Chapter 6: The Secret Behind the Pregnancy
Robert read Marcus's message until the words blurred.
*Because the baby might not be mine.*
Across the table, Claire watched his face change.
“What happened?””
Robert handed her the phone.
She read the message once, then again.
“Oh, Marcus.””
There was no satisfaction in her voice. Only disbelief.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“What exactly did he say?””
Robert showed her the exchange.
She read it carefully.
“Don't respond emotionally,” she advised.
“If Marcus has discovered evidence, he needs to preserve it. We also need to avoid encouraging him to confront Vanessa.””
Robert typed a short message.
*If you have evidence, preserve it. Do not threaten her or destroy anything. Speak with your own attorney, and communicate with me through Evelyn.*
Marcus replied almost immediately.
*I can't trust anyone in that house.*
Then:
*She has been using me.*
Robert stared at the screen.
He wanted to call his son. He wanted to hear his voice, ask him what he had found, and understand how a marriage could deteriorate so completely in a matter of hours.
But he remembered the taste of blood in his mouth.
He remembered Marcus's hand gripping his collar.
He remembered the front doors closing.
Love did not erase those things.
“Dad,” Claire said gently, “you can care about him without letting him pull you back into the middle of this.””
Robert nodded.
Evelyn gathered her papers.
“We need to prepare for tomorrow's hearing. If Marcus has evidence about the pregnancy, he should provide it to his attorney and the appropriate medical professionals. We shouldn't investigate private medical information ourselves or assume anything based on a text message.””
Robert agreed.
Still, the message gnawed at him.
For months, Marcus had spoken about the baby as though she were the greatest blessing of his life. He had painted the nursery himself, argued with contractors over the safety of the crib, and purchased a tiny pair of white sneakers that sat on his office desk.
Robert had seen those shoes during his last visit to the mansion.
Marcus had picked them up and laughed.
“She'll probably outgrow them before she can walk,” he had said.
“But I couldn't leave them in the store.””
Robert had smiled.
Now he wondered whether the joy had been real.
At eleven forty, Evelyn received a call from a private attorney representing Marcus.
She listened for several minutes, taking notes.
When she ended the call, she looked at Robert.
“Marcus has retained independent counsel. He's asking for an urgent consultation regarding marital finances and the documents he signed.””
“Is he cooperating?””
“His attorney says he wants to provide information, but he is afraid Vanessa will destroy evidence if she realizes he's questioning her.””
Claire folded her arms.
“Then he should leave the house.””
“That may be wise,” Evelyn said, “but we need to be careful. He should make his own arrangements and avoid any confrontation.””
Robert looked at the clock.
“Can we meet him somewhere neutral?””
Evelyn considered it.
“If his attorney agrees, yes. But I won't recommend a private meeting without safeguards.””
She called Marcus's lawyer back.
After a brief discussion, they arranged for Marcus to meet them at Evelyn's office at one thirty, accompanied by his attorney.
Until then, Robert tried to focus on the case.
Thomas brought in the financial records. Evelyn reviewed the trust documents. Claire helped organize Eleanor's letter and the list of payments.
But every few minutes, Robert looked at his phone.
At one twelve, a message arrived from Grace.
*Mrs. Reed has asked me to pack your belongings and send them to a storage company. She says you're never coming back.*
Robert read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
*I also found the bottle from the pharmacy receipt. I did not touch it. It is still in the bathroom cabinet.*
Robert immediately called her.
“Grace, don't touch anything else in that cabinet. Don't confront Vanessa. If you feel unsafe, leave the house and contact the authorities.””
“I understand, sir.””
“Is Marcus there?””
“No. He left about twenty minutes ago.””
“Do you know where Vanessa is?””
“She went upstairs. She has been on the phone for nearly an hour.””
Robert closed his eyes.
“Thank you. Keep yourself safe.””
He ended the call and told Evelyn.
“We need to make sure Grace isn't pressured into doing anything dangerous.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I'll have someone contact her about preserving any relevant evidence and arranging a safe way to provide a statement.””
At one twenty-eight, Marcus arrived.
He looked nothing like the confident man who had thrown Robert out of the mansion the previous day.
His shirt was wrinkled. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair had been combed carelessly, and he carried a thick envelope under one arm.
When he saw his father, he stopped.
Robert remained seated.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Marcus looked down.
“Dad.””
Robert's voice was quiet.
“Sit down, Marcus.””
His son obeyed.
Marcus's attorney, a woman named Rachel Morgan, introduced herself and explained that Marcus was there voluntarily to discuss documents he had discovered in the family home.
Evelyn made it clear that the meeting would focus on relevant evidence, not speculation, and that nothing would be taken from the mansion without proper authorization.
Marcus nodded.
Then he placed the envelope on the table.
“I found these in Vanessa's safe.””
He opened it.
Inside were printed emails, bank statements, a copy of the capacity petition, and several pages of handwritten notes.
Robert looked at the documents but didn't touch them.
“Where did you get these?””
“The safe in her dressing room. She gave me the code months ago, when she asked me to store some jewelry.””
