Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew My Real Father
I read the name three times.
Rebecca Shaw.
The nurse who had been assigned to my mother's hospital room on the night she died.
The woman who had disappeared three days after the funeral.
And apparently, the only person who could explain why my mother had written that Daniel Mercer wasn't the man I thought he was.
Maya sat beside me on the floor, staring at the letter.
“Ethan, what does she mean by your real father?””
I couldn't answer.
I looked at the photograph again.
Mom's face was full of love. She held the newborn baby against her chest as though the entire world could disappear and she would still have everything she needed.
On the back, she'd written that I was her greatest miracle.
If Daniel wasn't my biological father, did that change anything?
I wanted to say no.
But I could still hear Dad's voice in the bedroom.
You'll learn why your mother was never supposed to have children.
I looked at Laura.
“Did Mom ever tell you she was pregnant before me?””
Laura shook her head.
“No.””
“Did she ever mention another man?””
“No.””
“Did she ever talk about Rebecca Shaw?””
Laura hesitated.
It was brief.
But I noticed.
“You know her.””
Laura looked away.
“Not personally.””
“Then how do you know that name?””
She rubbed her forehead.
“Your mother mentioned her once, years ago. She said Rebecca had helped her during a difficult time at the hospital.””
“What hospital?””
“The same one where you were born.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't think it mattered.””
Maya shook her head.
“Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone keeps deciding what matters and what we deserve to know.””
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?”” I asked.
She looked at the letter.
“From a truth your mother wasn't ready to share.””
I stood abruptly.
“I'm twenty-five years old. My mother is dead. My father may have been involved in her death. And now I'm finding out that the man who raised me might not be my biological father.””
My voice broke.
“What exactly am I supposed to be protected from?””
Laura had no answer.
I folded the letter carefully and placed it back inside the envelope.
Then I gathered the medical records, bank statements, and photographs into the metal box.
“We're finding Rebecca.””
Detective Harper arrived twenty minutes later.
She examined the documents while an officer photographed the safe and its contents.
When she reached the hospital record, her expression became unusually serious.
“Where did you find this?””
“Beneath a floorboard in my grandmother's house.””
She studied the page.
“This record suggests a paternity test was requested, but it doesn't include a result.””
“Can you find out whether the test was completed?””
“I can request the original hospital file. But because this involves a medical record from twenty-five years ago, it may take time.””
“I don't have time.””
Her gaze met mine.
“I understand that. But we need evidence, not assumptions.””
I pointed to Mom's letter.
“Rebecca Shaw knows something.””
Harper nodded.
“I'm already working on locating her.””
“Then tell me where she is.””
“I can't disclose an unverified address or put you in a position where you might confront a witness.””
“She's the only person who can tell me who my father is.””
“And she may also be a witness in your mother's death. If your father has been trying to silence her, approaching her without police protection could put both of you at risk.””
I looked down at the box.
Every instinct told me to get into my car and search until I found Rebecca.
But Harper was right about one thing.
If Dad knew I was looking for her, he might reach her first.
“What can I do?”” I asked.
Harper considered the question.
“Give me everything in that box. Keep copies of your mother's letter. Don't return home alone. And if your father contacts you, preserve the messages.””
I handed her the bank statements.
She flipped through them, pausing at one page.
“Monroe Holdings,” she murmured.
“That's Selena's company.””
“Perhaps. But this account lists another director.””
She turned the page toward me.
The name was partially obscured by a fold.
I smoothed the paper.
*DR. ALAN WHITMORE.*
I stared at it.
“The doctor?””
Harper nodded slowly.
“This may explain why your father was able to influence what happened at the hospital.””
“Was he involved in the financial scheme?””
“I don't know yet.””
She photographed the document and placed it in an evidence folder.
Then she looked at the photograph of Mom holding me.
“Ethan, I need to ask you something difficult.””
“What?””
“Did your mother ever tell you that Daniel wasn't your biological father?””
“No.””
“Did anyone in your family?””
“No.””
Harper nodded.
“Then we'll treat this as an unverified lead until we can establish the facts.””
She stood and handed me her card.
“I'll contact you as soon as we locate Rebecca.””
I watched her leave with the evidence.
For the first time since the accident, I felt that someone was finally investigating the right questions.
But the relief didn't last long.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Dad.
*I know where you went. Come home before you make this worse.*
A second message arrived.
*Your mother lied to you about everything.*
Then a third.
*Ask Laura what happened the night you were born.*
I slowly turned toward my aunt.
She was standing by the window, pale and trembling.
“What happened the night I was born?””
Laura closed her eyes.
“I promised your mother I would never tell you.””
“She's dead, Laura.””
“I know.””
