Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Birth Certificate
Ethan opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a man I had never seen.
He stood beside my mother outside a courthouse.
He was young, perhaps thirty.
Dark-haired.
Wearing a wedding ring.
On the back, someone had written:
*Richard Bennett — Husband of Margaret Bennett.*
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“Who is he?””
Daniel smiled.
“Your mother's first husband.””
I stared at the photograph.
My mother had been married?
“Where is he now?”” Ethan asked.
Daniel shrugged.
“Dead.””
“When?””
“Twenty-eight years ago.””
Ethan turned toward me.
“Did you know?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Daniel laughed.
“Of course she didn't. Margaret was very good at keeping secrets.””
I stepped forward.
“Stop using her name.””
Daniel looked amused.
“Why? Does it hurt?””
I wanted to hit him again.
Instead, I took the photograph from Ethan.
The man in it looked kind.
There was something familiar about his smile.
“Was he our father?”” I asked.
Daniel's expression changed.
“No.””
“Then why are you showing us this?””
“Because your mother killed him.””
Ethan's face went pale.
I shook my head.
“That's impossible.””
“Richard died in a car accident. Margaret was driving.””
“Then it was an accident.””
Daniel smiled.
“Was it?””
He reached into his coat and pulled out another document.
A police report.
It listed the accident location, the vehicle, and the date.
Then I noticed the handwritten note.
*Driver's blood alcohol level: 0.00.*
I looked at Daniel.
“You're saying she deliberately killed him?””
“I'm saying she had a motive.””
“What motive?””
Daniel's eyes moved between us.
“Richard discovered she was having an affair.””
My stomach tightened.
“With you?””
He nodded.
“And when he threatened to expose her, she panicked.””
Ethan looked sick.
“Did she really kill him?””
Daniel shrugged.
“Ask your sister. She was the one who benefited.””
I felt something cold move through me.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel leaned closer.
“Your mother needed someone to take responsibility for the family business after Richard died. I was young, ambitious, and willing to help.””
“You were involved with her?””
“Yes.””
“And you were my father?””
He smiled.
“Biologically, yes.””
Ethan stared at him.
“You knew?””
“Of course.””
“Then why did you let me believe Margaret abandoned me?””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“Because she did.””
Ethan lunged toward him.
I grabbed his arm.
“Don't!””
Daniel stepped backward.
Two men emerged from the SUV.
One held a phone.
The other held a small black case.
Daniel adjusted his coat.
“Ethan, you have a decision to make. Come with me, and we can forget this conversation ever happened.””
“And if I don't?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Then your sister will spend the rest of her life paying for your mistakes.””
I stepped forward.
“You don't get to threaten us anymore.””
He laughed.
“Nia, you still think this is about money.””
He opened the black case.
Inside were several documents and a photograph.
The photograph showed a newborn baby in a hospital incubator.
A small bracelet circled its wrist.
The name on it was handwritten.
*NIA BENNETT.*
My knees weakened.
Daniel held up the picture.
“Do you know what your mother did when you were born?””
I couldn't answer.
“She discovered that Richard wasn't your biological father. She was terrified he would find out.””
I stared at him.
“So she told him I was his?””
Daniel nodded.
“Richard loved you. He accepted you as his daughter.””
Ethan looked confused.
“Then what happened?””
Daniel's face hardened.
“Richard found out anyway. He planned to leave Margaret and take Nia with him.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
“Because he knew I was dangerous.””
Daniel paused.
“And Margaret chose me.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I shook my head.
“No.””
“She chose to protect you from a man who wanted to expose everything.””
“You're lying.””
“Ask yourself why she never told you about Richard.””
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother had hidden an entire marriage.
An entire death.
An entire family.
But something didn't fit.
“Daniel,” I said quietly.
He raised an eyebrow.
“What?””
“If Richard died twenty-eight years ago, why does the police report say he was identified by dental records?””
Daniel's expression flickered.
“What?””
I pointed to the page.
The report listed the victim's age as forty-six.
But the man in the photograph looked much younger.
Then I noticed another detail.
The police report was dated two years before the photograph.
The dates were impossible.
Ethan leaned closer.
“That's not the same man.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
I looked at him.
“You've been showing us someone else's death certificate.””
He snatched the paper away.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
I pulled out my phone.
The recording device was still running.
Daniel noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
“You recorded me?””
I stepped backward.
“You just admitted to being my biological father. You admitted to knowing about the medical transfers. And you just threatened us.””
Daniel looked toward his men.
“Take the phone.””
Ethan stepped between us.
“Don't touch her.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You're making a mistake, son.””
“No.””
Ethan's voice shook.
“I've made enough mistakes believing you.””
One of the men moved forward.
Ethan swung first.
The man stumbled against the SUV.
The second grabbed Ethan from behind.
I screamed.
Then a car horn blared.
A black vehicle sped into the greenhouse entrance.
Marcus.
He jumped out and ran toward us.
“Get down!””
A loud crack split the air.
The SUV's rear window shattered.
Everyone scattered.
Marcus grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the abandoned greenhouse wall.
Ethan broke free and ran toward us.
Claire was in the passenger seat of Marcus's car.
She threw open the door.
“Get in!””
We ran.
Daniel shouted something behind us.
I didn't turn around.
Marcus started the engine.
We sped away.
Ethan sat beside me, breathing hard.
He stared at his hands.
“I almost hit him.””
I touched his shoulder.
“You were protecting us.””
He looked at me.
“Why would he lie about Richard?””
Marcus glanced at us through the mirror.
“Because Richard isn't dead.””
The car went silent.
I turned toward him.
“What?””
Marcus kept his eyes on the road.
“Richard Bennett is alive.””
Ethan stared.
“Where?””
Marcus swallowed.
“In a private detention facility outside the city.””
I felt my heart hammer.
“Why would Daniel keep him there?””
Marcus looked at me through the mirror.
“Because Richard is the only person who knows what happened the night you were born.””
He paused.
“And he's the only person who can prove Daniel didn't just steal your family.””
May you like
Marcus turned onto a narrow road.
“He stole someone else's identity to do it.””
