesitated.
“Your sister.””
Victoria looked at me.
I put the phone on speaker.
The doctor continued.
“She's been here before. She left something in Evelyn's room.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
“Of whom?””
The doctor's voice dropped.
“Three babies. And a note addressed to you.””
David moved closer.
“What does the note say?””
The woman read it aloud.
Marcus, if you have finally found the truth, there is one person you must never trust.
I swallowed.
“Who?””
The doctor paused.
Then she answered.
“Your wife.””
I froze.
Nia was standing beside the hospital bed.
She looked at me through the video call.
“Marcus?””
The doctor continued.
“Evelyn believed Nia knew what happened to the third child before the accident.””
I stared at my wife.
Nia shook her head.
“No.””
But the doctor wasn't finished.
“She also believed Nia had been involved in the original arrangement.””
My chest tightened.
I looked at Nia.
“Is there something you haven't told me?””
She began crying.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus, I didn't know they would take the children.””
I stepped closer to the phone.
“What does that mean?””
Nia looked directly into the camera.
“I knew someone was following me before the accident.””
May you like
Silence.
“And I knew why.””
