Chapter 11: The Brother I Never Knew Existed
A man stepped onto the porch.
He was probably in his early forties, with dark hair, broad shoulders, and a thin scar running across his chin.
I had never seen him before.
Yet something about his face seemed strangely familiar.
He looked at Mom.
Then at me.
"Hello, Daniel.""
I glanced at Victoria.
"Who is he?""
She smiled.
"This is Andrew.""
The man stepped forward.
"Andrew Carter.""
I looked at my father.
Dad's face had become completely pale.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
Andrew looked at him.
"Hello, Robert.""
My father gripped the walking frame Evelyn had brought.
"You're dead.""
Andrew laughed.
"Apparently, that's becoming a family tradition.""
Mom looked between them.
"Who is this man?""
Victoria answered before anyone else could.
"He's Robert's firstborn son.""
I stared.
My father had another son.
And nobody had told me.
Andrew approached Mom carefully.
"Mrs. Carter, I'm sorry for what happened.""
Mom looked confused.
"How old are you?""
"Forty-five.""
She turned toward Dad.
"Robert?""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Before I married you, I had a relationship with a woman named Helen. We had a son.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"I believed he had died.""
Andrew shook his head.
"You believed what you were told.""
Victoria smiled.
"That's what happens when people trust the wrong doctors.""
Dad looked at her.
"What did you do?""
Victoria shrugged.
"I didn't do anything to him.""
Andrew laughed bitterly.
"You arranged my adoption without telling my mother. Then you spent years convincing my father that I was dead.""
Mom stared at Victoria.
"Why?""
"Because Robert was going to marry you. He didn't need another family complicating things.""
I stepped closer.
"Then why bring him here now?""
Victoria opened the front door.
"Because Andrew is the person who can explain why Rachel needed the Northbridge trust.""
We entered the house.
The living room had been renovated.
The old photographs were gone.
In their place were framed architectural drawings and financial certificates.
Andrew stood beside the fireplace.
"Rachel contacted me two years ago.""
"Why?""
"She said she wanted to help me reconnect with my father.""
I laughed without humor.
"Convenient.""
Andrew nodded.
"That's what I thought. But she showed me documents proving I was his son. She also told me Victoria had been looking for me.""
Dad shook his head.
"I never authorized any of this.""
"I know," Andrew replied.
"But Rachel made me an offer.""
"What offer?""
"Ten percent of Northbridge.""
I stared at him.
"And what did you have to do?""
Andrew looked toward Victoria.
"Sign a document confirming that Robert had transferred his ownership rights before his disappearance.""
Dad slammed his hand against the armrest.
"I never transferred anything!""
Andrew nodded.
"That's why I refused.""
Victoria's smile vanished.
"You refused because you were promised more money elsewhere.""
Andrew turned toward her.
"Don't pretend you cared about me.""
The two stared at each other.
I looked at the papers on the table.
"Where is Rachel?""
Victoria folded her arms.
"She went to meet Michael.""
"Where?""
"At the private office.""
"What office?""
Andrew answered.
"The old Carter Holdings headquarters.""
I took out my phone.
"Why?""
He pointed to the architectural drawings.
"Because they're preparing to sell the company.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"To whom?""
"Northbridge Development Group.""
I looked at Dad.
He slowly nodded.
"That was the company I created to manage the commercial properties.""
Andrew continued.
"But there's a problem. The buyer has already deposited five million dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Who deposited it?""
"Rachel.""
"With what money?""
Andrew looked at me.
"Your mother's accounts.""
I felt physically sick.
The money Mom had saved throughout her marriage.
The money Dad had left for her.
Gone.
"How much did they take?""
"Just over six hundred thousand dollars from her personal accounts. The rest came from the trust.""
Mom began crying.
"That money was for the grandchildren.""
Victoria looked away.
Andrew reached into his jacket.
"There's something else.""
He placed a document on the table.
It was a company ownership statement.
My name appeared beside fifty percent of the shares.
Michael's name appeared beside twenty-five percent.
Andrew's name appeared beside the remaining twenty-five percent.
I stared.
"Why does he own part of my company?""
Dad answered.
"Because I added him as a beneficiary before I knew Victoria was alive.""
Andrew looked uncomfortable.
"I never asked for the shares.""
Victoria interrupted.
"But you accepted them.""
Andrew turned toward her.
"Because Rachel told me the company was already sold.""
I picked up the document.
There was another page attached.
A resolution authorizing the sale.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
Again.
But this time, the signature was dated two weeks earlier.
I looked at the witnesses.
Rachel Carter.
Michael Carter.
Thomas Bennett.
And one more name.
Andrew Carter.
I looked at him.
"You said you refused to sign.""
He nodded.
"I refused to sign the transfer. But I signed the meeting attendance sheet.""
I pointed at the document.
"Then how did your signature get here?""
Andrew examined it.
His expression changed.
"This isn't my signature.""
Before anyone could speak, a loud crash came from upstairs.
We all turned.
The police officer stationed outside rushed into the house.
"Everyone stay where you are!""
Another crash followed.
Then footsteps.
Someone was running down the staircase.
A man appeared in the doorway.
Michael.
He looked exhausted.
His shirt was untucked, and his right hand was bleeding.
He stared at Dad.
Then at Andrew.
Finally, his eyes settled on me.
"Daniel, we need to talk.""
I stepped forward.
"Where's Rachel?""
Michael swallowed.
"She's gone.""
"Where?""
He shook his head.
"She took the original documents.""
I grabbed his jacket.
"Which documents?""
"The Northbridge originals. The hospital records. The recordings.""
Dad looked horrified.
"Why would she take the recordings?""
Michael looked at him.
"Because they prove she wasn't the only one involved.""
I released his jacket.
"Who else?""
Michael looked toward Victoria.
Then he said:
"Mom.""
Victoria's face went white.
Michael pointed at her.
"She was the one who arranged the fake funeral. She was the one who found Victor Hale. And she was the person who paid the hospital administrator.""
Mom began shaking.
Victoria stepped backward.
"He's lying.""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"Then explain why you kept the original death certificate in your bedroom.""
The police officer moved toward her.
Victoria suddenly reached into her handbag.
"Don't come any closer.""
She pulled out a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
She held it up.
"Before anyone arrests me, you should know something.""
Her eyes moved toward Dad.
"Robert wasn't the only person who survived that hospital.""
May you like
Then she turned to me.
"Your real mother is still alive.""
