Chapter 9: The Father Who Wasn't Supposed to Be Alive
I couldn't process what Olivia had just said.
Our biological father was alive.
The man in the photographs.
The man whose name appeared on the hospital records.
The man I'd believed had died before I was born.
I stared at Olivia.
"How?""
She wiped her eyes.
"I don't know in the photographs.
The man whose name appeared on the hospital records.
The man I'd believed had died before I was born.
I stared at Olivia.
"How?""
She wiped her eyes.
"I don't know everything. But I met him three weeks ago.""
"Where?""
"In Tampa.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wasn't sure what he knew. And because he everything. But I met him three weeks ago.""
"Where?""
"In Tampa.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wasn't sure what he knew. And because he asked me not to contact you until he could explain.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Explain what?""
Olivia looked down.
"That he asked me not to contact you until he could explain.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Explain what?""
Olivia looked down.
"That he never abandoned our mother.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did he disappear?""
"He said Daniel and Robert threatened him.""
"Threatened him never abandoned our mother.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did he disappear?""
"He said Daniel and Robert threatened him.""
"Threatened him with what?""
"With losing us.""
I stood.
"That's not enough. I need details.""
Olivia nodded.
"I know.""
She reached into her handbag with what?""
"With losing us.""
I stood.
"That's not enough. I need details.""
Olivia nodded.
"I know.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a hotel receipt.
The date was three weeks earlier.
The hotel was in Tampa.
Under the guest information was a name.
Jonathan Morgan.
I stared at it.
"Did you meet him alone?""
"Yes.""
"Was he really our and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a hotel receipt.
The date was three weeks earlier.
The hotel was in Tampa.
Under the guest information was a name.
Jonathan Morgan.
I stared at it.
"Did you meet him alone?""
"Yes.""
"Was he really our father?""
Olivia nodded.
"He knew things nobody else could know. He knew Mom's favorite song. He knew the name she gave me before the adoption. He even father?""
Olivia nodded.
"He knew things nobody else could know. He knew Mom's favorite song. He knew the name she gave me before the adoption. He even knew about the little silver bracelet she wore when you were born.""
I looked down at my wrist.
I wore a silver bracelet.
It had been in my mother's jewelry box.
My father had knew about the little silver bracelet she wore when you were born.""
I looked down at my wrist.
I wore a silver bracelet.
It had been in my mother's jewelry box.
My father had given it to me on my sixteenth birthday.
He'd told me it belonged to her.
I had never questioned it.
"Did he say why he never given it to me on my sixteenth birthday.
He'd told me it belonged to her.
I had never questioned it.
"Did he say why he never contacted me?""
Olivia nodded.
"He said he tried.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"How?""
"He sent letters. He hired investigators. He even came to your father's funeral.""
I stared at her.
"He contacted me?""
Olivia nodded.
"He said he tried.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"How?""
"He sent letters. He hired investigators. He even came to your father's funeral.""
I stared at her.
"He was there?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"Standing near the back. He said he couldn't approach you because Daniel was there?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"Standing near the back. He said he couldn't approach you because Daniel was watching.""
I felt dizzy.
I remembered the funeral.
Hundreds of people.
A man in a dark coat had stood near the cemetery entrance.
I'd assumed he was one of my father's former employees was watching.""
I felt dizzy.
I remembered the funeral.
Hundreds of people.
A man in a dark coat had stood near the cemetery entrance.
I'd assumed he was one of my father's former employees.
I'd never seen his face clearly.
"Where is he now?""
Olivia looked at the hotel receipt.
"He agreed to meet us tomorrow.""
"Tomorrow is too late.""
"Emily—"
"I.
I'd never seen his face clearly.
"Where is he now?""
Olivia looked at the hotel receipt.
"He agreed to meet us tomorrow.""
"Tomorrow is too late.""
"Emily—"
"I've spent my entire life being told people were dead when they weren't. I'm not waiting another day.""
I called the number Olivia had written on the back of the receipt.
It rang've spent my entire life being told people were dead when they weren't. I'm not waiting another day.""
I called the number Olivia had written on the back of the receipt.
It rang six times.
Then a man answered.
"Hello?""
I couldn't speak.
"Hello?""
I swallowed.
"My name is Emily.""
Silence.
Then his breathing changed.
"Emily?""
"Yes.""
A six times.
Then a man answered.
"Hello?""
I couldn't speak.
"Hello?""
I swallowed.
"My name is Emily.""
Silence.
Then his breathing changed.
"Emily?""
"Yes.""
A long pause followed.
Then he said:
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what to feel.
Anger.
Relief.
Grief.
All of it.
"Are long pause followed.
Then he said:
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what to feel.
Anger.
Relief.
Grief.
All of it.
"Are you my father?""
His voice broke.
