Chapter 8: The Secret Behind Ethan's Birth
Marcus took the photograph from Ethan.
He examined it carefully.
The woman was young, perhaps in her twenties, with dark hair and a pale face. She held a newborn baby wrapped in a yellow blanket.
Behind her stood a younger Daniel Cole.
Marcus stared at the image.
"Where did you get this?""
"It was inside the envelope.""
"Who is she?""
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Marcus looked toward Daniel Reeves.
"Find out.""
Daniel took a photograph of the picture and stepped into the hallway to make a call.
Ethan sat down.
His hands were shaking.
"There's something I've never told you.""
Marcus lowered himself into the chair opposite his son.
"What?""
"When I was sixteen, I found an old medical file in Uncle Daniel's house.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why were you in his house?""
"He invited me to spend the weekend. I was looking for a charger when I found a locked drawer.""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"The file had my name on it. It contained hospital records, blood tests, and a birth certificate.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"Your birth certificate?""
"It wasn't the one I had growing up.""
Marcus stared.
"What do you mean?""
Ethan pulled out his phone and opened a photograph.
It showed an official-looking document.
The mother's name was different.
*Rachel Morgan.*
Marcus read it twice.
"Who is Rachel Morgan?""
"I don't know.""
Ethan's voice became quieter.
"But Uncle Daniel told me she was a woman who had died before I was born.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Your mother is Eleanor.""
"That's what I've always believed.""
Ethan looked toward the garden.
"But what if the records say something else?""
Marcus stood.
"Your mother carried you. I was there when you were born.""
Eleanor, who had been sitting silently near the window, spoke.
"Marcus.""
He turned.
She looked at Ethan.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
Ethan approached her.
Eleanor took his hand.
"You were my baby. I carried you for nine months. I remember the first time you kicked. I remember holding you after you were born.""
Ethan's eyes filled.
"Then why is there another birth certificate?""
Eleanor looked confused.
"I don't know.""
Marcus turned toward me.
"Did you know about this?""
I shook my head.
But I remembered something.
Seven years earlier, Robert had shown me a folder containing hospital documents.
He had told me that Daniel had been involved in arranging Eleanor's medical transfer.
There had been another file.
A file marked with Ethan's name.
I had never opened it.
Because Robert had warned me not to.
"I might know something," I whispered.
Marcus turned sharply.
"Then speak.""
"Robert once showed me a medical file. It had Ethan's name on it.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"What was inside?""
"I don't know. I never opened it.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert told me it wasn't my business.""
Ethan laughed.
"Nothing was ever your business, was it? Except taking money.""
I lowered my eyes.
Marcus walked toward the window.
"Daniel needs to answer for this.""
His phone rang.
Daniel Reeves had returned.
"Marcus, I found the woman in the photograph.""
"Who is she?""
"Her name is Rachel Morgan. She worked as a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital eleven years ago.""
Ethan looked up.
"A nurse?""
Daniel nodded.
"She disappeared shortly after giving birth. Her employment records show she was dismissed following an internal investigation.""
Marcus frowned.
"What investigation?""
Daniel opened his tablet.
"An allegation of falsified medical records and unauthorized infant transfers.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"Do you know where she is?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Apparently, she's alive.""
Ethan stood.
"Where?""
"She lives in Connecticut under a different name.""
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
"We're going.""
But before anyone could move, Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then his expression changed.
"Marcus, there's been an incident.""
"What?""
"Someone broke into your house.""
My heart stopped.
Marcus grabbed his car keys.
"Was anything stolen?""
Daniel looked at his tablet.
"The security company says the intruder went straight to your study.""
Ethan frowned.
"What did he take?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Nothing.""
"Then why did he break in?""
Daniel looked up.
"Because he left something behind.""
He turned the tablet toward Marcus.
A photograph showed a white envelope sitting on the desk.
Marcus recognized the handwriting immediately.
His brother's.
Inside was a single sentence.
*Stop looking for Rachel, or you'll discover why Ethan was never supposed to inherit your name.*
Ethan stared at the message.
"What does that mean?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I knew I should stay quiet.
But something about the wording disturbed me.
Ethan had never been legally adopted.
He had never questioned his parentage before.
And if Daniel had been manipulating the family for years, perhaps Ethan's birth records were part of a much larger scheme.
Marcus turned toward me.
"Vanessa, you said Robert showed you Ethan's file.""
I nodded.
"What did the cover say?""
I closed my eyes.
Then I remembered.
The black folder.
The red stamp.
The words Robert had told me never to repeat.
"Confidential. Parentage Dispute.""
Ethan went pale.
Marcus stepped toward me.
"What else?""
I swallowed.
"Robert told me there was a reason Daniel wanted Ethan kept close to Eleanor.""
Ethan looked at me.
"What reason?""
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
But as I spoke, another memory surfaced.
A conversation between Robert and Daniel.
A sentence I had overheard through a half-open office door.
"Once the boy turns twenty-five, the bloodline question becomes irrelevant. We only need to keep him away from the original records.""
I looked at Ethan.
And suddenly, I understood why Daniel had spent so much time trying to separate him from his father.
It wasn't simply because Ethan was the heir.
It was because Ethan might not be Marcus's biological son.
Marcus stared at me.
"Say it.""
I began crying.
"I think Daniel was trying to make sure you never discovered who Ethan's real father was.""
Ethan looked at Marcus.
"Dad?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's trembling voice came through.
"Ethan? My name is Rachel Morgan.""
He froze.
"Who?""
"I've been trying to find you for eleven years.""
Ethan looked at Marcus.
Rachel continued.
"Please listen to me. Daniel Cole is not your uncle.""
A pause.
May you like
Then she said the words that shattered the room.
"He's your biological father.""
