Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Listed as Brielle's Father
Daniel knocked three times.
Not loudly.
Not impatiently.
Three deliberate knocks, as if he owned the house and expected someone to open the door.
Marcus stood in the hallway, staring at the birth certificate on his phone.
The name printed beneath Father was Daniel Price.
Brielle was standing behind him.
Her face had lost all color.
“That's not possible,” she whispered.
Vanessa sat motionless on the couch, her hands pressed against her mouth.
Daniel knocked again.
“Vanessa! Open the door. We need to talk.””
Marcus didn't move.
“Go upstairs,” he told Brielle.
She shook her head.
“I'm not leaving.””
“Brielle, please.””
“No. I want to know why my uncle is listed as my father.””
Vanessa finally stood.
“Marcus, let him in.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Are you out of your mind?””
“He has documents.””
“So do I.””
“Please. You don't understand what he's capable of.””
Marcus looked at the front door.
Then he called the police.
He explained that an individual connected to an ongoing family dispute was outside his home, attempting to gain access, and that he had reason to believe fraudulent legal documents and threats were involved.
The dispatcher instructed him to remain inside.
Daniel knocked again.
“Marcus! I know you're in there.””
Marcus approached the door but kept it locked.
“What do you want?””
Daniel laughed.
“Come on. We can settle this like family.””
“You stopped being family when you threatened my son.””
A pause.
Then Daniel's voice became colder.
“Your son? Interesting choice of words.””
Marcus tightened his jaw.
“Leave.””
“Not until Vanessa gives me what I came for.””
Marcus glanced at his wife.
She was trembling.
“What do you want from her?””
“The documents.””
“What documents?””
“The originals.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Marcus, don't give him anything.””
Daniel heard her.
His voice rose.
“Vanessa, don't make this difficult. You know what happens if those papers reach the wrong people.””
Brielle moved closer to her mother.
“Mom, what papers?””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
For the first time that night, she seemed unable to hide behind another excuse.
“The original birth registration,” she whispered.
Brielle stared.
“What does that have to do with Uncle Daniel?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Then she said something that changed the entire argument.
“Daniel isn't your biological father.””
Brielle looked confused.
“Then why is his name on the certificate?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Because Michael disappeared before you were born. Daniel offered to help me.””
“Help you how?””
“He agreed to be listed as your father.””
Brielle took a step backward.
“You lied about my father?””
“I wanted to protect you.””
“You told me Dad died!””
Vanessa began crying.
“I know.””
“You made me visit his grave every year!””
Marcus looked at Vanessa sharply.
There was a grave.
A headstone with Michael Collins's name.
He remembered attending the memorial service with Vanessa and Brielle years earlier.
Now even that memory felt contaminated.
Brielle's voice broke.
“Was that even his grave?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Daniel suddenly kicked the front door.
“ENOUGH!””
Marcus stepped back.
“Stay away from this house!””
Daniel laughed.
“You think the police can solve this? You don't know what your wife has signed.””
The sound of sirens approached.
Daniel stepped away from the entrance.
Marcus watched through the window as a police cruiser pulled into the driveway.
Two officers approached the SUV.
Daniel raised his hands and began explaining something.
A few minutes later, one officer knocked on the door.
Marcus opened it.
“Mr. Reed?””
“Yes.””
“We need to speak with everyone involved.””
Marcus stepped aside.
The officers entered.
Daniel remained outside with the second officer.
The first officer, Sergeant Miller, listened while Marcus explained the situation.
Vanessa refused to answer several questions.
Brielle, however, handed over the photograph of the birth certificate and the envelope containing the money Daniel had given her.
Sergeant Miller examined both.
“Where did you receive this money?””
“From my uncle,” Brielle answered.
“When?””
“About two weeks ago.””
“What did he ask you to do?””
“He wanted me to sign a paper.””
“What kind of paper?””
“I don't know. He wouldn't let me read it.””
Sergeant Miller nodded.
“Did you sign anything?””
“No.””