"Yes.""
I sat down.
"Why didn't you come looking for me?""
"I did.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried.""
"Why did my father tell me you you my father?""
His voice broke.
"Yes.""
I sat down.
"Why didn't you come looking for me?""
"I did.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried.""
"Why did my father tell me you were dead?""
He exhaled.
"Because Robert wanted you to believe he was the only father you had.""
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
"That's not an answer.""
"No," he whispered.
" were dead?""
He exhaled.
"Because Robert wanted you to believe he was the only father you had.""
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
"That's not an answer.""
"No," he whispered.
"It isn't.""
I heard a chair move on his end.
Then he said:
"Emily, I have something your mother left for you.""
"What?""
"A recordingIt isn't.""
I heard a chair move on his end.
Then he said:
"Emily, I have something your mother left for you.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
I looked at Olivia.
She leaned closer.
"What recording?""
"Your mother made it shortly before she died. She wanted both of you to hear it when.""
I looked at Olivia.
She leaned closer.
"What recording?""
"Your mother made it shortly before she died. She wanted both of you to hear it when you were old enough.""
My throat tightened.
"Where is it?""
"With me.""
"Can we meet today?""
"Yes.""
He gave me an address in Tampa.
Then he added:
"Emily, there's something you need to know before you come you were old enough.""
My throat tightened.
"Where is it?""
"With me.""
"Can we meet today?""
"Yes.""
He gave me an address in Tampa.
Then he added:
"Emily, there's something you need to know before you come.""
"What?""
"Robert didn't die the way everyone told you.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"What do you mean?""
Jonathan's voice became quiet.
"Your father was alive when I last saw him.""
.""
"What?""
"Robert didn't die the way everyone told you.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"What do you mean?""
Jonathan's voice became quiet.
"Your father was alive when I last saw him.""
I froze.
"Robert?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Two days ago.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"I wish it were.""
"Where did you see him?""
"At aI froze.
"Robert?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Two days ago.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"I wish it were.""
"Where did you see him?""
"At a private marina.""
"Why didn't you call the police?""
"Because he wasn't alone.""
I swallowed.
"Who was with him?""
Jonathan hes private marina.""
"Why didn't you call the police?""
"Because he wasn't alone.""
I swallowed.
"Who was with him?""
Jonathan hesitated.
Then he said:
"Tyler.""
itated.
Then he said:
"Tyler.""
II told Michael everything.
He immediately contacted Rebecca.
Within an hour, they had arranged for a vehicle to take told Michael everything.
He immediately contacted Rebecca.
Within an hour, they had arranged for a vehicle to take us to Tampa.
Olivia came with me.
The twins stayed with Mrs. Alvarez and a trusted caregiver.
I hated leaving them, but I couldn't us to Tampa.
Olivia came with me.
The twins stayed with Mrs. Alvarez and a trusted caregiver.
I hated leaving them, but I couldn't take them into a confrontation that might involve my uncle, my husband, and a man I had never met.
The drive felt endless.
Olivia sat beside me, holding the old photographs.
Neither of us spoke much.
At one point, she turned toward me.
"Do you hate me?""
I looked at her.
"Why would I hate you?""
"Because I knew about Tyler before you did.""
I frowned.
"What?""
She lowered her eyes.
"When I first met Jonathan, he told me Tyler had take them into a confrontation that might involve my uncle, my husband, and a man I had never met.
The drive felt endless.
Olivia sat beside me, holding the old photographs.
Neither of us spoke much.
At one point, she turned toward me.
"Do you hate me?""
I looked at her.
"Why would I hate you?""
"Because I knew about Tyler before you did.""
I frowned.
"What?""
She lowered her eyes.
"When I first met Jonathan, he told me Tyler had been involved with our family for years. I thought he was exaggerating.""
"Did you know Tyler was married to me?""
"No. I didn't know who you were until I found your name in the trust documents.""
I nodded been involved with our family for years. I thought he was exaggerating.""
"Did you know Tyler was married to me?""
"No. I didn't know who you were until I found your name in the trust documents.""
I nodded.
"Then we were both kept in the dark.""
She reached for my hand.
"At least we found each other.""
I squeezed her fingers.
For the first time that day, I felt less.
"Then we were both kept in the dark.""
She reached for my hand.
"At least we found each other.""
I squeezed her fingers.
For the first time that day, I felt less alone.
Jonathan was waiting outside a small house near the marina.
He was in his late sixties, with silver hair and a slight stoop.
When alone.
Jonathan was waiting outside a small house near the marina.
He was in his late sixties, with silver hair and a slight stoop.
When he saw us, he took one step forward.
Then stopped.
I stared at him.
He had my eyes.
The same shape.
The same green color.
And when he smiled, I saw something familiar in the he saw us, he took one step forward.
