Chapter 11: The Man Who Raised My Son
The name on the school pickup record was not Daniel Blackwood.
It was Thomas Reed.
Marcus immediately recognized it.
“Thomas?””
I turned toward him.
“Who is Thomas Reed?””
Marcus looked at the officer.
“Send me the photograph from the school security camera.””
A few seconds later, an image arrived.
An older man in a gray coat was standing beside a black SUV.
He had silver hair, a gold watch, and a familiar face.
Marcus whispered, “My father's former personal physician.””
Richard's doctor.
The man who had treated him before his supposed death.
Marcus called his father.
“Dad, do you know Thomas Reed?””
Richard answered weakly.
“Why are you asking?””
“Was he involved in your treatment?””
Silence.
Then Richard spoke.
“He was the one who told everyone I had died.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Did you trust him?””
“I did. For thirty years.””
“Dad, he has taken a little boy from a school under the name Thomas Reed.””
Richard stopped breathing for a moment.
Then he whispered:
“Find him before he reaches the old estate.””
Marcus ended the call.
We got into the SUV.
Lily sat beside me, holding my hand.
She kept looking at my face as if she were afraid I might disappear.
“Mommy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Are you going to leave again?””
I felt my heart break.
I kissed her forehead.
“Never because I want to.””
She leaned against me.
“Can I call you Mommy forever?””
I held her closer.
“As long as you want.””
Marcus looked at us through the rearview mirror.
His eyes were wet.
“I should have protected you both,” he whispered.
I reached forward and touched his shoulder.
“We'll talk about everything later. Right now, we find Ethan.””
The police vehicles led us through Atlanta toward an abandoned property once owned by the Blackwood family.
The estate stood behind a long driveway, surrounded by thick trees.
A security camera had been installed above the entrance.
Marcus recognized the building.
“My father used to keep confidential business records here.””
We stopped outside the gate.
Two police officers approached the front entrance.
The door was unlocked.
Inside, the house smelled of old wood and cigarette smoke.
A small child's backpack lay beside the staircase.
I rushed toward it.
On the front was a stitched name.
ETHAN.
I picked it up and pressed it against my chest.
A tiny drawing fell from the side pocket.
Three stick figures.
A woman.
A little boy.
And a little girl.
Above them, in crooked handwriting, were the words:
My real family.
I began crying.
“He knows about us.””
Marcus knelt beside me.
“We're going to find him.””
A noise came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Then a door slammed.
The officers rushed toward the staircase.
“Police! Show yourself!””
A man appeared at the top.
Thomas Reed.
He was holding Ethan's hand.
The little boy looked frightened.
“Stop!”” Marcus shouted.
Thomas raised his free hand.
“Please. Don't scare him.””
I stepped forward.
“Ethan?””
The boy looked down at me.
His eyes widened.
Thomas immediately pulled him behind his leg.
“Stay away from him.””
I raised both hands.
“I'm not going to hurt you, sweetheart.””
Ethan stared at my face.
Then he looked at the backpack in my hands.
“That's mine.””
“Yes, baby.””
“Who are you?””
I struggled to speak.
“I'm Danielle.””
He frowned.
Thomas quickly interrupted.
“Ethan, remember what we discussed? This woman is confused.””
Ethan shook his head.
“No.””
Thomas looked startled.
The little boy stepped forward.
“I've seen her before.””
I froze.
“Where?””
“In my dreams.””
I began crying.
Ethan looked at Thomas.
“You said my mommy was dead.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Marcus moved toward the staircase.
“Thomas, put the child down.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You don't understand what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
The older man looked at me.
“Your third child was born with a serious heart condition. He needed surgery immediately. Daniel offered to pay for everything.””
“And you took him?””
“I was told you were dead. Marcus was told the same thing. I thought I was saving a baby.””
I stared at him.
“You knew I was alive.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I discovered the truth three years later.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Daniel threatened my family.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Where are the medical records?””
Thomas pointed toward a locked cabinet.
“Inside.””
An officer opened it.
There were hospital files, adoption documents, payment receipts, and photographs.
Marcus examined the first folder.
Then he stopped.
“Danielle.””
I approached him.
He showed me a medical report.
It contained Ethan's original birth information.
But there was something else.
A surgical authorization signed by Thomas Reed.
And a second signature.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
“Daniel.””
Thomas nodded.
“Daniel paid for Ethan's surgery. But there was a condition.””
“What condition?”” I asked.
Thomas looked at the child.
“He wanted the boy raised to believe he was Daniel's biological son.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
Thomas's voice cracked.
“Because Daniel believed Marcus might eventually lose control of the company. He wanted a Blackwood heir he could control.””
Marcus closed the folder.
“You used my son as a business strategy.””
Thomas began crying.
“I loved him.””
Ethan suddenly spoke.
“Then why did you tell me I wasn't allowed to meet my mommy?””
Thomas looked at him.
He couldn't answer.
Ethan walked slowly down the stairs.
I knelt.
He stopped in front of me.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then he touched my cheek.
“You look like the lady in my picture.””
I pulled the photograph from my pocket.
It showed me holding three newborn babies.
Ethan examined it.
His little fingers touched the blue blanket around the smallest baby.
“That's me.””
I nodded.
“Yes, sweetheart. That's you.””
He looked up.
“Can I hug you?””
I opened my arms.
He ran into them.
And for the first time in six years, all three of my children were together.
Noah and Lily were waiting inside the police vehicle.
When Ethan saw them, he began smiling.
“That's my brother!””
Noah rushed toward him.
Lily followed.
The three children embraced each other.
Marcus stood beside me, crying silently.
But the moment was interrupted by a police officer.
“Mr. Blackwood, we found something else in the cabinet.””
He held up a small black folder.
Inside was a photograph of Thomas Reed standing beside Daniel.
And behind them stood another man.
Marcus stared at the image.
“That's impossible.””
I looked at him.
“Who is that?””
Marcus's voice was barely audible.
“My father.””
I frowned.
“Richard?””
May you like
He nodded.
“But this photograph was taken last month.””
