Chapter 5: My Father's Last Secret
I stared at Marcus.
"What did you just say?""
He dragged a hand over his face.
"Your father was involved in something years ago. I didn't know how to explain it.""
"Explain it now.""
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
Then he checked his phone.
It was the same nervous habit he'd developed whenever someone asked him a question he didn't want to answer.
"Nia, this goes back before we got married.""
I shook my head.
"My father died seven years ago. Whatever you're hiding, I deserve to know.""
He pulled out a chair.
I remained standing.
"Sit down," he said.
"No.""
He sighed.
"Your father approached me about an investment opportunity.""
I frowned.
"What investment?""
"A medical research company. He was helping a friend establish a fertility research foundation.""
I stared at him.
"My father was an accountant. He knew nothing about medical research.""
"He wasn't a doctor. He helped with the finances.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
Marcus shrugged.
"Maybe he didn't want you involved.""
I felt anger rising.
"Stop using my dead father to explain your lies.""
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Thomas knew about his family's medical history. He believed there might be inherited fertility problems.""
I froze.
"What?""
"He wanted to investigate it.""
"My father had three children.""
"I know.""
"Then what are you talking about?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"Your father was concerned about something that happened in his family.""
I remembered my childhood.
My father had been a quiet man.
He rarely discussed his relatives.
His parents had died before I was born, and most of his extended family lived overseas.
When I asked about them, he usually changed the subject.
But that didn't explain why Marcus had been involved.
"How did you meet the research company?""
"Through Daniel.""
I stared at him.
"Daniel?""
"He introduced me to the people running it.""
I laughed once.
"So Daniel introduced you to a medical research company, helped you with a donor arrangement, and somehow my father's name ended up on your records?""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"You're making everything sound suspicious.""
"Because it is.""
My phone rang.
Dr. Carter.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Bennett, I've spoken with our records administrator. We located an additional archived document.""
My eyes moved toward Marcus.
"What document?""
"A transfer authorization dated seven years ago. It appears that your father's medical records were transferred to a private research facility before his death.""
My knees weakened.
"Who authorized it?""
There was a pause.
"Your husband.""
I looked at Marcus.
He had gone completely still.
"Marcus?""
He stared at the phone.
Dr. Carter continued.
"The signature appears to be his. However, we cannot verify the authenticity without further investigation.""
"Can you send me a copy?""
"I've sent it to your secure patient portal.""
I ended the call.
Then I turned toward Marcus.
"You transferred my father's medical records?""
He didn't deny it.
"Your father asked me to.""
"When?""
"Shortly before he died.""
I shook my head.
"My father was in the hospital. He could barely speak.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"He knew what he was doing.""
"Did he?""
I opened the attachment.
The document contained a list of medical records, a transfer authorization, and a handwritten note.
At the bottom was a name.
*EVELYN BENNETT.*
My mother.
I looked up.
"Why is Mom listed as a witness?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Because she knew.""
The words struck me like a physical blow.
"My mother knew?""
He nodded.
I immediately called her.
She answered after the fourth ring.
"Nia, sweetheart?""
"Mom, I need to ask you something.""
"Is everything okay?""
"Did Dad ever donate genetic material to a fertility research program?""
Silence.
Long, uncomfortable silence.
Then my mother whispered:
"Where did you hear that?""
I gripped the phone.
"Is it true?""
She began crying.
"Oh, Nia.""
"Mom, answer me.""
"Your father wanted to help people. That's all.""
"Help people how?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Before you were born, there was a medical study involving men from your father's family. Your grandfather had been diagnosed with a rare inherited reproductive condition. Your father agreed to provide medical samples for research.""
I closed my eyes.
"What does that have to do with me?""
"Nothing, sweetheart. Nothing.""
"Then why is my name on the records?""
My mother stopped crying.
"What records?""
I glanced at Marcus.
"Mom, I know about the transfer authorization.""
Another silence.
Then she said something that made my stomach drop.
"Your father made Marcus promise never to tell you.""
I felt my fingers go numb.
"Why?""
"Because he was afraid you'd misunderstand.""
"Understand what?""
My mother began speaking so quietly I almost couldn't hear her.
"Your father wasn't your biological father.""
I stopped breathing.
The kitchen seemed to disappear around me.
"What?""
"Thomas loved you. He raised you. He was your father in every way that mattered.""
I leaned against the counter.
"Who was my biological father?""
She cried harder.
"I don't know.""
"Mom!""
"Thomas never told me the man's name. He only said the arrangement had happened before we were married.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was staring at the floor.
And suddenly I understood something.
My husband hadn't just been hiding his fertility results.
He knew about my family history.
He knew about the research records.
And he had deliberately connected those records to his own secret medical arrangements.
I ended the call.
"How long have you known?""
Marcus looked up.
"About what?""
"That Thomas wasn't my biological father.""
He swallowed.
"Since before our wedding.""
I stepped away from him.
"You knew?""
"Nia, it wasn't my place to tell you.""
"Then whose place was it?""
He reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"Your father made me promise.""
I stared at him.
"My father trusted you.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"No. You were protecting yourself.""
Marcus's face hardened.
"You don't understand how complicated this is.""
"Then make me understand.""
He looked toward the front door.
And I realized he was considering leaving.
"Marcus.""
He stopped.
"There's one more thing I need to know.""
He turned.
"Who was my biological father?""
His expression changed.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear in his eyes.
Then he whispered:
"Daniel knows.""
Twenty minutes later, Daniel arrived.
He entered the kitchen without taking off his coat.
Marcus stood by the window.
I sat at the table with the medical records in front of me.
"Tell her," Marcus said.
Daniel looked at him.
"Tell her what?""
"About Thomas.""
Daniel slowly removed his coat.
Then he looked at me.
"Your father was involved in a private medical research project. The project was established by a group of doctors who were studying hereditary infertility.""
"Was my father a participant?""
"Yes.""
"Was he my biological father?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Not according to the original research file.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Who was?""
Daniel looked down.
Then he said:
"The name recorded on your original birth-related medical file was Robert Cross.""
I stared at him.
"Cross?""
Daniel nodded.
"Robert was my father.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Daniel.
"You mean...""
Daniel's voice broke.
"Yes, Nia. According to the file, you and I may share the same biological father.""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel placed a document on the table.
It was a copy of the original research authorization.
Two names appeared beside each other.
Robert Cross.
Thomas Bennett.
And beneath them was a note that made my heart stop.
*BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP REQUIRES CONFIRMATION.*
Daniel looked at me.
"There's something else. Marcus didn't discover your father's records by accident.""
I slowly raised my head.
"Then why did he?""
May you like
Daniel turned toward my husband.
"Because Marcus was searching for someone who could give him access to a much larger inheritance.""