Marcus felt a small measure of relief.
Then the officer looked at Vanessa.
“Mrs. Reed, we need you to come to the station tomorrow to make a formal statement.””
Vanessa nodded weakly.
After the officers left, Daniel was allowed to leave.
But not before he looked through the window at Marcus.
He raised one finger and pointed at him.
A silent warning.
Marcus locked the door.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“You're going to tell me everything.””
Vanessa sat down.
“I've already told you.””
“No. You've told me whatever you thought would keep you out of trouble.””
Brielle stood near the staircase.
“I'm going to my room.””
Vanessa reached for her.
“Brielle, wait.””
“Don't.””
The teenager disappeared upstairs.
Marcus remained standing.
“Start with the birth certificate.””
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“When Brielle was born, Michael was already gone. Daniel said he could help me avoid questions about the father. He knew someone who could change the paperwork.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid Michael would return and try to take her.””
“Did he?””
“No.””
“Then why did Daniel need to be listed as her father?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Because he wanted control.””
Marcus frowned.
“Control over what?””
“Michael had money. He had connections. Daniel believed he could use the birth certificate to gain access to his business interests.””
Marcus slowly understood.
Daniel had created a false identity for Brielle years ago.
He had positioned himself as her father on official records.
And now he was using that lie to threaten Vanessa.
“Did Michael know?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He found out later.””
“What did he do?””
“He disappeared.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Where is he now?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie.””
Vanessa began crying again.
“He contacted me last month.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What did he say?””
“He wanted to meet Brielle.””
“Did you arrange it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel threatened him.””
Marcus sat down.
The web of lies was becoming more complicated by the minute.
Then his phone rang.
Evelyn.
“Marcus, are you home?””
“Yes.””
“Good. I have something important.””
“What?””
“I received a response from the county records office. The Whitmore placement agreement was never approved.””
Marcus exhaled.
“So Noah isn't legally being transferred?””
“Not through that document. But the application contains several forged signatures, and the money transfers may constitute evidence of an unlawful arrangement.””
“What about Rachel's rights?””
“Her original parental rights were never legally terminated. The document Vanessa submitted was invalid.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Can she get Noah back?””
“That's a separate question. She can seek recognition of her parental rights, but we need to establish what happened and what arrangement is best for Noah.””
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
“He's my son.””
“I know. And the court will consider the relationship he's had with you.””
Evelyn paused.
“There's something else. The financial records show that the fifty-thousand-dollar transfer wasn't the only payment from the Whitmores.””
“How much altogether?””
“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
Marcus stared.
“Vanessa said two hundred thousand.””
“She may have received more than she admitted.””
He looked at his wife.
She was sitting silently.
“Where did the rest go?””
“Most of it was transferred to an account belonging to Daniel.””
Marcus clenched his jaw.
“Of course.””
Evelyn continued.
“Marcus, I also found a name associated with the private placement company.””
“Who?””
“Michael Collins.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She immediately lowered her eyes.
“He's been involved in the paperwork from the beginning,” Evelyn said.
“And according to the latest records, he recently attempted to access a trust connected to Brielle.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Can you find him?””
“I'm working on it.””
The call ended.
Marcus stood.
He looked at Vanessa.
“Tomorrow morning, you're going to give Evelyn every document you have.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And you're going to stop contacting Daniel.””
She didn't answer.
“Do you understand?””
“Yes.””
Marcus turned toward the stairs.
He wanted to check on Noah.
But before he reached the first step, his phone vibrated.
A message from Rachel.
Marcus, someone just came to my apartment. He said his name was Michael Collins. He claims he's Noah's father.
Marcus stopped breathing.
Another message arrived.
He says he has proof Rachel isn't Noah's biological mother.
Marcus read it twice.
Then he called his sister.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Finally, a third message appeared.
Please come quickly. I think he's telling the truth.
Marcus looked toward Vanessa.
Her face was suddenly pale.
May you like
And when he showed her the message, she whispered:
“Then Daniel has already found him.””
