Chapter 8: My Best Friend's Greatest Betrayal
I read the name again.
Daniel Brooks.
The letters seemed to blur.
I looked at Harrison.
“Tell me this is fake.””
He picked up the DNA report.
“I can't confirm its authenticity.””
“Then why was it inside Laura's folder?””
“I don't know.””
I took a step backward.
Daniel.
My business partner.
My closest friend.
The man who had been at Laura's hospital bedside during her final days.
The man who had comforted me after her funeral.
The man who had just protected Ethan from Andrew.
I remembered something suddenly.
Daniel had always been unusually protective of Ethan.
When I traveled for business, he checked on him. He attended school events. He remembered every birthday.
I had thought it was because Daniel loved him like a nephew.
Now I didn't know what to think.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
*Ethan is asking for you. When are you coming back?*
I stared at the screen.
Then I typed:
*Don't leave the house. I'm coming.*
Harrison touched my arm.
“Marcus, be careful. We don't know what this document means.””
“I need answers.””
“Let Detective Lawson handle the investigation.””
“I've spent three years letting other people handle things. Look where that got me.””
I walked out.
Two officers followed me to my car.
When I reached Daniel's house, the front door was open.
Ethan sat on the sofa with a blanket around his shoulders.
Daniel stood in the kitchen.
He looked relieved when he saw me.
“Marcus. Finally.””
I didn't answer.
Ethan ran toward me.
“Dad!””
I hugged him tightly.
“Hey, buddy.””
“Did you find out what the papers meant?””
I glanced at Daniel.
“Not yet.””
Daniel approached.
“Is everything okay?””
I looked at him for a long moment.
“Can we talk?””
He nodded.
“Of course.””
I asked Ethan to stay with Daniel's wife, Sarah, while we went into the study.
Once the door closed, I placed the DNA report on the desk.
Daniel looked at it.
His face changed immediately.
He didn't ask what it was.
He didn't ask why I had brought it.
He simply stared at the paper.
“Where did you get this?”” he whispered.
My stomach dropped.
“You recognize it?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Marcus…”
“Tell me it's a lie.””
He remained silent.
I felt my hands trembling.
“Daniel, look at me.””
He did.
And I saw something in his expression that I had never seen before.
Shame.
“Is Ethan your biological son?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.””
The room seemed to shrink.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
“How long?””
“Twelve years.””
I stared at him.
“Twelve years?””
He nodded.
I let out a short, broken laugh.
“You knew my son was yours for twelve years, and you let me raise him without telling me?””
Daniel's eyes filled.
“I didn't know at first.””
“What does that mean?””
He sat down.
“Laura and I were together briefly before you met her. It was complicated. We ended things, and she eventually married you.””
I shook my head.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Laura asked me not to.””
“That's not an answer!””
Daniel stood.
“She told me she was pregnant, but she wasn't certain who the father was. Andrew had been involved with her before you, and she was afraid of what would happen if the truth came out.””
I stared at him.
“So you knew there was a possibility?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I wanted to tell you. More than once.””
“But you didn't.””
Daniel lowered his head.
“Because when Ethan was born, Laura told me you were listed as his father. She said you loved him and that she didn't want him growing up in a family divided by secrets.””
I paced across the room.
“Did you ever have a relationship with her after she married me?””
“No.””
“Did you secretly visit her?””
“Sometimes. She needed help.””
“Did you give her money?””
Daniel nodded.
“How much?””
“Enough to cover some of her medical expenses.””
I stopped.
“Why didn't I know?””
“Because Laura didn't want you to feel responsible for everything. She knew your business was struggling.””
I stared at him.
Then another thought hit me.
“Did you know about Vanessa?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know Andrew was involved?””
“No, Marcus. I swear.””
I studied his face.
For years, I had trusted this man more than anyone outside my family.
But he had kept the biggest secret of my life.
“Why did Laura keep the DNA report?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Because she wanted Ethan to know the truth when he was old enough.””
“Then why did she never tell me?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“Of Andrew.””
He explained that shortly before Laura died, she had told him Andrew was threatening to expose Ethan's paternity unless she gave him access to the inheritance.
Andrew had discovered the possibility that Daniel was Ethan's biological father.
He wanted to use that secret to destroy my marriage and gain leverage over me.
Laura refused.
“She told me she had hidden the DNA report,” Daniel said.
“She wanted to keep it away from Andrew until Ethan was old enough to understand.””
I sat down.
“Why didn't you tell me when Vanessa started asking questions about Ethan?””
Daniel looked devastated.
“I didn't know she had found the report.””
I rubbed my face.
“Did you know about the second trust?””
“Yes.””
My head snapped up.
“What?””
Daniel nodded.
“Laura asked me to help protect it. I knew the money existed, but I never had access to it.””
“Why?””
“Because she trusted me to protect Ethan if something happened to her.””
I stared at him.
“You and Laura were making decisions about my son behind my back.””
“I know.””
“And you thought I would just accept that?””
“No.””
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“I thought you would hate me.””
I looked away.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Do you want custody of Ethan?””
Daniel looked horrified.
“No.””
“Would you ever try to take him away from me?””
“Never.””
“Then why does this DNA report exist?””
Daniel took a deep breath.
“Because Laura wanted proof. She had a second test done after Ethan was born. She asked me to sign an agreement stating that I would never claim parental rights unless Ethan himself asked to know the truth.””
He reached into his desk drawer.
Then he removed a sealed envelope.
“I've kept this for twelve years.””
I took it.
Inside was a signed document.
Daniel had legally agreed not to pursue parental rights over Ethan.
But there was another page.
A handwritten letter from Laura.
Daniel, if Marcus ever discovers the truth, please tell him that I never doubted his love for Ethan. I chose him because he was the only man I knew who would never make our son feel unwanted.
My eyes burned.
I read the letter again.
Then I heard a small voice behind me.
“Dad?””
I turned.
Ethan stood in the doorway.
He had heard everything.
His eyes moved from me to Daniel.
“Is Uncle Daniel my real dad?””
Neither of us answered immediately.
I walked toward him.
“Ethan, come here.””
He stepped into my arms.
“Does that mean you're not my dad anymore?””
The question shattered whatever was left of my composure.
I knelt in front of him.
“Listen to me. Nothing changes between us.””
“But the paper says…”
“I don't care what the paper says. I was there when you took your first steps. I held you when you had nightmares.
I taught you how to ride a bike. I watched you lose your first tooth. I've been your father every single day.””
His eyes filled.
“Then you're still my dad?””
I hugged him.
“Always.””
Daniel stood behind us, crying silently.
For a moment, I thought we might finally have the truth.
Then my phone rang.
Detective Lawson.
“Marcus, we found Richard Cole.””
“Where?””
“Leaving the country.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did you arrest him?””
“We intercepted him at the airport. But there's a problem.””
“What problem?””
Lawson lowered his voice.
“Richard had a passport under a different name. And he was carrying a photograph of Ethan.””
I felt cold.
“Why?””
“Because he wasn't trying to escape alone.””
A pause.
“Someone had arranged for him to take your son.””
I looked down at Ethan.
Then toward Daniel.
May you like
And for the first time, I realized the danger hadn't ended when Vanessa was arrested.
It had only changed shape.
