Chapter 3: The Man at the Front Door
The doorbell rang a second time.
Nicole went completely still.
Daniel noticed.
So did Maya.
“Are you expecting someone?”” Daniel asked.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
He looked at the phone on the island, where the threatening message still glowed against the dark screen.
“Then who is it?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel walked toward the foyer.
Nicole hurried after him.
“Daniel, don't answer that door.””
He stopped at the bottom of the staircase and turned.
“Why?””
“Because this is a private family matter.””
“Someone is threatening you, you may be pregnant, and a test you bought has appeared in our kitchen. I think we're past the point of pretending this is a normal evening.””
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“Then help me understand.””
She reached for his arm.
“Please. Just give me until tomorrow.””
Daniel gently removed her hand.
“You've had more time than I knew about.””
He continued toward the front door.
Maya remained beside the island with Noah, her younger brother pressed against her side. She could hear the rain tapping against the tall windows, and every sound seemed sharper than before.
Nicole turned toward her.
“Maya, go upstairs with Noah.””
“No.””
Her mother's eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me. I'm done leaving rooms whenever you tell me to.””
Nicole stared at her daughter.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
For one fleeting second, Nicole looked as if she might actually do it.
Instead, she grabbed her handbag from the counter.
“If your father wants to destroy this family, I won't stand here and watch.””
She headed toward the hallway.
Maya stepped into her path.
“Where are you going?””
“Move.””
“No. You don't get to accuse me, frighten Noah, and then walk away when someone asks you a question.””
Nicole's cheeks flushed.
“You ungrateful little—”
“Nicole.””
Daniel's voice came from the foyer.
He had opened the front door.
Maya turned.
A man stood on the front porch, rainwater darkening the shoulders of his charcoal coat. He looked to be in his early forties, with neatly trimmed dark hair and a small scar running along his jaw.
Maya had seen him before.
Not in person.
In a photograph.
She couldn't remember where.
The stranger held a leather folder beneath one arm.
“Daniel Carter?”” he asked.
Daniel stood squarely in the doorway.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Adrian Cole. I need to speak with your wife.””
Nicole made a strangled sound behind Maya.
Adrian looked past Daniel and saw her.
His expression changed.
“Nicole.””
She gripped the banister.
“Adrian, you shouldn't be here.””
“I tried calling you.””
“You should have stopped trying.””
He glanced at Daniel.
“I'm sorry to bring this to your home. But there's something you need to know.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“What does this have to do with my wife?””
Adrian opened the leather folder.
“Everything.””
Nicole hurried toward the front door.
“Daniel, don't listen to him.””
Adrian removed a document.
“You told me you were going to handle this privately.””
“I am handling it!””
“No,” he replied.
“You accused your daughter of carrying a child that may not even belong to her.””
The entire foyer went silent.
Daniel turned slowly toward Nicole.
“What did he just say?””
Adrian looked uncomfortable for the first time.
“I didn't know Maya was involved until I received a message this afternoon. I came here because I thought you deserved to hear the truth before things got worse.””
Nicole snatched at the document.
Adrian pulled it away.
“Stop it,” he said.
“You don't get to rewrite this anymore.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Give me the document.””
Adrian hesitated, then handed it over.
The first page was a laboratory report.
Daniel scanned the header.
Then the date.
Then the name printed beneath the word Patient.
*Nicole Carter.*
A second name appeared farther down the page.
*Adrian Cole.*
Daniel's face became unreadable.
Maya watched his eyes move across the page. He didn't speak, but she saw his fingers tighten around the paper until it bent at the edges.
“What is this?”” he asked.
Adrian answered quietly.
“A fertility screening report. Nicole asked me to help arrange it through a clinic I know.””
Daniel looked up.
“Why would you arrange a fertility screening for my wife?””
Adrian glanced at Nicole.
“Because she told me she was trying to determine whether she could have another child.””
Maya felt her heart thud against her ribs.
Another child?
She looked at her mother.
“Mom, why would you want another baby?””
Nicole's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I made a mistake.””
Daniel didn't blink.
“What mistake?””
Adrian shifted his weight.
“Daniel, I don't know what Nicole has told you about our relationship, but—”
“Our relationship?”” Daniel repeated.
Nicole closed her eyes.
Adrian's next words seemed to drain the warmth from the entire house.
“We were together before you married her.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Before?””
Adrian hesitated.
“That's what she told me at first.””
At first.
The two words hung in the air.
Daniel lowered the report.
“What does that mean?””
Adrian opened his mouth, but Nicole cut him off.
“Get out of my house.””
“This isn't your house alone,” Daniel said.
She turned toward him.
“Daniel, please. Whatever he says, you need to remember that we've been married for twenty-two years.””
“And how long have you been lying to me?””
Her lips trembled.
Adrian looked down at the folder.
“There is more.””
Daniel let out a bitter laugh.
“Of course there is.””
He reached for the folder, but Adrian held it closed.
“Before I show you anything else, I need to be clear about something. I came here because I received a message telling me that Nicole intended to blame the pregnancy on someone else.””
Maya's breath caught.
“Who?”” she whispered.
Adrian looked at her.
“I don't know who sent it. But the message included a photograph of the pregnancy test on your kitchen island.””
Nicole's face went white.
Daniel turned toward her.
“You sent someone a picture of that test?””
“No!””
“Then how did they get it?””
“I don't know!””
Adrian removed a glossy photograph from the folder and handed it to Daniel.
It showed the marble island, the pregnancy test, and a hand resting beside it.
The hand wore a gold wedding ring.
Daniel stared at the photograph.
Then he looked at Nicole's left hand.
The ring was identical.
But it wasn't the photograph that made his expression change.
It was the reflection in the polished marble.
In the reflection, standing just beyond the kitchen doorway, was a second person.
Someone who had been in the house when the photograph was taken.
Someone whose face was hidden, but whose distinctive silver watch was unmistakable.
Daniel knew that watch.
He had given it to his younger brother, Michael, on his fortieth birthday.
Maya looked from the photograph to her father.
“Dad?””
Daniel didn't answer.
He lifted his eyes to Adrian.
“Where is Michael?””
Adrian's face tightened.
“I was hoping you could tell me.””
Daniel turned toward the staircase, where his phone lay on the landing.
At that exact moment, it began to ring.
The caller ID displayed one name.
*MICHAEL CARTER.*
Daniel answered without taking his eyes off his wife.
“Michael,” he said, his voice cold.
“You have exactly one chance to explain why your watch is in a photograph of my kitchen.””
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then his brother spoke.
“Daniel, listen to me. Whatever Nicole told you, don't believe her.””
Daniel's grip tightened around the phone.
“Why?””
Michael's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because the pregnancy test isn't the real secret.””
A pause.
May you like
Then Michael said the one thing that made Daniel's knees feel suddenly weak.
“The baby she's carrying may be yours—but the person who knows the truth about that night is your daughter, Maya.””
