Chapter 6: The Truth Behind the Accident
Marcus looked at me.
I shook my head immediately.
"She's lying.""
Catherine's voice came through the phone again.
"Marcus, please listen to me.""
He raised the device.
"I'm listening.""
"I should have told you years ago. I was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
"Of the people involved.""
Marcus's expression darkened.
"Who?""
Catherine hesitated.
Then she said:
"Vanessa.""
Ethan stepped closer.
"How could Vanessa be involved? She didn't even know Dad back then.""
Catherine answered quietly.
"She knew Laura.""
My stomach dropped.
Marcus looked confused.
"That's impossible.""
"Marcus, your first wife and Vanessa worked at the same medical foundation for nearly two years.""
I felt the room closing in.
Marcus slowly turned toward me.
"Is that true?""
I forced a laugh.
"She's mistaken.""
Catherine continued.
"I have photographs. I have emails. I even have the original hospital incident report.""
Marcus's voice became sharper.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because Vanessa threatened me.""
I closed my eyes.
Ethan looked at me.
"What did you do to her?""
I snapped.
"Nothing!""
Marcus raised his hand.
"Let her speak.""
Catherine continued.
"After Laura died, I received a package at my apartment. Inside were photographs of my children leaving school. There was a note telling me to stop asking questions.""
Marcus's face changed.
"Who sent it?""
"I recognized the handwriting.""
"Whose?""
Catherine didn't answer immediately.
Then she said:
"Vanessa's.""
I laughed.
"That's absurd.""
"Do you remember the blue envelope you left in my mailbox?"" Catherine asked.
I went cold.
"Do you remember what you wrote inside?""
I gripped the edge of the table.
Marcus looked at me.
"What envelope?""
Catherine's voice trembled.
"It said, 'Some secrets are worth keeping if you want your family to survive.''"
Marcus slowly lowered his phone.
Ethan stared at me.
"Is that true?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
But the denial sounded weak even to me.
Marcus turned back toward Catherine.
"Where is the evidence?""
"At my house.""
"Send me the address.""
"I don't think that's safe.""
"Why?""
"Because someone has been inside my apartment.""
Marcus frowned.
"When?""
"Last night.""
A chill passed through the room.
"What was taken?""
"My computer. A box of photographs. And the original hospital report.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Can you contact the police?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
Catherine interrupted.
"Wait. There's something else.""
Marcus pressed the phone closer.
"What?""
"I kept a copy of the report somewhere else.""
"Where?""
"With Olivia.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Thank God.""
Catherine continued.
"But there's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"Olivia doesn't know the entire truth.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why not?""
"Because I promised Laura I wouldn't tell her until she was old enough to understand.""
Ethan looked at his father.
"What truth?""
Catherine took a shaky breath.
"Olivia's biological father isn't Marcus.""
The silence was immediate.
Marcus stared at the phone.
"What?""
"Laura was already pregnant when she married you.""
Marcus stepped backward.
Ethan looked stunned.
I couldn't stop a small smile from forming.
Finally.
After all these years, the secret was coming out.
Marcus lowered his head.
"Then why did Laura tell me Olivia was mine?""
Catherine answered gently.
"Because she loved you. And because you wanted to be a father more than anything.""
Marcus sat down.
His hands covered his face.
Ethan moved beside him.
"Dad...""
Marcus shook his head.
"Twenty-three years.""
His voice cracked.
"Twenty-three years believing she was my daughter.""
Catherine spoke softly.
"She is your daughter, Marcus. Not by blood, but you raised her in your heart even when you didn't know she existed.""
Marcus looked up.
"But who is her biological father?""
Catherine was silent.
I knew the answer.
I had known it for years.
And I had made sure nobody else would ever discover it.
Marcus asked again.
"Catherine, who is the father?""
A long pause followed.
Then she whispered:
"His name is Robert Hayes.""
Marcus's face changed.
"Robert?""
"Yes.""
Ethan frowned.
"Who is Robert Hayes?""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
Daniel answered.
"Robert was one of your father's closest business partners.""
Marcus stood abruptly.
"That's impossible.""
Catherine continued.
"He was also the man Laura was seeing before she married you.""
Marcus walked toward the window.
His hands trembled.
"Robert died twelve years ago.""
"Yes.""
"Then why was this hidden from me?""
"Because Laura was afraid.""
"Of Robert?""
"Of what he would do if he discovered the truth.""
