Chapter 9: The Daughter Nobody Told Me I Was
I read the letter three times.
The words didn’t change.
*She must never know who her real father is.*
I looked at Marcus.
“What does this mean?””
He looked devastated.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Then why give it to me?””
“Because you deserve answers.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My mother sat down.
David looked away.
Nobody wanted to say the next words.
So I did.
“James Carter wasn’t my biological father.””
My mother started crying.
I stared at her.
“Was he?””
She couldn’t answer.
That was the final piece.
The one I didn’t want.
“No.””
Her voice was barely audible.
“No.””
The world became quiet.
I sat down.
Because my legs couldn’t hold me.
“Then who?””
My mother looked at David.
David nodded slowly.
Then he said:
“Me.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
David stepped forward.
“Your father was my brother.””
I stared.
“My uncle.””
“Yes.””
“You’re saying you’re my biological father?””
He nodded.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
“How?””
My mother covered her face.
“Your father knew.””
“James knew?””
“Yes.””
My mind raced.
The man I called Dad.
The man who raised me.
He knew.
“He raised me anyway.””
My mother nodded.
“Because he loved you.””
I looked down.
The pain was different now.
Not betrayal.
Grief.
Because suddenly I had two fathers.
And I had lost both.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
David answered.
“Because Richard threatened us.””
“Why?””
“Because your existence proved his betrayal.””
I frowned.
“What?””
David took a breath.
“Before James died, Richard was trying to take control of the company.””
My mother whispered:
“And when James found out David was Nia’s biological father, Richard used it against him.””
I looked at her.
“How?””
“He said he would expose everything.””
“Why would that matter?””
My mother looked down.
“Because James and I were married.””
The room stopped.
“What?””
My mother nodded.
“Your father raised you as his own.””
I stared.
My entire life was a lie.
But somehow, the love inside those lies had been real.
David sat across from me.
“I loved you before I knew you existed.””
I looked at him.
“And then?””
“Then James became your father.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“And I promised I would never take that away from him.””
I looked at Marcus.
“And you?””
He swallowed.
“My father knew about you.””
My stomach turned.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
“Why did he care?””
Marcus looked at the floor.
“Because if people knew James Carter had a child with David’s wife, the company battle would become a scandal.””
I shook my head.
“My life was a business problem.””
“No,” Marcus said.
His voice was firm.
“You were never the problem.””
I looked at him.
“You betrayed me.””
“I know.””
“And my mother.””
“I know.””
“And you still expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I don’t.””
For the first time, Marcus wasn’t defending himself.
He was accepting what he had done.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Elena.
*We need to talk. The baby is not the only thing Marcus lied about.*
I looked at Marcus.
“What else?””
His face changed.
“What did she say?””
I showed him.
He went pale.
“No.””
“What?””
He stood.
“Nia, don’t meet her.””
“Why?””
He looked terrified.
“Because if Elena knows…”
“Knows what?””
He didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
“Marcus.””
His voice dropped.
“She knows what happened the night your father died.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Before he could explain, my phone rang.
Elena.
I answered.
Her voice was shaking.
“Nia.””
“What do you know?””
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“Your father didn’t die because Richard wanted him gone.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then who?””
Elena took a shaky breath.
“It was Marcus.””
The room went silent.
I looked at him.
His face had gone completely white.
May you like
And for the first time since this nightmare began…
Marcus looked afraid of the truth.