Then stopped.
I stared at him.
He had my eyes.
The same shape.
The same green color.
And when he smiled, I saw something familiar in the way his cheeks lifted.
"Emily," he whispered.
I couldn't move.
He looked at Olivia.
Then back at me.
"I've waited a way his cheeks lifted.
"Emily," he whispered.
I couldn't move.
He looked at Olivia.
Then back at me.
"I've waited a long time.""
I folded my arms.
"Then you should have started explaining sooner.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He opened the front door.
Inside, the house was filled with photographs.
My mother.
Olivia.
A younger version of me.
Pictures long time.""
I folded my arms.
"Then you should have started explaining sooner.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He opened the front door.
Inside, the house was filled with photographs.
My mother.
Olivia.
A younger version of me.
Pictures I'd never seen.
There was even one of me at my sixth birthday party.
I stared at it.
I was wearing a yellow dress and holding a pink balloon.
The photograph had been taken I'd never seen.
There was even one of me at my sixth birthday party.
I stared at it.
I was wearing a yellow dress and holding a pink balloon.
The photograph had been taken from across the garden.
"Where did you get this?""
Jonathan's eyes filled.
"I was there.""
I turned.
"What?""
"I came to your birthday. I stood outside the garden from across the garden.
"Where did you get this?""
Jonathan's eyes filled.
"I was there.""
I turned.
"What?""
"I came to your birthday. I stood outside the garden because Robert wouldn't let me come inside.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you approach me?""
"Because I was told you had been warned because Robert wouldn't let me come inside.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you approach me?""
"Because I was told you had been warned not to speak to strangers.""
I felt my throat tighten.
He gestured toward the sofa.
"Please. Sit down.""
He placed a small recorder on the table.
"This is your mother's voice.""
I stared at it.
"Can not to speak to strangers.""
I felt my throat tighten.
He gestured toward the sofa.
"Please. Sit down.""
He placed a small recorder on the table.
"This is your mother's voice.""
I stared at it.
"Can I hear it?""
He nodded.
He pressed play.
A faint clicking sound came through the speakers.
Then a woman's voice.
Soft.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Emily? Olivia? If you're hearing this, then I I hear it?""
He nodded.
He pressed play.
A faint clicking sound came through the speakers.
Then a woman's voice.
Soft.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Emily? Olivia? If you're hearing this, then I hope you're together.""
I covered my mouth.
It was my mother.
The voice I'd heard only in old home videos.
The voice I had almost forgotten.
She continued:
"My beautiful girls hope you're together.""
I covered my mouth.
It was my mother.
The voice I'd heard only in old home videos.
The voice I had almost forgotten.
She continued:
"My beautiful girls, there are things I wish I could explain in person. But if your father has kept you apart, then I need you to know why.""
I looked at Jonathan.
He was, there are things I wish I could explain in person. But if your father has kept you apart, then I need you to know why.""
I looked at Jonathan.
He was crying.
My mother continued.
"Your grandmother left money for both of you. She wanted you to have security, education, and a future that belonged to crying.
My mother continued.
"Your grandmother left money for both of you. She wanted you to have security, education, and a future that belonged to nobody else.""
There was a pause.
"Robert believed he could manage it. Daniel believed he deserved it. Jonathan believed he could protect us.""
The recording crack nobody else.""
There was a pause.
"Robert believed he could manage it. Daniel believed he deserved it. Jonathan believed he could protect us.""
The recording crackled.
"But I was wrong to trust all three of them.""
My stomach tightened.
She continued.
"Jonathan is your biological father. He loved you both. He tried to stay, but Daniel threatened to expose somethingled.
"But I was wrong to trust all three of them.""
My stomach tightened.
She continued.
"Jonathan is your biological father. He loved you both. He tried to stay, but Daniel threatened to expose something that could destroy our family.""
Olivia leaned forward.
"What?""
The recording continued.
"I made a decision. I allowed Robert to raise Emily because I believed it would keep that could destroy our family.""
Olivia leaned forward.
"What?""
The recording continued.
"I made a decision. I allowed Robert to raise Emily because I believed it would keep her safe. But I never stopped loving her.""
I began crying.
Then my mother's voice changed.
"There's one more thing.""
The room became silent.
"If Tyler Carter ever enters her safe. But I never stopped loving her.""
I began crying.
Then my mother's voice changed.
"There's one more thing.""
The room became silent.
"If Tyler Carter ever enters your lives, do not trust him.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Olivia turned toward me.
My mother continued.
"Tyler is not a stranger. He is Daniel's son.""
I stopped breathing.
The your lives, do not trust him.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Olivia turned toward me.
My mother continued.
"Tyler is not a stranger. He is Daniel's son.""
I stopped breathing.
The recorder crackled.