Marcus turned.
"What does that have to do with Vanessa?""
Catherine went quiet.
Then she said:
"Because Vanessa was Robert's daughter.""
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
Ethan slowly turned toward me.
Marcus stared.
"What?""
Catherine repeated herself.
"Vanessa is Robert Hayes's daughter.""
Marcus looked at me.
I couldn't move.
He whispered:
"Is that true?""
I swallowed.
Then I lifted my chin.
"Yes.""
Ethan stepped backward.
"You're Robert Hayes's daughter?""
I nodded.
Marcus's voice was barely audible.
"You knew Laura?""
"Yes.""
"Before you met me?""
"Yes.""
He stared at me.
"Then you didn't marry me by accident.""
I didn't answer.
Marcus took a step closer.
"Tell me the truth.""
I looked at him.
And suddenly, I was tired of pretending.
"No," I said.
"I didn't marry you by accident.""
Ethan's mouth fell open.
Marcus looked as if I had struck him.
"Why?""
I laughed bitterly.
"Because your family took everything from mine.""
Marcus frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
"My father lost his company because of you.""
"Robert made his own business decisions.""
"He lost everything after you refused to honor your agreement!""
Marcus shook his head.
"That was twenty years ago.""
"And my father died believing you had destroyed him.""
"I never wanted him dead.""
I laughed.
"Of course you didn't. You just walked away while he lost everything.""
Marcus looked toward Daniel.
"Is there any truth to this?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Robert Hayes's company was involved in a major financial dispute with Cole Industries. However, the settlement was legally approved.""
I stepped forward.
"Legally approved by people you paid!""
Marcus stared at me.
For the first time, he seemed to understand.
I hadn't entered his life because I loved him.
I had entered it because I wanted access.
His house.
His company.
His estate.
Everything.
And Laura's secret had made the perfect weapon.
"You used me," Marcus whispered.
I smiled.
"I used the opportunity you gave me.""
Ethan shook his head.
"You're sick.""
I turned toward him.
"You should be thanking me. Your father was never going to give you anything without my approval.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Get out.""
I laughed.
"What?""
"Get out of my house.""
"This is my house too.""
"Not anymore.""
I folded my arms.
"You can't throw me out without a lawyer.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Can I?""
Daniel nodded.
"Given the circumstances, we can begin the legal process immediately. But I recommend we contact the authorities first.""
I laughed.
"Authorities? For what?""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"For suspected fraud, forgery, financial theft, and potentially evidence tampering.""
My smile disappeared.
Marcus turned toward me.
"You're leaving this house tonight.""
I looked at him.
Then at Ethan.
Then at the front door.
I could have left.
But I wasn't going to.
Not after twenty-three years of waiting.
"You still don't understand," I whispered.
Marcus frowned.
"Understand what?""
I reached into my robe pocket and pulled out a small photograph.
It showed a newborn baby wrapped in a white hospital blanket.
On the back was a handwritten date.
And beneath it, one sentence.
Robert's daughter. Born three days before Laura's death.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
"Where did you get that?""
I smiled.
"From the hospital records.""
Daniel took a step forward.
"Vanessa, put that down.""
I ignored him.
Then I looked at Marcus.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
His face tightened.
"What?""
I held the photograph between my fingers.
"Your first wife didn't just hide Olivia's biological father.""
I paused.
"She also had another child.""
Ethan went pale.
Marcus stared at me.
"Another child?""
I nodded.
"And that child has been living in this house for the last eighteen months.""
Nobody moved.
Then Ethan slowly turned toward me.
His voice broke.
"What are you saying?""
I looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm saying that your father didn't marry a stranger.""
I glanced at Marcus.
"He married the daughter of the man who fathered his first wife's child.""
Marcus looked horrified.
But the final blow came when I added:
"And Ethan, your mother wasn't the only person who knew the truth about your birth.""
Ethan staggered backward.
"Dad?""
Marcus looked at him.
Then at me.
And before he could ask another question, the doorbell rang.
Daniel checked the security monitor.
His expression changed.
"Mr. Cole...""
Marcus turned.
"Who is it?""
Daniel swallowed.
"It's Olivia.""
He paused.
"She's not alone.""
Through the glass entrance, a woman stood holding an old photograph.
Beside her was a man Marcus recognized immediately.
May you like
A man who had supposedly been dead for twelve years.
Robert Hayes.