“Then the promise is over.””
Laura pressed both hands against the windowsill.
For a long time, she didn't speak.
Then she turned toward me.
“Your mother had been trying to have a baby for years. She suffered two miscarriages before she became pregnant with you. When you were born, there were complications. The doctors told Daniel that Claire might never be able to carry another child.””
I frowned.
“But she had Maya and Noah.””
“Yes. Years later.””
“Then what does that have to do with Rebecca?””
Laura swallowed.
“Rebecca was a nurse in the maternity ward. She became close to your mother because she was the one who stayed with her when Daniel wasn't there.””
“Why wasn't Dad there?””
“Your father was away on a business trip. At least, that's what he told us.””
Something in Laura's voice made me look up.
“You don't believe him.””
She shook her head.
“Your mother received a phone call that night. She was crying when I arrived at the hospital the following morning. She kept saying that Daniel had betrayed her.””
“Betrayed her how?””
“I never found out.””
I sat down heavily.
Laura continued.
“After that, your mother became very protective of you. She kept every medical document from your birth. She asked Rebecca to help her obtain copies of the hospital records, and she hid them in the safe.””
I looked at the empty space where the box had been.
“Why would she hide them if she had nothing to fear?””
Laura's voice cracked.
“Because she believed Daniel would destroy them.””
I stared at my phone.
Dad's messages remained on the screen.
Your mother lied to you about everything.
I wanted to call him.
I wanted to demand the truth.
Instead, I typed one question.
*Who is my biological father?*
The message showed as delivered.
For almost a minute, there was no reply.
Then the typing indicator appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally, a message came through.
*Ask Rebecca why she took you out of the hospital nursery that night.*
My blood turned cold.
I showed the screen to Laura.
She stared at it, shaking her head.
“That isn't true.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I was there.””
I stood.
“What?””
Laura began to cry.
“I was at the hospital the night you were born. Your mother was unconscious, and Daniel hadn't arrived. I went to the nursery to see you.””
“And?””
“And I saw Rebecca carrying you toward the exit.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Why didn't you stop her?””
“I did.””
“What happened?””
Laura wiped her face.
“She told me she was taking you to another room because the doctors had requested additional tests. I believed her. Then I saw her speaking to a man near the service corridor.””
“Who was the man?””
“I couldn't see his face.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Did she take me out of the hospital?””
Laura nodded.
“For twenty-seven minutes, you were missing from the nursery.””
The room seemed to spin.
Twenty-seven minutes.
A missing newborn.
A secret paternity test.
A nurse who had disappeared.
And a father who had spent twenty-five years trying to control the truth.
I could barely breathe.
“What happened after that?””
“Rebecca brought you back. She said there had been a mix-up with the paperwork. Daniel arrived shortly afterward, and the hospital administrator told us everything had been resolved.””
“Did Mom know?””
Laura nodded.
“She found out years later. Rebecca confessed to her.””
“Why didn't Mom tell me?””
“Because she was afraid the truth would destroy your family.””
I stared at my aunt.
“And now?””
Laura looked toward the front door.
“Now I think she was afraid the truth would destroy Daniel.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Detective Harper.
I answered immediately.
“Did you find her?””
“We did,” Harper said.
“Rebecca Shaw is living under her married name in a small town outside the city. An officer has made contact with her.””
“Is she coming in?””
A pause.
“Yes. But there's a complication.””
“What complication?””
“Rebecca says she will only speak to you in person.””
I looked at Laura.
“Why?””
Harper's voice became quieter.
“Because she claims she has proof that your father knew you weren't his biological son from the moment you were born.””
My knees nearly gave way.
Then Harper added the words that changed everything.
“And according to Rebecca, your mother wasn't the only person who begged her to keep the secret.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who else?””
“Your biological father.””
I stared at the wall, unable to speak.
“Ethan,” Harper continued, “Rebecca says the man who fathered you is alive. He's been trying to contact you for years.””
I swallowed hard.
“Why didn't he?””
“Because Daniel threatened to destroy his life if he ever came near you.””
The line went quiet.
Then Harper spoke again.
“There's one more thing. Rebecca says your biological father was at the hospital on the night your mother died.””
My heart stopped.
“Why?””
“She says he came to tell Claire the truth about your birth.””
I looked at the metal box on the table.
At my mother's letter.
At the photograph of her holding me as a newborn.
For twenty-five years, I'd believed my family began with two parents who loved each other and three children who belonged together.
Now I was learning that my life had started with a secret.
May you like
And the man who had raised me might have spent every year since trying to make sure I never discovered it.
*But if my biological father had been at the hospital the night Mom died, he might have been the last person who saw her alive.*
