Chapter 10: The Truth About Noah's Birth
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own heartbeat.
Eleanor stood beside the living room window, holding Danielle's old notebook against her chest.
Daniel remained seated, staring at the photograph of Richard Coleman outside the hospital room.
I finally found my voice.
"What are you saying?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Marcus, please sit down.""
"I'm already sitting. Tell me what you know.""
She swallowed.
"Before Danielle married you, she was involved in a serious relationship with someone else.""
I frowned.
"I know about her previous relationships.""
"This was different. His name was Michael.""
I searched my memory.
Danielle had mentioned a man named Michael once, years earlier. She'd described him as someone she'd dated briefly in college.
"What does he have to do with Noah?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Michael was Ethan's closest friend.""
I stared at her.
"You're telling me my brother knew him?""
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"Years.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain anything.""
Eleanor walked toward the table.
"Michael died in a car accident shortly before Danielle discovered she was pregnant. Ethan told everyone that Michael had been irresponsible and that Danielle had moved on.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Are you saying Michael was Noah's biological father?""
Eleanor didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she opened the wooden box and removed a folded medical document.
"This is a copy of a prenatal paternity report Danielle kept.""
I took it.
The document contained Michael's name.
And a result indicating that he was Noah's biological father.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Why didn't Danielle tell me?""
"Because she loved you, Marcus. And because Michael had already died.""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did Marcus know about this before the wedding?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. Danielle wanted to tell him, but she was afraid of losing him. Then she discovered something else.""
"What?""
Eleanor placed another document on the table.
A letter from Michael.
It was dated two weeks before his death.
Danielle,
Ethan says he has arranged everything. He promised that the company shares will eventually belong to Noah. But I don't trust him anymore.
If anything happens to me, please don't let him control our son.
My hands began shaking.
"Our son.""
Michael had known.
He had wanted to protect Noah.
But why had Ethan been involved?
Daniel examined the letter.
"Mrs. Carter, do you know why Michael was concerned?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Michael discovered that Ethan had been using his identity to obtain loans against company assets. He threatened to expose him.""
I looked at the paternity report again.
"Then Ethan knew Noah wasn't biologically mine.""
"Yes.""
"And he still wanted to become his guardian?""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"He wanted control of the inheritance. Noah was the only person who could eventually expose what your father had done to protect the company.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
But one thing remained simple.
Noah was my son.
Nothing on a piece of paper could change the years I'd spent loving him.
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Does Noah know?""
"No.""
"Does he need to?""
"Not from me.""
I nodded.
"Then he won't hear it from me until there's a reason and he's old enough to understand.""
Daniel closed his folder.
"Marcus, we need to focus on the immediate legal situation. Ethan and Vanessa have attempted to obtain guardianship using fraudulent documents. We have evidence of financial misconduct and potentially serious criminal activity.""
I looked at the letter from Michael.
"What about his death?""
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"I don't know whether Ethan had anything to do with it.""
"Do you suspect him?""
She nodded.
"Michael called me the night before his accident. He said he was going to meet someone to discuss the company records.""
"Who?""
"He wouldn't tell me.""
I stared at the photograph of Ethan and Richard.
Daniel took out his phone.
"I'll contact the investigator handling the financial records. We need to establish whether the accident was ever properly investigated.""
My phone buzzed.
A message from Robert.
Marcus, there's a problem. Vanessa is outside my house.
I immediately called him.
"Don't let her in.""
"She says she has a court order.""
"Take a photograph of it. Don't hand Noah over.""
Robert lowered his voice.
"Marcus, she's brought Ethan.""
I felt cold.
"Call the police.""
Then I heard Noah crying in the background.
"Daddy! Daddy!""
I grabbed my keys.
"Robert, I'm coming.""
But before I could leave, Eleanor caught my arm.
"Marcus, wait.""
She handed me a small photograph.
It showed Danielle holding newborn Noah in the hospital.
Beside her stood Michael.
And in the background, almost hidden behind a curtain, stood Ethan.
On the back, Danielle had written:
The day Michael discovered the truth.
I looked up.
"What truth?""
Eleanor's voice broke.
"Michael didn't die in an ordinary accident, Marcus. He was about to expose Ethan.""
My phone rang again.
This time, Robert was shouting.
"Marcus! The police are here!""
Then I heard a man's voice in the background.
It was Ethan.
May you like
"Tell Marcus that if he wants his son back, he should bring the original trust documents.""
The call disconnected.
