Chapter 12: The Second Beneficiary
I left the maternity ward and called Robert Sinclair.
He answered on the second ring.
“Marcus. I'm glad you called.””
“Mom says the trust was changed.””
“Yes.””
“To include Vanessa?””
“That's what the document appears to say.””
I gripped the phone.
“Was the change legitimate?””
“I'm investigating that now.””
“Who submitted it?””
“Your father's former accountant, Peter Bennett.””
I closed my eyes.
“Does he have authority?””
“Not to change the beneficiary designation independently.””
“Then how did Vanessa's name get added?””
Robert paused.
“That's the question we're trying to answer.””
I looked through the glass at Vanessa.
She was talking to a nurse.
Her face was pale, but she appeared calmer.
“Robert, did my father ever mention Vanessa?””
“No.””
“Did he know her?””
“I don't believe they ever met.””
“Then why would he leave her anything?””
“He wouldn't.””
I felt a chill.
“So the document is fake.””
“Possibly. But there's something more concerning.””
“What?””
Robert lowered his voice.
“The trust was reviewed six months ago. At that time, someone requested a substantial advance against its assets.””
“How much?””
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
I nearly dropped the phone.
The same amount Adrian had agreed to pay Vanessa.
“Was it approved?””
“No. I rejected the request.””
“Who made it?””
“Peter Bennett.””
I looked toward the maternity ward.
“Did Vanessa know?””
“I believe so. Peter contacted her shortly afterward.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Why would an accountant risk his career?””
“Money, Marcus. People do extraordinary things when they believe they can get away with it.””
I ended the call and immediately contacted a lawyer.
His name was Andrew Miller.
He had handled several business matters for my father before retiring from active litigation.
I explained everything.
The forged signature.
The transfer.
The agreement.
The trust.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he said, “Marcus, do not sign anything. Do not make any promises about property or custody. Preserve every original document, message, and recording.””
“I understand.””
“And don't assume the hospital's paperwork determines legal parentage.””
“What should I do about the baby?””
“Focus on the child's safety. We can address the legal questions properly.””
I thanked him and returned to the ward.
As I approached Vanessa's room, I heard her speaking.
“I'm telling you, I can't wait any longer.””
I stopped outside the partly open door.
Her voice was low.
“Marcus knows about the agreement. He knows about the trust.””
A man's voice answered.
Adrian.
“Then we need to leave.””
“I'm about to give birth!””
“We can go somewhere else.””
“Where?””
“Anywhere. You have the documents?””
“Yes.””
“Then bring them.””
I stepped into the room.
“Going somewhere?””
Vanessa jumped.
Adrian stood near the window.
He had somehow returned.
I looked at him.
“How did you get back in?””
He ignored the question.
“Marcus, we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Vanessa is under stress. You're making things worse.””
I laughed.
“You're in a hospital room with my pregnant wife, planning to take her somewhere, and you're worried about stress?””
Adrian stepped forward.
“Don't make this ugly.””
I pulled out my phone.
“I'm calling security.””
Vanessa began crying.
“Marcus, stop!””
Adrian moved toward the door.
But before he could leave, two security officers appeared in the hallway.
“Mr. Cole,” one said.
“We need you to come with us.””
Adrian glared at me.
“You think you've won?””
I said nothing.
He looked toward Vanessa.
“Call me.””
Then he left.
Vanessa covered her face.
I stood near the bed.
“Where were you planning to go?””
She shook her head.
“Nowhere.””
“I heard you.””
“I was scared.””
“You were planning to leave the hospital with Adrian.””
She began crying.
“I don't want to be alone.””
I pulled a chair closer.
“Vanessa, I'm going to ask you one question. I need you to answer honestly.””
She nodded.
“Did you know about the forged trust document?””
She looked at the blanket.
“Marcus—”
“Yes or no.””
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Did you know Peter Bennett was involved?””
“Yes.””
“Did you plan to use the money to pay Adrian?””
She nodded.
I stood up.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because he promised to give me a new life.””
I stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
“He said we could raise the baby together.””
“Then why did you need my money?””
She looked away.
“Because I didn't want to start over with nothing.””
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
“Marcus, I know how it sounds. But I was afraid you'd take everything away from me.””
“You mean the things you tried to steal?””
She flinched.
“I thought I deserved something.””
I shook my head.
“You deserved honesty. So did I.””
She reached for me.
I stepped back.
Then the nurse entered.
“Mrs. Hayes, the doctor needs to examine you again.””
She checked the monitor.
Her expression became serious.
“Your contractions are getting closer together.””
Vanessa gripped the bedrail.
“Is the baby coming?””
“Possibly. We need to prepare.””
The nurse called for the doctor.
Within minutes, the room was filled with medical staff.
I moved toward the doorway.
Vanessa grabbed my hand.
“Marcus!””
I turned.
“Please stay.””
I looked at her.
Despite everything, she was frightened.
And despite everything, I still couldn't bring myself to abandon a woman who might be delivering my child.
I stayed.
Two hours later, I was standing outside the delivery room.
My mother had arrived and was sitting beside me.
She held my hand.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, the doctor came out.
“Mr. Hayes?””
I stood immediately.
“Is the baby okay?””
He smiled faintly.
“Your daughter is healthy. She was delivered safely.””
A daughter.
The word hit me harder than I expected.
I covered my mouth.
My mother began crying.
“Can we see her?””
“In a few minutes.””
I sat down again.
A little girl.
A tiny human being who hadn't asked to become part of any of this.
My daughter.
Or perhaps not.
I didn't know.
When the nurse brought her out, she was wrapped in a white blanket with a small pink hat.
She had a tiny nose, closed eyes, and one hand curled beside her cheek.
I reached out.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
The nurse carefully placed her in my arms.
She weighed just over six pounds.
Her skin was warm.
Her fingers closed around mine.
And for one brief moment, every argument, every accusation, every document disappeared.
I was simply holding a baby.
My baby.
Then the nurse handed me a sealed envelope.
“Your wife asked us to give you this after delivery.””
I looked at Vanessa through the open doorway.
She was exhausted but awake.
“What's this?””
The nurse shrugged.
“She said it was important.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
The first sentence made my heart stop.
Marcus, if you're holding our daughter, then you need to know why I chose you instead of Adrian.
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was watching me.
And beneath the letter was a second document.
A private DNA test report.
The results were already printed.
I read the final line.
*Probability of paternity: 0.00%.*
My knees weakened.
I looked at my daughter.
Then at the woman who had carried her.
Vanessa began crying.
“Marcus, there's something else you need to know.””
I couldn't speak.
She swallowed.
“Adrian isn't the only man who could be her father.””
I looked at the report again.
Then she whispered a name.
May you like
A name I hadn't heard in years.
*My younger brother, Ethan.*
