Chapter 8: The Son Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
Ethan stared at his phone.
His fingers trembled.
"Dad...""
Marcus turned.
"What is it?""
Ethan handed him the device.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
A hospital bracelet.
A date.
A name.
Ethan Cole.
But beneath the name was another line.
*Biological Mother: Laura Cole.*
Marcus frowned.
"What's this?""
Ethan looked at him.
"I don't understand.""
Robert stepped closer.
"Let me see.""
Marcus handed him the phone.
Robert examined the photograph carefully.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"How old are you?""
"Twenty-three.""
Robert nodded.
"That's what I thought.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Explain.""
Robert took a breath.
"Laura gave birth to twins.""
The room fell silent.
Ethan blinked.
"Twins?""
Robert nodded.
"Olivia and Ethan.""
Marcus stared at him.
"That's impossible. Ethan was born six months before Laura died.""
"Exactly.""
Marcus turned toward his son.
Ethan looked as if the floor had disappeared beneath him.
"You're saying Olivia is my twin?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
Ethan looked at the hospital bracelet again.
"But I was told my mother died during childbirth.""
Marcus's face twisted.
"No. Your mother died seven years ago.""
Ethan shook his head.
"That's what you told me.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Because that's what the doctors told me.""
Robert looked at Marcus.
"Your mother arranged the separation. One child was transferred to another family. The other remained with you.""
Ethan's voice cracked.
"Why?""
Robert lowered his eyes.
"Because the family wanted an heir.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Robert continued.
"They believed one child could be raised under the Cole name while the other disappeared. Olivia was the one they sent away.""
Ethan stared at the phone.
"Then why was I told Mom died when I was born?""
"Because the medical records were altered.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I was at the hospital.""
Robert nodded.
"You were shown a baby. But you weren't shown both.""
Marcus looked at his son.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ethan asked the question that made everyone uncomfortable.
"Does this mean you're not my father?""
Marcus immediately grabbed his shoulders.
"No.""
"But the records—"
"I raised you. I loved you. I changed your diapers.
I taught you to ride a bicycle. I sat beside your bed when you had nightmares.""
Marcus's voice broke.
"Nothing in that photograph changes who I am.""
Ethan's eyes filled.
"Then why did everyone lie?""
Marcus pulled him into an embrace.
"I don't know, son.""
Ethan held on tightly.
I watched them.
And suddenly, I realized something.
The money wasn't the biggest problem anymore.
The estate wasn't the biggest problem.
The twins were.
Because if Olivia and Ethan were both Laura's children, the inheritance arrangements could become complicated.
And if Robert was their biological father, his claims might threaten everything.
I stepped toward the table.
"There's no reason to believe this photograph.""
Robert looked at me.
"There's a reason.""
He removed another document.
"A DNA test.""
Marcus took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"Did you know?""
Ethan shook his head.
"No.""
Marcus turned to Robert.
"How did you get this?""
"Olivia arranged it. She wanted to know whether the stories about her family were true.""
Marcus read the report again.
The results confirmed a full sibling relationship between Ethan and Olivia.
But there was another result.
The biological father was listed as Robert Hayes.
Marcus's hand dropped.
"So both children are his.""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Then why did Laura marry me?""
Robert's expression softened.
"Because she loved you.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Don't.""
"She did. She was pregnant when you married her, and she knew the truth. But she wanted a family with you.""
Marcus shook his head.
"She should have told me.""
"She was afraid you'd leave.""
"I would never have left her.""
Robert lowered his eyes.
"I know that now.""
Ethan walked away from his father.
He stopped in front of me.
"Did you know?""
I stared at him.
"Know what?""
"That Olivia was my twin.""
I didn't answer.
Ethan's expression changed.
"You knew.""
"I knew there were two children.""
"How long?""
I looked away.
"Since before your father married me.""
Ethan's voice rose.
"Since before you married him?""
Marcus turned.
"Vanessa?""
I took a breath.
"Yes.""
Ethan shook his head.
"You knew my sister existed, and you watched me grow up without her?""
I snapped.
"You had a good life!""
"I had a missing mother!""
"You had a father who gave you everything!""
"Except the truth!""
His words hit harder than I expected.
Marcus stepped between us.
"That's enough.""
I turned toward him.
"You think I'm the only one who lied? Your mother arranged the adoption. Robert abandoned everyone.
Laura kept secrets. Daniel forged documents.""
Daniel flinched.
Marcus stared.
"And what did you do?""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Marcus continued.
"You came into my life knowing exactly who I was.""
I looked at him.
"Yes.""
"You married me for money.""
"At first.""
"And now?""
I laughed.
"Now I want what I was promised.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You're not getting a penny.""
I smiled.
"That's not your decision anymore.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Vanessa, the transfer was never completed.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
"The holding company documents were drafts. The authorization was invalid. Marcus never signed the final transfer.""
I stared at him.
"You told me it was finished.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I told you it was ready for review.""
"You liar!""
He looked at Marcus.
"I have the original files.""
Marcus nodded.
"Keep them safe.""
Then Robert spoke.
"There's another issue.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"What now?""
Robert removed a final document.
"This is the original hospital record. It includes the name of the nurse who arranged the transfer.""
Marcus looked down.
The name was written clearly.
*Nurse Patricia Cole.*
His mother's younger sister.
Marcus stared.
"Patricia?""
Robert nodded.
"She was the one who handled the paperwork.""
Marcus looked up.
"She's alive?""
"Yes.""
"Where is she?""
Robert hesitated.
"She lives in Connecticut.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Then we call her.""
Robert shook his head.
"She won't talk.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
"Because she believes Laura's second child died.""
Ethan looked confused.
"Second child?""
Robert nodded.
"Olivia was the child transferred to another family. But the hospital records show another infant was also registered under a different identity.""
Marcus stared.
"Another infant?""
Robert looked at him.
"Yes.""
I felt my pulse accelerate.
Marcus turned toward me.
"Vanessa, what does he mean?""
I said nothing.
Robert's voice became quieter.
"The hospital records show that Laura gave birth to three children.""
Nobody moved.
Ethan looked at his father.
"Triplets?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus gripped the table.
"Where is the third child?""
Robert slowly turned toward me.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
I laughed.
"You're all insane.""
But Robert didn't look away.
He reached into his briefcase and removed a photograph.
It showed three newborn babies.
Two were wearing white hospital bracelets.
The third had a small silver bracelet around its wrist.
Marcus stared at the picture.
Then he looked at me.
"Why is that bracelet familiar?""
I couldn't answer.
Because I knew exactly why.
It was the bracelet I had worn as a baby.
The one my father had told me was the only thing left from my mother.
Robert placed the photograph on the table.
Then he said the words that destroyed my last defense.
"Vanessa isn't just Robert Hayes's daughter.""
May you like
He looked at Marcus.
"She's Laura's third child.""
