Chapter 8: The Second Baby
I read the message three times.
*Ask Amy about the second baby.*
Five words.
That was all.
But somehow, those five words carried more weight than every document scattered across my dining table.
I looked at my wife.
She looked back at me.
And I knew.
She had been waiting for this moment.
Not because she wanted it.
Because she knew it was coming.
“Amy.””
Her lips trembled.
“Connor…”
“What second baby?””
Nobody spoke.
The silence was unbearable.
Even Frederick seemed to sense the tension. He shifted in my arms, letting out a small cry.
Amy immediately reached for him.
But this time, I didn’t let the question disappear.
I needed the truth.
“What second baby?””
She looked down.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Tell me what?””
She sat slowly on the couch.
“Before Frederick was born, there was another baby involved.””
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Does he know?””
Daniel nodded.
“Not everything.””
I stared at him.
“Then everyone starts talking.””
Daniel stepped back.
“This is between you and your wife.””
I nodded.
For once, someone in this house understood.
I turned back to Amy.
“Start from the beginning.””
She took a deep breath.
“When I was pregnant, my father contacted me.””
I frowned.
“You told me he hadn’t contacted you.””
“I meant recently.””
That answer hurt.
“But before?””
She nodded.
“He found out I was pregnant.””
“Why did that matter?””
“Because he wanted to know if the baby was a boy or a girl.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because of my family trust.””
I remembered what she had said earlier.
The trust.
The birthday coming up.
The transfer of control.
“He needed an heir.””
Amy nodded.
“He believed my child would give him another way to control the future.””
My stomach turned.
“So what did he do?””
“He offered me money.””
“How much?””
“Enough that most people would have changed their lives.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
She looked at Frederick.
“I chose you.””
The words should have comforted me.
Instead, they made me angry.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was over.””
“What was over?””
She wiped her face.
“The arrangement.””
I stared.
“What arrangement?””
She hesitated.
Then whispered,
“My father had planned for me to marry someone else.””
I closed my eyes.
I knew that part.
But hearing it again still hurt.
“When I refused, he threatened me.””
“With what?””
“With taking away everything.””
She looked toward the documents.
“He said he would destroy anyone I built a life with.””
I looked at my son.
“And the second baby?””
Amy took a shaky breath.
“When Frederick was born…”
She stopped.
Her voice broke.
“When Frederick was born, another woman gave birth in the same hospital.””
I waited.
“What does that have to do with us?””
Amy looked at me.
“Her baby was connected to my father.””
I frowned.
“How?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know all the details.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
She looked toward Teresa.
My mother looked away.
I noticed.
“Mom.””
Teresa closed her eyes.
“I found out later.””
“Found out what?””
She swallowed.
“That Richard had been looking for a child.””
“What child?””
“The child of someone who could challenge his control.””
I stared.
“A legal heir?””
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
I paced across the room.
“So Richard wants people to believe Frederick is connected to this other child?””
“Yes,” Daniel said quietly.
I looked at him.
“Explain.””
Daniel opened his briefcase.
“He is creating uncertainty.””
“Why?””
“To create a legal battle.””
I frowned.
“But Frederick is my son.””
“Yes.””
“And Amy is my wife.””
“Yes.””
“Then why would this help him?””
Daniel placed a document on the table.
“Because your father-in-law believes that if he can prove a connection between your child and another family matter, he can freeze certain assets.””
I stared at the papers.
“This is insane.””
“Yes.””
Daniel nodded.
“But it’s possible.””
I looked at Amy.
“Did you know any of this?””
“No.””
Her answer came immediately.
“I swear.””
I believed her.
And that realization surprised me.
After everything.
After all the secrets.
I still believed her.
Because unlike everyone else, Amy’s lies had always looked like fear.
Not greed.
I sat beside her.
“Then tell me about the other baby.””
She nodded.
“The baby belonged to a woman named Claire.””
“Who is Claire?””
“My father’s former employee.””
Daniel looked surprised.
“You know her name?””
Amy nodded.
“I found her name in the records.””
“What happened to her?””
Amy looked at the floor.
“She disappeared.””
A cold silence filled the room.
“Disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“Did your father hurt her?””
Amy looked horrified.
“I don’t know.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Evan suddenly said,
“I do.””
Everyone turned.
I looked at my brother.
“What?””
Evan rubbed his face.
“I saw something.””
“When?””
“Two months ago.””
My anger returned.
“Two months ago?””
He looked at me.
“I know.””
“Everyone keeps knowing things before me.””
He lowered his head.
“I deserve that.””
“Tell me.””
Evan swallowed.
“I was at Marcus Hale’s office.””
“Why?””
“To discuss my debts.””
Of course.
“Go on.””
“I heard Marcus arguing with Richard.””
“What did they say?””
Evan looked nervous.
“They were talking about a woman.””
“Claire?””
He nodded.
“They said she had contacted someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Then what?””
“They said if she revealed the truth, everything would collapse.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What truth?””
Evan looked at Amy.
Then me.
“The second baby wasn’t supposed to exist.””
Nobody moved.
“What does that mean?””
Evan shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“I might.””
Everyone looked at him.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I found this before I left Richard’s company.””
He showed us a photo.
A hospital document.
A newborn record.
The name was partially covered.
But one line was visible.
*Mother: Claire Whitmore*
Daniel froze.
Then looked at me.
“Wait.””
I stared.
“What?””
He zoomed in.
The father’s name was listed.
My breath stopped.
Because it wasn’t Richard Parker.
It wasn’t anyone I expected.
The father listed was:
*Thomas Bradley.*
My father.
I felt the room tilt.
“My father?””
Teresa covered her mouth.
Evan stepped back.
“No.””
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
“Mom?””
She couldn’t look at me.
“What does this mean?””
Her voice barely came out.
“Connor…”
I waited.
“Your father had another child.””
The words hit me like a punch.
I looked at Frederick.
Then at the document.
Then at my family.
“My father had a child with Claire?””
Teresa nodded.
“And Richard Parker knew.””
I felt numb.
“Why?””
“Because that child is the reason he’s been trying to control everything.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who is the child?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, he pulled out one final page.
A birth certificate.
A name.
A date.
And a photograph attached.
I picked it up.
The face in the picture was older.
A young man.
Someone I had never met.
But someone whose eyes looked painfully familiar.
Daniel spoke softly.
“Connor…”
I stared at the photograph.
“What?””
He pointed at the name.
The name of my father’s hidden child.
The person who had been missing from our family for decades.
The person Richard Parker wanted to use against us.
May you like
The name written on the document was:
*Evan Bradley.*
