Chapter 7: The Secret Nia Carried Alone
Marcus felt the fear in Nia’s voice before she even spoke.
He immediately walked toward her.
“Come here.””
She hesitated.
That hesitation hurt.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She still wasn’t sure she was allowed to need him.
Marcus knelt down.
“You can tell me anything.””
Nia looked at the floor.
“I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d be angry.””
“Angry at you?””
She nodded.
Marcus shook his head.
“Never.””
She sat beside him.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then:
“Vanessa told me I wasn’t supposed to know.””
Marcus waited.
“Know what?””
Nia’s eyes filled with tears.
“About the adoption papers.””
Marcus froze.
“What adoption papers?””
She looked scared.
“The ones from before you married Vanessa.””
Marcus’s mind raced.
“What did she tell you?””
“She said you only adopted me because you promised my mom.””
Marcus felt his breath disappear.
That wasn’t true.
Not completely.
He had adopted Nia because he loved her.
Because she was his daughter in every way that mattered.
“Why would she tell you that?””
Nia whispered:
“Because she wanted me to leave.””
Marcus held her hand.
“What else?””
“She said if I ever made you angry, you would send me back.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Another lie.
Another fear planted inside a child.
But then Nia said something that made him look up.
“She also said my mom left something for me.””
“What?””
“A letter.””
Marcus frowned.
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
Nia looked toward the hallway.
“She took it.””
Marcus stood.
“Who?””
Nia’s voice became small.
“Vanessa.””
Marcus found Vanessa in the living room.
“Where is the letter?””
Vanessa looked confused.
“What letter?””
“The one from Nia’s mother.””
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Marcus saw it.
“You have it.””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is it?””
“I said I don’t know.””
Then Daniel walked in.
He looked at Marcus.
“I know where it is.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel held a small envelope.
Marcus stared.
“Where did you get that?””
“From Vanessa’s things.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“You searched my room?””
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You left it in the folder with the other documents.””
Marcus took the envelope.
His hands shook.
The handwriting was familiar.
Nia’s mother’s handwriting.
He had not seen it in twelve years.
He sat down slowly.
Then looked at Nia.
“Do you want to read it?””
She nodded.
Marcus opened the letter carefully.
Inside was a message written before Nia’s mother passed away.
It wasn’t long.
But every word carried years of love.
Nia read quietly.
Then she started crying.
Marcus pulled her close.
Vanessa watched from across the room.
And for once, she had nothing to say.
Later that night, Marcus confronted Vanessa again.
“You tried to erase her mother.””
Vanessa looked exhausted.
“I was trying to protect my marriage.””
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You were trying to remove anything that reminded me she existed.””
Vanessa looked away.
Then she whispered:
“You don’t know everything.””
Marcus froze.
“What does that mean?””
She looked toward Daniel.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Vanessa.””
But she continued.
“There’s a reason Ethan knew about Nia.””
Marcus stared.
“Explain.””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then said:
“Because Ethan wasn’t just helping me.””
A cold silence filled the room.
“Who was he helping?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
And answered:
“Someone who wanted control of your company.””
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
“Who?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Your father.””
Marcus froze.
His father had been dead for five years.
“That’s impossible.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
She reached into the folder.
“There’s something you never knew.””
She placed a document on the table.
Marcus looked at the signature.
His father’s signature.
Dated one month before he died.
And beneath it was a statement that changed everything.
May you like
His father had been preparing to remove Marcus from his own company.
And Vanessa had been part of the plan.