“Did you have permission to open it?””
Marcus swallowed.
“No.””
Rachel spoke carefully.
“My client understands that the circumstances surrounding the discovery may raise questions about access and preservation. We are not asking anyone to treat these papers as authenticated without further review. We will cooperate with counsel to establish their origin.””
Evelyn nodded.
“That's appropriate.””
Marcus pushed one page forward.
“This is an email from Vanessa to Daniel Cross.””
Robert read it.
The message was dated six weeks earlier.
Marcus is desperate enough to sign anything if he thinks it will save the company. Once Robert is declared incapable, the trust becomes vulnerable. We only need to keep him away from the board long enough to finish the transfer.
Robert's face hardened.
“Did you sign the capacity petition before or after reading this?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Before.””
“Why?””
Marcus's shoulders sagged.
“Vanessa told me you had been making irrational decisions. She said you were forgetting meetings, confusing numbers, and accusing people of stealing from you.””
“Was any of that true?””
Marcus hesitated.
“No.””
Robert stared at him.
“Then why did you believe her?””
“Because I wanted to.””
The answer hung in the room.
Marcus rubbed his face.
“I was in trouble, Dad. The Savannah project was failing. I had borrowed too much money, and the lenders were threatening to come after me personally. Vanessa said she knew how to protect the company.””
“And you thought the answer was to take control of my estate?””
“I thought it was temporary.””
Robert's voice sharpened.
“You signed a sworn statement claiming I was incapable of managing my affairs.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
“You told the court I was dangerous.””
“I know.””
“You watched your wife accuse me of pushing her, and you beat me before asking a single question.””
Marcus flinched.
“I know.””
Robert leaned forward.
“Then tell me why.””
Marcus's face crumpled.
“Because I was afraid.””
Robert said nothing.
“I saw her on the floor, and all I could think about was the baby. She was screaming, and I thought—”
“You thought what?””
“That I had failed to protect my family.””
“So you attacked your father instead?””
Marcus covered his face.
“I didn't think.””
“No,” Robert said.
“You didn't.””
The room fell silent.
After a moment, Marcus lowered his hands.
“I am sorry.””
Robert studied him.
“Are you sorry you hurt me, or are you sorry because you think Vanessa has been lying to you?””
Marcus looked as though the question had struck him.
“I don't know.””
It was the first honest answer he had given.
Robert sat back.
“Then perhaps that's where you should begin.””
Marcus opened the envelope again and removed another document.
“This is what made me question the pregnancy.””
Evelyn glanced at Rachel, who nodded that Marcus could explain the circumstances without making unsupported claims.
Marcus pushed the page forward.
It was a printed message from Vanessa to Daniel.
The date was two months earlier.
If Marcus starts asking questions about the timeline, remind him that stress can affect memory. The dates don't matter as long as he believes the baby is his.
Robert felt a knot form in his stomach.
“Did you find anything else?””
Marcus nodded.
“There were appointment records. Vanessa told me her first prenatal visit had been in March. But the dates in the documents suggest she knew she was pregnant earlier.””
“That alone doesn't establish anything,” Evelyn said.
“Medical timelines can be misunderstood, and we shouldn't draw conclusions from incomplete records.””
“I know,” Marcus replied.
“That's why I asked my attorney to help me arrange a conversation with the doctor.””
Robert looked at his son.
“Have you spoken with Vanessa?””
“Not about this. I haven't told her what I found.””
“Good. Don't confront her. Preserve the documents, and let your attorney determine the appropriate next steps.””
Marcus nodded.
Then he reached into the envelope and removed a photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside Daniel Cross at a hotel entrance. They were close together, his hand resting against her lower back.
Robert examined it.
“Where did this come from?””
“It was printed and tucked inside the safe. There's no date on it.””
“Then we don't know when it was taken or what it means.””
Marcus looked frustrated.
“Dad, look at them.””
“I am looking.””
“They're together. She's been meeting him behind my back.””
“Perhaps. But a photograph doesn't establish the nature of their relationship, and it doesn't establish who fathered the baby.””
Marcus stared at the image.
“I know.””
His voice broke.
“I just wanted one thing in my life that was mine. A family. A child. Something I could give her that wasn't tied to the company.””
Robert felt his anger soften, but he did not let it disappear.
“You already had a family, Marcus. You had a father who loved you, a sister who tried to warn you, and a wife you chose to trust. You treated all of us as obstacles whenever we questioned you.””
Marcus wiped his eyes.
“I know.””
“Stop saying that as though it repairs anything.””
Marcus looked up.
Robert's voice remained steady.
“If you want to repair this, you must tell the truth even when it costs you. You must accept the consequences of what you signed. And you must stop expecting me to rescue you from every mistake.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
Rachel cleared her throat.
“My client is prepared to cooperate with the financial investigation and correct any inaccurate statements he made to the probate court. We will need to review the filing with independent counsel.””
Evelyn agreed.
“That is a necessary first step.””
Marcus looked at his father.
“Will you help me?””
