TWO NEWBORN BABIES WERE HIDDEN IN MY BEDROOM—AND MY FAMILY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP ME FROM DISCOVERING WHO THEIR MOTHER REALLY WAS

For several seconds, nobody moved.

I stared at Daniel.

“What did you just say?””

His eyes shifted toward the staircase.

“The other father is already inside this house.””

Officer Bennett immediately reached for his radio.

“Where?””

Daniel swallowed.

“I don't know.””

I grabbed his jacket.

“You just told me someone was inside my house. How can you not know where?””

“Marcus, listen to me. Sophie said someone had been following her. She believed he had access to your property.””

I released him.

My house suddenly felt unfamiliar.

The polished wooden staircase. The family photographs. The expensive paintings Eleanor had insisted on hanging in the hallway.

Every corner seemed capable of hiding someone.

Officer Bennett spoke into his radio.

“Requesting additional units. Possible unidentified individual inside the residence.””

Officer Harris moved toward the bedroom.

“Everyone stay together. Nobody goes anywhere alone.””

Eleanor was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling.

I approached her.

“Who is he?””

She shook her head.

“Marcus, please.””

“What's his name?””

“I don't know.””

“Stop lying!””

She looked up at me.

“You don't understand what you're dealing with.””

“Then explain it!””

She glanced at the babies.

“Not in front of them.””

I laughed bitterly.

“You didn't seem concerned about their safety when you locked Nia in this room.””

Her face hardened.

“You have no idea what I sacrificed.””

Before I could respond, a noise came from downstairs.

A door closing.

Everyone turned.

Officer Bennett raised his hand.

“Stay here.””

He moved toward the staircase with Officer Harris following.

I remained beside Daniel.

“Tell me everything Sophie told you.””

Daniel rubbed his forehead.

“She said the pregnancy wasn't supposed to produce twins.””

I frowned.

“What?””

“The clinic implanted one embryo. During the pregnancy, the doctors discovered two separate babies.””

“That happens.””

“Yes. But Sophie claimed the clinic's records had been altered afterward.””

“Altered how?””

Daniel hesitated.

“She said one baby's genetic information didn't match the embryo transfer record.””

I stared at him.

“Meaning?””

“Meaning someone else's genetic material may have been involved.””

I looked toward the babies.

“Whose?””

Daniel shook his head.

“Sophie didn't know. She only knew that Eleanor had become frightened when the doctors raised the discrepancy.””

I remembered the message.

Only one of them is your child.

My stomach twisted.

“Why would Eleanor want me to believe both were mine?””

Daniel lowered his voice.

“Because the inheritance agreement.””

I stared at him.

“What inheritance agreement?””

He opened his briefcase and produced a photocopy.

My father's trust had a provision I had never paid much attention to. Under certain conditions, a portion of the estate would be transferred into a protected family fund when I became a legal father.

The money was substantial.

Nearly four million dollars.

I read the clause twice.

“Are you telling me Eleanor arranged this pregnancy to access my father's money?””

“I believe that was part of it.””

“Part of it?””

Daniel looked toward the staircase.

“There's another beneficiary listed in the trust amendment.””

I took the document.

The name was typed beneath mine.

*Eleanor Bennett.*

I looked at him.

“She already has access to our accounts.””

“Not to the protected inheritance.””

A crash sounded downstairs.

Then a man's voice.

“Get your hands off me!””

Officer Bennett shouted something I couldn't make out.

I rushed toward the staircase.

Officer Harris appeared at the bottom.

“Mr. Bennett, stay upstairs!””

“What happened?””

“We found someone in the study.””

My blood ran cold.

“Who?””

The officer didn't answer immediately.

Then a familiar voice called out.

“Marcus?””

I froze.

A man stepped into view.

He was wearing a charcoal suit and holding a leather document case.

I recognized him immediately.

It was Adrian Cole.

My wife's brother.

He had attended our wedding, spent Christmas at our house, and borrowed money from me twice.

I had not seen him in almost a year.

“What are you doing here?”” I demanded.

Adrian adjusted his tie.

“Visiting my sister.””

“Why were you hiding in my study?””

“I wasn't hiding.””

Officer Bennett held up a small key.

“We found him inside a locked office.””

Adrian glared at him.

“I have permission to be here.””

I turned toward Eleanor.

She had gone completely still.

“Did you know he was here?””

She didn't answer.

I descended two steps.

“Adrian, whose child is the other baby?””

He looked at me.

Then he smiled.

It was a small, unpleasant smile.

“Which one?””

My fists tightened.

“Don't play games.””

Adrian placed his document case on the hallway table.

“Marcus, I think you should sit down.””

“Answer me!””

He looked past me toward the bedroom.

Then he said something I would never forget.

“Your sister was never supposed to give birth to my child.””

Eleanor gasped.

Daniel closed his eyes.

I looked from one to the other.

“What?””

Adrian continued.

“The original agreement was between Sophie and Eleanor. The pregnancy was supposed to produce one child for your family. But when the second baby appeared, Sophie started asking questions.””

I felt sick.

“You're saying the second baby is yours?””

Adrian smiled again.

“Biologically, yes.””

“And you knew?””

“Of course.””

I stepped toward him.

“Why didn't you tell me?””

“Because it wasn't your concern.””

Officer Bennett moved between us.

“Sir, take a step back.””

Adrian opened his document case.