MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER POPPED MY BRIDE'S PREGNANT BELLY IN FRONT OF 150 WEDDING GUESTS—BUT THE SECRET VIDEO SHE SHOWED ME REVEALED THAT MY FIRST WIFE WAS STILL ALIVE

I had spent my entire life believing Margaret was my biological mother.

She had raised me.

She had attended every school event.

She had kissed my forehead when I was sick.

She had sat beside my hospital bed when I broke my arm.

But Victor was telling me that another woman had given birth to me.

A woman who was still alive.

I looked at the photograph again.

"Where is she?""

Victor hesitated.

"At a care facility outside Dayton.""

"Why has nobody told me?""

"Because William paid to keep her identity hidden.""

I shook my head.

"This family is unbelievable.""

Rachel touched my shoulder.

"Ethan, you don't have to meet her tonight.""

I looked at her.

"I need answers.""

Detective Miller approached.

"We'll arrange a secure visit after we deal with the immediate threat. William Carter is still at large.""

I nodded reluctantly.

Then Victor handed Miller a second envelope.

"This contains the original birth records.""

Miller opened it.

His expression changed.

"What?""

He looked at me.

"Mr. Carter, there's something you should know.""

I waited.

"The records show Margaret adopted you when you were three months old. The adoption was never properly registered.""

I felt my stomach tighten.

"So she wasn't my biological mother.""

"That's correct.""

"Why did she pretend?""

Victor answered.

"Because Evelyn was William's daughter. She became pregnant with you outside marriage. William wanted to control the child and the inheritance. Margaret agreed to raise you in exchange for financial security.""

I looked toward the floor.

"And Thomas?""

"He was already involved with Margaret. He agreed to raise you as his own.""

I closed my eyes.

Suddenly, I remembered something from childhood.

My father sitting beside me on the porch.

I was about seven.

I had asked him why I didn't look like him.

He had smiled and said, "Families aren't made by faces, son. They're made by the people who stay.""

I swallowed.

"He knew?""

Victor nodded.

"He loved you as his own.""

That hurt more than I expected.

Because Thomas had been the only person who had consistently protected me, even when he had made terrible decisions.

Rachel took my hand.

"Let's meet Evelyn.""

Detective Miller arranged for an officer to accompany us.

Two hours later, we arrived at a quiet care facility surrounded by trees.

A nurse led us down a corridor.

"She's in the garden room.""

I stopped outside the door.

Through the glass, I saw an elderly woman sitting beside a window.

Her silver hair was neatly brushed.

A knitted blanket covered her legs.

She was holding a photograph.

When the nurse opened the door, she looked up.

Then she saw me.

The photograph slipped from her hands.

"Ethan?""

I stood frozen.

She slowly rose.

"Oh, my goodness.""

Her hands trembled as she approached.

"You're so much like your father.""

I didn't know what to say.

She reached toward my face but stopped before touching me.

"May I?""

I nodded.

Her fingers brushed my cheek.

Then she began crying.

"My baby.""

I looked away.

"Why didn't you come looking for me?""

Evelyn lowered her eyes.

"William told me you had been placed with a family who would give you a better life. He said if I contacted you, he would destroy the people raising you.""

"Did you believe him?""

"I was twenty years old, Ethan. I had no money, no power, and no one willing to help me.""

She returned to her chair.

Rachel sat beside her.

Evelyn looked at Rachel.

"You're the woman who survived the accident.""

Rachel nodded.

Evelyn took her hand.

"I'm sorry.""

Rachel began crying.

"Thank you.""

I sat across from them.

"Tell me about William.""

Evelyn's expression changed.

"He was charming when he wanted something. Cruel when someone refused him.""

"Why is he doing all this?""

"Because he believes the Carter fortune belongs to him. He created it, controlled it, and expected everyone to obey him.""

She paused.

"Thomas was the only person who ever challenged him.""

I leaned forward.

"What about Daniel?""

Evelyn looked toward the window.

"Daniel was William's favorite. He promised him everything.""

"Then why did he want me dead?""

"Because you were the legal beneficiary. William couldn't transfer the entire estate without your cooperation.""

I felt sick.

Evelyn reached for my hand.

"There's something else.""

"What?""

She looked at Rachel.

Then back at me.

"William didn't just arrange the accident.""

I stared at her.

"What do you mean?""

"He knew Rachel was pregnant again.""

Rachel went completely still.

I turned toward her.

"Pregnant?""

She looked confused.

Evelyn continued.

"Six years ago, Rachel was carrying another child. William believed that if the baby survived, the inheritance would become much harder to manipulate.""

Rachel covered her mouth.

I looked at her.

"Did you know?""

She began shaking her head.

"I lost the baby after the accident. The doctors told me there was nothing they could do.""

Evelyn started crying.

"William knew about the pregnancy before the crash.""

I stood.

"How?""

She pointed toward the envelope in my hand.

"Because someone in your family told him.""

I looked down.

There was one final document inside.

A medical report.

And at the bottom was a handwritten note.

Pregnancy confirmed. Second child. Estimated eight weeks.

Beside it was a signature.

Margaret Carter.

My mother had known Rachel was pregnant.

She had known about the accident.

And she had signed the report.

I felt my knees weaken.

Then Evelyn whispered:

"There's another reason William wants you to marry Vanessa.""

I looked up.

"What?""

She took a shaky breath.

"Vanessa isn't just Daniel's accomplice.""

I stared at her.

"Who is she?""

Evelyn closed her eyes.

"She's William's granddaughter too.""

I couldn't speak.

Rachel grabbed my hand.

Evelyn continued.

"Vanessa and Daniel are siblings. William planned to have them marry into your family through separate arrangements, so both sides of the inheritance would eventually return to his bloodline.""

I stepped backward.

The fake pregnancy.

The wedding.

The property transfers.

All of it.

Then my phone rang.

Detective Miller.

I answered immediately.

"What's happening?""

His voice was urgent.

"Mr. Carter, we have a problem.""

"What?""