Chapter 7: The Man Who Stole My Family
At 7:06 a.m., I received another photograph.
Ava was sitting in the back of a black SUV.
Her cheeks were wet. Her pink pajamas were stained with dirt, and one of her little hands was pressed against the window.
Richard sat beside her.
He was smiling.
Not the nervous smile he had worn at the mansion.
Not the forced expression of a man trying to explain something he couldn't explain.
He looked comfortable.
Like a man who had finally gotten exactly what he wanted.
A message appeared beneath the photograph.
*One hour, Marcus. Bring the original custody file. Come without police.*
I stared at the screen.
Daniel stood beside me, holding the briefcase.
"Marcus, we need to think.""
I turned toward him.
"My daughter is in that car.""
"I know.""
"My six-year-old daughter.""
"I know!""
He grabbed my shoulders.
"And that's exactly why you cannot walk into a trap without understanding what Richard wants.""
I shoved his hands away.
"Then tell me everything.""
Daniel looked toward the hospital corridor.
He seemed to be calculating whether he could continue hiding behind the truth.
Finally, he opened his briefcase.
He removed a thick envelope.
"My name isn't Daniel Reeves.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"My birth name was Daniel Whitmore.""
The room went silent.
Elena, who was still in her hospital bed, slowly turned her head.
"Whitmore?""
Daniel nodded.
"I'm the second child listed in the original registry.""
I looked at him.
"You told me you were adopted.""
"I was. But the records were falsified.""
"By whom?""
"Dr. Samuel Whitmore.""
I took a step backward.
"Your father?""
Daniel nodded.
"He wasn't my biological father. He adopted me when I was four. He told me my parents had died.""
I stared at him.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because he had been paid to conceal my identity.""
He removed another photograph.
It showed a young woman standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was my father.
I recognized the woman.
My mother.
The same woman from the photograph Elena had shown me.
Daniel placed the picture on the bed.
"My biological mother was your father's first wife.""
I looked at him.
"That's impossible. My mother was my father's only wife.""
"Publicly.""
Elena covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
"Your father had a relationship before he married your mother. She became pregnant. The child was born prematurely and was believed to have died.""
I stared at the photograph.
"That child was you?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. That was Ethan.""
He pointed to the name on the document.
"Ethan was born before your mother married your father. He was raised under another identity. My biological mother was your father's second wife.""
I frowned.
"Then who are you?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I'm the child she had after your father died.""
I felt dizzy.
"You're saying you're my half-brother?""
He nodded.
"And Ethan is our older half-brother.""
I looked at the documents.
My father had hidden an entire branch of his family.
"Why did he keep this secret?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Because the first child was involved in an accident that killed his mother. My father believed Ethan was responsible. He sent him away, changed his name, and tried to erase the entire scandal.""
I stared at him.
"And you?""
"I was born after that. My mother died shortly after childbirth. Dr. Whitmore arranged my adoption and kept me away from the family.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed I was safer with strangers.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family seems to believe stealing children is a form of protection.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"I found the truth twelve years ago. Your father had left instructions for me. I was supposed to identify the missing children and protect the trust.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know whether Richard had people watching you.""
I stared at him.
"And you let me believe you were just my attorney?""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
My voice rose.
"Meanwhile, my wife was imprisoned, my son was stolen, and my daughter has just been kidnapped!""
Daniel didn't answer.
Elena reached for my hand.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
I turned.
"Yes?""
"Richard doesn't want the money.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He wants something that money can't buy.""
She struggled to sit up.
"He wants the original registry.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"She's right.""
I looked at him.
"What is the registry?""
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a document containing several names, birth records, medical references, and signatures.
At the bottom was a sealed section.
Daniel pointed to it.
"This document proves the identities of the children who were moved through the private medical institute.""
"How many?""
"Seven.""
I stared.
Seven children.
Seven families who might have been told their babies had died.
Seven lives rewritten.
"Why would Richard care?""
"Because his signature appears on every transfer.""
I felt sick.
"Then he's finished.""
"Not necessarily. If the registry disappears, proving the transfers becomes much harder. And if he destroys the original medical records, several families may never learn what happened.""
I looked at the document.
Then at the photograph of Ava.
"Where is Noah?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Ethan has him.""
"Why would Ethan have my son?""
"Because Ethan believes Noah is the rightful beneficiary of the original trust.""
I rubbed my face.
"And what does he want?""
"To meet you.""
I looked toward Elena.
She was watching Daniel carefully.
"Marcus," she whispered, "don't trust Ethan.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"He visited me too.""
I turned.
