Chapter 11: The Original DNA Test
Thomas Bell was escorted into the living room.
Patricia asked him to sit down while her colleague contacted the appropriate authorities.
He refused.
“I have patients waiting,” he protested.
Emily crossed her arms.
“You've had four years to remember your patients. You can spare ten minutes.””
Thomas glared at her.
“You have no understanding of what happened.””
I stepped forward.
“Then explain it.””
He looked toward Margaret.
She shook her head.
But Thomas seemed to realize that she could no longer protect him.
He finally sat down.
“Four years ago, Sarah delivered twins. Both babies survived.””
I swallowed.
“Continue.””
“Your mother was convinced that the family needed a male heir. Your grandfather's estate had complicated inheritance provisions.””
I frowned.
“Ari and her brother were both heirs.””
“Not according to the original arrangement.””
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
“Your grandfather's will had been amended shortly before his death. The first grandson would receive controlling interest in the family holdings.””
Rebecca interrupted.
“That amendment was never legally registered.””
Thomas looked at her.
“That's not what Margaret told me.””
My mother remained silent.
I looked at him.
“Why did you change the birth records?””
Thomas sighed.
“Because Margaret insisted the second baby should be registered separately. She claimed Sarah had agreed to temporary guardianship.””
“Did Sarah agree?””
“No.””
The answer came quietly.
I felt my hands clench.
“Then why did you do it?””
Thomas looked down.
“Margaret paid me.””
“How much?””
“Five hundred thousand dollars.””
“And what happened to the baby?””
Thomas swallowed.
“He was transferred to a private family under a different identity.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Who adopted him?””
Thomas hesitated.
“I don't know their names.””
“Liar!”” I shouted.
Patricia raised her hand.
“Mr. Carter, please.””
Thomas continued.
“I arranged the paperwork through an intermediary. Margaret handled the family.””
I looked at my mother.
“Who has my son?””
She stared at the carpet.
“Answer me!””
Finally, she spoke.
“The Hendersons.””
I froze.
“What?””
“David and Laura Henderson.””
The names meant nothing to me.
But Emily suddenly gasped.
“Wait.””
She looked at Thomas.
“David Henderson is the man who runs the Carter Foundation.””
Thomas nodded.
I felt sick.
My family's charitable foundation had sponsored children's hospitals, educational programs, and adoption services for years.
The Hendersons were connected to all of it.
“Where do they live?”” I asked.
Margaret shook her head.
“Daniel, you cannot simply show up and take a child.””
I stepped toward her.
“He's my son!””
“And he has a family!””
I stared at her.
“You stole him from his mother.””
Margaret's voice rose.
“Sarah was going to destroy everything!””
Rebecca stood.
“She was going to tell the truth.””
My mother turned toward her.
“She was going to expose the family to public humiliation!””
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
“So you let her die?””
Margaret went silent.
Thomas looked at her.
“Margaret, tell him what happened in the hospital.””
My mother slowly turned.
“Be quiet.””
Thomas continued.
“Tell him about the medication.””
I stopped breathing.
“What medication?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Sarah was given a sedative shortly before her condition deteriorated.””
I stared.
“Why?””
He lowered his voice.
“Your mother requested it.””
Margaret suddenly stood.
“That is not what happened!””
Thomas shook his head.
“You told me she needed to sleep. You said she was becoming hysterical.””
Rebecca began crying.
I looked at my mother.
“Did you drug my wife?””
Margaret's expression twisted.
“I wanted her to calm down!””
“DID YOU?””
She shook her head violently.
“Sarah was going to take the children away from the family. She was going to leave you. She was going to destroy everything your grandfather built!””
I stepped closer.
“She was my wife!””
“And she was making a terrible mistake!””
The words came out so loudly that Ari began crying.
I immediately turned toward her.
Emily carried her into the kitchen.
I stood motionless.
Then Thomas spoke again.
“The medication wasn't supposed to cause complications. But Sarah had already developed an unexpected reaction.””
Rebecca covered her mouth.
I felt cold.
“What happened next?””
Thomas looked at the floor.
“She stopped responding. We attempted resuscitation, but—”
“Did you call me?””
“No.””
“WHY?””
He closed his eyes.
“Margaret instructed us to wait.””
I felt something break inside me.
For four years, I'd believed I had been too late to save Sarah.
Now I was learning that someone had deliberately kept me away.
My mother started crying.
“Daniel, I was trying to prevent a scandal.””
I turned toward her.
“You prevented me from saying goodbye to my wife.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Thomas reached into his briefcase.
He removed a sealed laboratory envelope.
“This is the original DNA report.””
I took it.
The paper was old, but the laboratory seal was intact.
There were two children listed.
Ari Carter.
And a second child whose name had been handwritten.
Noah Carter.
Under the biological father section, both results identified me as the father.
I pressed the document against my chest.
My son had a name.
Noah.
Then I noticed the date.
The report had been completed three days after Sarah died.
I looked at Thomas.
“Why did you keep this?””
He swallowed.
“Because Margaret never knew I had a copy.””
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a little boy standing outside a school.
The same boy from Margaret's phone.
Underneath was a message:
*My name is Noah. I'm five years old. Someone told me my real father is looking for me. Is that true?*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*Please come before they send me away again.*