"He was brought into our family business when he was young. Daniel wanted him to marry into the Hayes family so he could gain access to the trust recorder crackled.
"He was brought into our family business when he was young. Daniel wanted him to marry into the Hayes family so he could gain access to the trust.""
I stared at Jonathan.
He nodded slowly.
The recording continued.
"I begged Robert to keep him away from Emily. But Robert believed he could control Daniel. He believed he could control Tyler.""
A sob escaped my.""
I stared at Jonathan.
He nodded slowly.
The recording continued.
"I begged Robert to keep him away from Emily. But Robert believed he could control Daniel. He believed he could control Tyler.""
A sob escaped my throat.
"Please, my daughters, don't let them use you against each other. The money belongs to you. But the truth belongs to both of you.""
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
For several seconds, all I could hear was throat.
"Please, my daughters, don't let them use you against each other. The money belongs to you. But the truth belongs to both of you.""
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
For several seconds, all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing.
Tyler was Daniel's son.
My husband was my uncle's son.
And my uncle had been trying to access the inheritance through a marriage that had been planned years before Tyler and I ever met.
I looked at the sound of my own breathing.
Tyler was Daniel's son.
My husband was my uncle's son.
And my uncle had been trying to access the inheritance through a marriage that had been planned years before Tyler and I ever met.
I looked at Jonathan.
"Did my father know?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know Tyler was Daniel's son?""
Jonathan nodded.
"Robert discovered it years ago.""
"Then why did he let Tyler marry me?""
Jonathan lowered Jonathan.
"Did my father know?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know Tyler was Daniel's son?""
Jonathan nodded.
"Robert discovered it years ago.""
"Then why did he let Tyler marry me?""
Jonathan lowered his eyes.
"Because he thought he could use Tyler to expose Daniel.""
I stared at him.
"He used me?""
Jonathan didn't answer.
I felt sick.
"Everyone used me.""
He stepped forward.
"Emily his eyes.
"Because he thought he could use Tyler to expose Daniel.""
I stared at him.
"He used me?""
Jonathan didn't answer.
I felt sick.
"Everyone used me.""
He stepped forward.
"Emily—"
"Don't.""
He stopped.
I stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the marina was quiet.
A few boats rocked gently against their moorings.
Then—"
"Don't.""
He stopped.
I stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the marina was quiet.
A few boats rocked gently against their moorings.
Then I noticed a black SUV parked across the street.
My heart stopped.
I recognized it.
Tyler's.
He was standing beside it.
Watching the house.
Jonathan moved toward I noticed a black SUV parked across the street.
My heart stopped.
I recognized it.
Tyler's.
He was standing beside it.
Watching the house.
Jonathan moved toward the window.
His expression changed.
"How did he find us?""
Olivia grabbed my arm.
"Emily, get away from the window.""
But Tyler was already walking toward the front door.
He didn't knock.
He opened the window.
His expression changed.
"How did he find us?""
Olivia grabbed my arm.
"Emily, get away from the window.""
But Tyler was already walking toward the front door.
He didn't knock.
He opened it with a key.
A key he shouldn't have had.
He stepped inside.
His eyes went straight to me.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
I felt every muscle in my body tighten.
He looked at Jonathan.
it with a key.
A key he shouldn't have had.
He stepped inside.
His eyes went straight to me.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
I felt every muscle in my body tighten.
He looked at Jonathan.
Then at Olivia.
Then back at me.
"I see the family reunion started without me.""
Jonathan stepped forward.
"Get out.""
Tyler smiled.
"Hello, Dad.""
TheThen at Olivia.
Then back at me.
"I see the family reunion started without me.""
Jonathan stepped forward.
"Get out.""
Tyler smiled.
"Hello, Dad.""
The word landed like a bomb.
Jonathan's face went pale.
Tyler looked at me.
"There's something you've been misunderstanding, Emily.""
He pulled a document from his jacket word landed like a bomb.
Jonathan's face went pale.
Tyler looked at me.
"There's something you've been misunderstanding, Emily.""
He pulled a document from his jacket.
"The inheritance isn't yours.""
I stared at him.
He smiled.
"Because your grandmother's trust has a third beneficiary.""
He placed the document on the table.
And beneath the names of Emily Hayes and Olivia Hayes was.
"The inheritance isn't yours.""
I stared at him.
He smiled.
"Because your grandmother's trust has a third beneficiary.""
He placed the document on the table.
And beneath the names of Emily Hayes and Olivia Hayes was another name.
*Tyler Daniel Carter.*
I looked at him.
He leaned closer.
"Surprised?""
Then he whispered:
"Your grandmother was my grandmother another name.
*Tyler Daniel Carter.*
I looked at him.
He leaned closer.
"Surprised?""
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Your grandmother was my grandmother too.""