"When?""
"Before they moved me beneath the pool.""
She swallowed.
"He told me he was going to rescue Noah. But he never came back.""
Daniel looked disturbed.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Elena's voice trembled.
"He told me that if I wanted to see my son again, I had to give him the original registry.""
I stared at the document.
Everyone wanted it.
Richard.
Ethan.
Perhaps even Dr. Whitmore.
And my children were caught between them.
I took the briefcase from Daniel.
"Let's go.""
The old Hayes Medical Institute stood on the outskirts of the city.
My father had built it twenty years earlier as a private research and treatment center.
The building had been closed to patients three years ago.
At least, that was what the public records said.
When our convoy arrived, the front gates were open.
A black SUV was parked near the entrance.
I recognized it.
It was the same vehicle from Ava's photograph.
I jumped out before the officers could stop me.
"Marcus!"" Daniel shouted.
I ran toward the building.
The lobby was dark.
Dust covered the reception desk.
A single fluorescent light flickered above the elevators.
Then a familiar voice came from the upper floor.
"You're late.""
Ethan stood on the balcony overlooking the lobby.
He was tall, with dark hair and a narrow face.
He looked nothing like me.
But there was something familiar in his eyes.
He held a little boy's hand.
Noah.
My son.
I forgot how to breathe.
"Noah!""
The boy looked down.
His eyes widened.
"Daddy?""
I took one step forward.
Ethan tightened his grip.
"Don't.""
I stopped.
"Let him go.""
Ethan smiled faintly.
"That's an interesting thing to say when you don't even know me.""
"I know you're holding my son.""
"He isn't yours to claim until the registry is authenticated.""
I stared at him.
"He's my child.""
Ethan looked at Noah.
"Do you know what your father did?""
The little boy shook his head.
Ethan crouched.
"He abandoned you.""
"No," I said immediately.
"Don't listen to him.""
Ethan stood.
"Your father was told his child had died. He signed the documents.""
"Those documents were forged.""
"Can you prove it?""
I held up the envelope.
"I have the original records.""
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely interested.
"Then we should talk.""
I looked at Noah.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
The boy hesitated.
Ethan leaned down and whispered something into his ear.
Noah looked at me again.
Then he shook his head.
"He says you're going to take me away.""
My heart broke.
I lowered myself to one knee.
"Noah, look at me.""
He stared.
"I know you don't remember me. That's okay. You don't have to. But your mommy has been looking for you every day.""
His eyes filled.
"Mommy Elena?""
I nodded.
"She's alive.""
He began crying.
"She is?""
"Yes.""
He pulled at Ethan's hand.
"I want Mommy.""
Ethan's expression hardened.
"That's enough.""
He pulled Noah behind him.
I stood.
"Don't touch him.""
Ethan looked at me.
"You want your son? Bring me the registry.""
I held up the envelope.
"Here it is.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Give it to me.""
"First, I want Noah.""
Ethan laughed.
"You really are your father's son.""
Then he looked toward the entrance.
"Unfortunately, we're not alone.""
A door slammed behind us.
Richard stepped into the lobby.
He was holding Ava's hand.
My daughter looked exhausted.
When she saw me, she screamed.
"Daddy!""
I took a step toward her.
Richard pulled her behind him.
"Not so fast.""
I felt rage explode through my chest.
"Let her go!""
Richard smiled.
"See? That's your problem, Marcus. You always think you can order people around.""
Ethan looked at him.
"You weren't supposed to bring the girl.""
Richard shrugged.
"Plans change.""
I looked between them.
They weren't working together.
They were negotiating.
And my children were the price.
Richard held out his hand.
"The registry.""
Ethan shook his head.
"Not until I get Noah's custody papers.""
I stared.
"Both of you are sick.""
Richard ignored me.
"Give me the file, Ethan.""
Ethan tightened his grip on Noah.
"Give me the girl.""
I stepped forward.
"Nobody is giving anybody anything.""
Richard pulled a small remote from his pocket.
He pressed a button.
A heavy steel shutter dropped across the main entrance.
Then another slammed behind us.
The lobby lights went out.
Emergency lights flickered red.
A mechanical voice echoed through the building.
"Security lockdown activated.""
Richard smiled.
"Welcome home, little brother.""
Then a door opened behind him.
And Dr. Samuel Whitmore walked into the lobby.
He was carrying a folder.
On its cover were the words:
*ORIGINAL BIRTH RECORDS — SEVEN CHILDREN.*
May you like
He looked directly at me.
"Marcus, I believe it's time you learned what really happened the night your son was born.""
