Chapter 5: The Husband Who Never Came Home
Dad insisted that I leave the hotel with a security escort.
I refused to go to our house until I knew whether Nathan was there.
"He's my husband," I told Dad as we sat in the back of his black SUV.
"I deserve to hear the truth from him.""
Dad looked out the window.
"Danielle, I don't want you confronting him alone.""
"I'm not asking permission.""
He turned toward me.
"I know. That's why I'm asking you to be careful.""
Grace slept in her car seat between us.
Richard sat in the front passenger seat, speaking quietly with the legal department.
When we reached my house, the porch light was on.
Nathan's car was parked in the driveway.
My stomach tightened.
Dad's security officer opened my door.
"Ma'am, we'll accompany you inside.""
I nodded.
The house smelled faintly of the lavender detergent Nathan always used on our sheets.
Everything looked normal.
A pair of his shoes sat beside the staircase. His coffee mug was on the kitchen counter.
But there was something strange.
The nursery door was open.
And the drawer where we'd kept Grace's hospital documents was pulled out.
I walked toward it.
The folder containing her birth certificate was missing.
So was the envelope containing the hospital discharge paperwork.
"Dad?""
He came into the room.
"What is it?""
"Someone has been searching through our documents.""
He examined the drawer.
"Richard, call the security team. Nobody enters or leaves without authorization.""
I walked into the nursery.
Grace's little blanket was folded neatly over the crib.
A stuffed rabbit Nathan had bought during my pregnancy sat beside it.
I picked it up.
For some reason, that tiny rabbit made my eyes fill with tears.
I had imagined Nathan sitting beside this crib every night.
I had imagined him reading bedtime stories.
I had imagined Grace growing up believing her father was the safest person in the world.
My phone rang.
Nathan.
I answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
"Danielle, thank God. I've been trying to reach you.""
"Why did you order a DNA test?""
Silence.
Then he sighed.
"Who told you that?""
"Answer me.""
"Vanessa has been feeding you lies.""
"I saw the authorization.""
"Listen, sweetheart. I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
He lowered his voice.
"Your grandmother contacted me months ago. She said there were questions about the trust. She thought someone might be trying to use the baby to gain access to your inheritance.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She asked me to get a paternity test. Just to protect you.""
"Then why did you hide it?""
"I didn't want to upset you during pregnancy.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"You secretly ordered a DNA test on our daughter, Nathan!""
"Because I was trying to protect our family!""
"From what?""
He didn't answer.
I walked toward the kitchen.
"Where are you?""
"At the office.""
"Come home.""
"I can't. I'm dealing with something urgent.""
"Your daughter is three weeks old, and your wife has been slapped in a hotel lobby. You should be here.""
His voice hardened.
"Don't use the baby to manipulate me.""
I stopped walking.
For a moment, I genuinely wondered whether I'd heard him correctly.
"What did you just say?""
He exhaled.
"Danielle, I'm stressed. That's all.""
"Did you sleep with Vanessa?""
Silence.
Longer this time.
Then he said, "That's none of your concern right now.""
My heart seemed to stop.
"You're married to me.""
"And I'm trying to keep this family from falling apart.""
I heard a notification on his end.
Then another voice.
A woman's voice.
"Is that her?""
I recognized Vanessa immediately.
Nathan lowered the phone.
"Not now.""
I closed my eyes.
He wasn't at the office.
He was with her.
"You're together, aren't you?""
"Danielle—"
"Are you with Vanessa?""
He disconnected.
I stood in the kitchen, staring at my phone.
Dad entered a moment later.
"Was that Nathan?""
I nodded.
"He's with her.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"Then we're going to find out exactly what he's been doing.""
Richard approached from the hallway.
"Sir, the hospital just responded.""
Dad turned.
"Do they have the original report?""
"Yes. They've confirmed the request and the access history.""
I stepped forward.
"What does the report say?""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"There's another issue.""
"What issue?""
"The hospital's original system shows that the genetic test was completed. But the report was never released to Nathan.""
Dad frowned.
"Why not?""
"Because the requesting physician flagged the authorization for additional verification.""
My stomach tightened.
"So the report Vanessa showed us was fabricated?""
"It appears that way.""
Richard looked down at his tablet.
"And the person who created the altered report wasn't Nathan.""
I stared at him.
"Who was it?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A digital signature appeared beneath the document.
Margaret Brooks.
But before Dad could say anything, another notification flashed across Richard's tablet.
It was an email from the hospital.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: ORIGINAL PATERNITY RESULTS AND UNAUTHORIZED MEDICAL RECORD ACCESS.*
Richard opened it.
His eyes widened.
"Mr. Brooks, there's one more name associated with the unauthorized access.""
Dad leaned closer.
"Who?""
Richard looked at me.
"Your husband's business partner.""
I frowned.
"Who is that?""
May you like
Richard answered quietly.
"Your brother, Daniel Brooks.""
