Chapter 8: Seven Children, Seven Lies
Dr. Whitmore placed the folder on the reception desk.
Nobody moved.
Richard still held Ava.
Ethan stood beside Noah.
And I was trapped between two men who had spent years turning my family into a collection of bargaining chips.
Whitmore removed his glasses.
"You're looking at me as if I'm a monster.""
I stared at him.
"You stole my son.""
He sighed.
"I helped arrange a temporary guardianship.""
"You forged medical records.""
"I followed instructions.""
"You told my wife I was dying.""
Whitmore looked at me.
"That part was unfortunate.""
I took a step forward.
"Unfortunate?""
He placed the folder down.
"Your father believed he could control everything with money. He believed the family trust gave him the right to decide who deserved what.""
Richard laughed.
"Tell him the rest, Samuel.""
Whitmore opened the folder.
"Your father discovered that several children had been transferred through private medical facilities using falsified records. Some were given new identities. Others were placed with families who believed they had adopted abandoned children.""
I looked at the papers.
Seven names.
Seven dates.
Seven different hospitals.
"Why?""
"Because the families involved were wealthy. Some children had inheritance rights. Others were connected to medical research agreements. There were financial incentives.""
My stomach twisted.
"Who organized it?""
Whitmore glanced at Richard.
Then at Ethan.
"Your father.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
He removed a document.
"Your father created the original medical trust. He paid for the private facilities. He approved the transfer agreements.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Finally, someone tells the truth.""
I looked at my brother.
"Then why did you spend years hiding it?""
Richard smiled.
"Because Father wanted to bury it before anyone discovered what he had done.""
I stared at him.
"And you wanted the company.""
"I wanted what I was promised.""
"What promise?""
Richard's expression changed.
"That I would inherit the controlling shares.""
"But you weren't the rightful heir.""
He laughed.
"Neither were you.""
Ethan spoke quietly.
"He's right.""
I turned.
Ethan was holding a second document.
"My mother was your father's first wife. She was promised that her son would inherit the family estate.""
"Your mother died when you were young.""
"She didn't die in an accident.""
He looked at Whitmore.
"Tell him.""
Whitmore lowered his eyes.
"Your father's first wife died after complications from an emergency medical procedure.""
Ethan's face hardened.
"She was never supposed to have that procedure.""
I looked between them.
"Who ordered it?""
Richard answered.
"Your father.""
The words hit me like a blow.
I looked at the man who had raised me.
At the portrait of the family I had believed in.
My father had been hiding more than one secret.
Whitmore continued.
"After his first wife's death, your father attempted to establish a new succession arrangement. Ethan was declared medically unfit to inherit.""
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"Because he had been told I was dead.""
I looked at him.
"And Daniel?""
Whitmore's expression changed.
"Daniel was born later. His mother was the woman your father married after his first wife.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then Daniel is my half-brother.""
"Yes.""
"And Ethan is my older brother.""
"Yes.""
I stared at the floor.
My family tree was beginning to look like a crime scene.
"Where does Noah fit into all this?""
Whitmore opened another document.
"Your father changed the trust before his death. He named your firstborn child as the final beneficiary.""
I looked at Noah.
Ethan was still holding his hand.
"Why?""
"Because your father wanted to correct his mistakes.""
Richard slammed his palm against the desk.
"He wanted to hand everything to a child who hadn't even learned to speak!""
Whitmore continued.
"Richard believed the amendment would destroy his position. He arranged for the child to be removed from the hospital.""
I looked at him.
"You arranged it.""
Whitmore didn't deny it.
"I processed the records.""
"Who took him?""
Richard looked at me.
"I did.""
I felt my fists tighten.
"You took my newborn son?""
"I arranged for him to be raised elsewhere.""
"You stole him!""
Richard raised his voice.
"I kept him alive!""
Ava began crying.
"Uncle Richard, I want Daddy.""
He looked down at her.
"Be quiet.""
I took a step forward.
"Don't speak to her like that.""
Richard grabbed her arm.
"Then give me the file.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"What happened to the other six children?""
He hesitated.
"Some were returned to their biological families. Others remain under different identities.""
"Where?""
"The records are in the folder.""
I looked at the names.
Then something caught my eye.
One entry had a red mark beside it.
A child's name.
*AVA HAYES.*
I felt my blood run cold.
"What is this?""
Whitmore followed my gaze.
He didn't answer.
I picked up the page.
The document listed Ava as having been born at a different hospital.
Her biological mother was recorded as Elena.
But her father...
The father listed was not me.
It was Richard Hayes.
I stared at the paper.