Robert held his gaze.
“I will help establish the truth. I will not help you hide from it.””
Marcus nodded.
For the first time, he seemed to understand the difference.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and went pale.
“It's Vanessa.””
He silenced the call.
It rang again.
Then a message appeared.
Marcus read it and slowly raised his eyes.
“What is it?”” Robert asked.
Marcus turned the phone around.
The message read:
*I know you've been going through my things. If you tell your father what you found, you'll never see your daughter again.*
Robert's blood ran cold.
Claire stood.
“She knows.””
Marcus nodded.
“She must have found out I left the house.””
Another message appeared.
*Come home now. Bring the documents. If you don't, I'll make sure everyone knows what you did to Robert.*
Marcus stared at the screen.
“She has the original footage,” he whispered.
“Or she knows about it.””
Robert looked at Evelyn.
“We need to preserve everything before she can reach it.””
Evelyn immediately called her office and instructed her team to contact the appropriate authorities regarding the threatened destruction of evidence. Rachel began advising Marcus not to return to the mansion alone.
But Marcus was staring at another message.
His hands were shaking.
“What else did she say?”” Robert asked.
Marcus swallowed.
“She says she's going to the hospital.””
“Why?””
“She says something is wrong with the baby.””
He stood abruptly.
“I have to go.””
Rachel caught his arm.
“Marcus, wait. We need to establish whether this is an emergency and avoid a confrontation.””
Marcus pulled away.
“That's my child!””
Robert rose.
“Then call Dr. Porter. Ask her to confirm whether Vanessa needs immediate medical attention. Don't let fear make your decisions for you again.””
Marcus stared at him.
For a moment, Robert thought his son would ignore the advice.
Then Marcus took out his phone and called the doctor.
The conversation lasted less than a minute.
When he ended the call, his face had turned ashen.
“Dr. Porter says Vanessa never contacted her.””
Evelyn frowned.
“Did she say anything else?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“She said Vanessa called the clinic this morning and asked for a copy of her medical records. When the receptionist refused to release them without verification, Vanessa threatened to report her.””
Robert felt the room tighten around him.
“Why would she need those records?””
Marcus looked down at the photograph.
“Because she's afraid someone will discover the truth.””
His phone vibrated again.
This time, the message contained no words.
It was a photograph of the mansion's front door.
Someone had written a message across the image in red marker.
*ONE FAMILY. ONE SECRET. NO WITNESSES.*
Marcus stared at it.
Then he whispered something that made Robert's blood run cold.
“That's not Vanessa's handwriting.””
Evelyn leaned closer.
“Do you recognize it?””
Marcus nodded.
“It's Daniel's.””
He looked at his father, terror replacing the guilt in his eyes.
“Dad, I think Vanessa is in danger.””
Robert reached for his cane.
“Then we call the police and let them handle it.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. You don't understand.””
He looked at the photograph again.
“Daniel doesn't threaten people unless he's already decided what he's going to do.””
A new message appeared.
This one came from Grace.
**Mr. Reed, please call me immediately. Mr.
Cross is at the mansion. He has gone upstairs with Mrs. Reed, and he told the guards that no one is to enter the east wing.**
Robert immediately called emergency services and relayed the information, including the threatening message and the possibility that someone inside the mansion was at risk.
Then he called Grace.
She answered in a whisper.
“Mr. Reed?””
“Are you safe?””
“I'm in the pantry office. I locked the door.””
“Stay there. Don't approach them.””
“I can hear shouting upstairs.””
Robert looked at Marcus.
His son had gone completely still.
“Grace,” Robert said, “tell me exactly what you hear.””
A crash sounded through the phone.
Grace gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted something indistinct.
Another crash followed.
And Vanessa screamed.
Not the theatrical scream Robert had heard the day before.
This one was raw, desperate, and filled with terror.
“PLEASE, DANIEL! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T HURT ME!””
The line went dead.
Marcus lunged toward the door.
Robert caught his arm.
“Wait for the police.””
“She's my wife!””
“And yesterday, she accused me of hurting her. We are not going to make another decision based on panic.””
Marcus stared at him, torn between fear and rage.
Then another sound came through the phone.
A faint electronic chime.
Grace's voicemail system had activated automatically, recording the sounds in the pantry office.
A man's voice emerged from the speaker.
“Where are the original documents, Vanessa?””
Then Vanessa answered, sobbing.
“I gave them to you!””
“No. You gave me copies.””
“I swear I did!””
“You know what happens when people lie to me.””
A pause.
Then Vanessa whispered five words that made Robert's heart stop.
“Marcus doesn't know about the second baby.””
The recording ended.
For several seconds, nobody in Evelyn's office moved.
Marcus stared at the phone as though it had become a weapon.
“The second baby?”” he whispered.
Robert looked at him.
“Marcus—”
But his son was already backing away.
His face had gone white.
“No,” he said.
“No, that's impossible.””
He looked at Robert, his eyes filling with horror.
“She told me there was only one.””
May you like
Then he turned toward the door.
“Dad, what has she done?””
