Chapter 10: The Child My Father Hid
I stared at the document for almost a full minute.
The words refused to make sense.
A private adoption agreement.
A child listed under my father’s name.
A child who was “never supposed to exist.””
My entire life suddenly felt like a story someone else had written.
“Daniel,” Clara whispered.
I looked at her.
She saw the fear in my face.
“What does it say?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because I wasn’t sure I could say the words out loud.
Marcus moved closer.
“Sir, we’re still verifying the records.””
I looked at him.
“Read it.””
Marcus hesitated.
Then he opened the file.
“The agreement was created twenty-one years ago.””
My heart stopped.
Twenty-one years.
Before I took over the company.
Before my father died.
Before I knew anything about the secrets inside my own family.
“Who was the child?”” I asked.
Marcus looked at the page.
Then back at me.
“Ethan Carter.””
The name hit me.
I shook my head.
“No.””
Clara looked between us.
“Daniel?””
“My father only had one child.””
Me.
That was what I had believed my entire life.
Marcus continued.
“There’s more.””
I looked at him.
“The child was registered under a private trust.””
“Why?””
“Because someone wanted his identity hidden.””
I felt anger rising.
“Who signed this?””
Marcus pointed.
“My father.””
I looked at the signature.
It was real.
I knew his handwriting.
But something bothered me.
“If my father had another child, why would he hide him?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice spoke.
“Daniel Carter.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Ethan.””
The room went silent.
Clara looked at me.
The man continued.
“I think you just found out I exist.””
I stood.
“Where are you?””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“It matters to me.””
A quiet laugh.
“You sound like him.””
“Like who?””
“Your father.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“What do you want?””
“I want the truth.””
“You’re the one who disappeared.””
“No.””
His voice changed.
“I was hidden.””
A chill moved through me.
“By who?””
Silence.
Then:
“Your mother.””
I looked at Marcus.
He immediately began tracing the call.
“Why?””
“Because your father wanted to protect me.””
“From what?””
“From her.””
The call became distorted.
“Daniel, listen carefully. Evelyn knows you found the documents.””
“How?””
“Because she wanted you to.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She didn’t accidentally leave that file.””
My breathing slowed.
“She planted it.””
The call ended.
I looked at Marcus.
“Can you trace it?””
He checked the screen.
Then frowned.
“Almost.””
“Almost isn’t enough.””
He looked up.
“It came from an old Carter property.””
My heart dropped.
“What property?””
Marcus turned the screen toward me.
The address appeared.
A house I had never heard of.
May you like
But the name attached to it made everything worse.
*Carter Family Trust Residence.*