Then I looked at my brother.
"What is this?""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Give me the file.""
"Is this real?""
"Marcus—"
"IS AVA YOUR CHILD?""
The room went silent.
Ava looked between us.
"Why is Daddy shouting?""
I immediately lowered my voice.
"Sweetheart, don't worry.""
Richard pulled her closer.
"She isn't yours.""
I felt the world stop.
"What?""
Richard looked at me.
"You heard me.""
I turned toward Whitmore.
"Tell me it's fake.""
The doctor said nothing.
My hands shook.
"Tell me!""
Whitmore finally spoke.
"The record indicates that Ava's biological father is Richard.""
I stared at Elena's name.
Then at the date.
I remembered Ava's birth.
I remembered holding her for the first time.
I remembered the tiny fingers wrapped around mine.
The first time she called me Daddy.
Every birthday.
Every bedtime story.
Every time she climbed into my lap and told me she loved me.
I looked at Richard.
"Did you sleep with my wife?""
Richard smiled.
"Before she was your wife.""
I couldn't speak.
He continued.
"Elena and I were involved before you met her. She thought she was in love with me. Then Father arranged for her to marry you.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"Is that true?""
Whitmore nodded.
"The medical record indicates that the pregnancy began before Elena's marriage to you.""
My chest felt hollow.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
Richard laughed.
"Because I wanted you to raise my daughter.""
I looked at Ava.
She was crying now.
"Why are you saying I'm not Daddy's girl?""
I wanted to run to her.
But Richard tightened his grip.
"Because she's mine.""
I felt something inside me break.
Then Ethan spoke.
"That's not what the original test says.""
Richard turned.
"What?""
Ethan pulled a folded document from his jacket.
"I had the original blood samples tested.""
Whitmore's face went pale.
Richard stared at him.
"Where did you get those?""
"From the private archive.""
Ethan opened the paper.
"Elena's medical records were altered. The first test was never completed.""
He looked directly at me.
"Marcus, Ava is your biological daughter.""
I closed my eyes.
Relief hit me so violently that I almost collapsed.
Richard stepped backward.
"That's impossible.""
Ethan continued.
"Your father ordered a DNA test after Ava was born. He confirmed the result and placed it inside the original trust file.""
I looked at Richard.
"Why would you tell me she was yours?""
He laughed.
"Because I wanted to destroy you.""
His voice became bitter.
"You got the company. You got the mansion. You got the wife.
You got the child. Father gave you everything while I got nothing.""
I stared.
"You kidnapped my son because you were jealous?""
"I wanted the trust.""
"You imprisoned Elena.""
"She knew too much.""
"You threatened Ava.""
Richard looked at her.
"She was the only way to make you cooperate.""
I couldn't hold back anymore.
I lunged.
Two officers rushed forward from the side entrance.
One grabbed Richard's shoulder.
Another shouted.
"Police! Drop the remote!""
Richard shoved Ava toward the reception desk.
I caught her.
She screamed and wrapped herself around my neck.
"Daddy!""
I held her so tightly I could barely breathe.
"It's okay. Daddy's here.""
The officers tackled Richard.
Whitmore tried to run toward the service corridor.
An officer blocked him.
Ethan stood frozen, still holding Noah.
I looked at my son.
"Noah. Come to me.""
He hesitated.
Then he let go of Ethan's hand.
He walked slowly toward me.
I crouched.
"Hi, sweetheart.""
He stared at me.
"Are you really my daddy?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
He looked at Ava.
"Is she my sister?""
I smiled through my tears.
"Yes.""
Noah took another step.
Then he wrapped his arms around me.
I held both my children.
For the first time in four years, I had them together.
But the moment didn't last.
Whitmore suddenly shouted.
"Don't let him leave with the registry!""
I turned.
An officer had picked up the folder.
Whitmore was struggling against the other officers.
Then he laughed.
"You don't understand! The registry is incomplete!""
I stared.
"What?""
He pointed toward Ethan.
"He has the original page.""
Ethan went pale.
I turned toward him.
"What page?""
He didn't answer.
Whitmore shouted again.
"The page that identifies the seventh child!""
Ethan looked down at Noah.
Then at me.
And slowly reached into his jacket.
He removed a folded sheet of paper.
My blood ran cold.
There was one name written across the top.
*CHILD SEVEN: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE.*
Beneath it was a date.
A hospital.
And a mother's name.
Elena Hayes.
I looked at the paper.
Then at Noah.
Then at Ava.
There had been another child.
My wife had given birth to three children.
May you like
Not two.
And the seventh child was still missing.
