Chapter 13: The Man in the Old Photograph
I stared at the screen until the words stopped looking like words.
*Last seen leaving the hospital on the night Emily Carter gave birth.*
My name.
Mia's birth.
Daniel's family.
All connected by a thread I never knew existed.
“No,” Daniel whispered.
He stepped back from the phone.
“No, that can't be right.””
I looked at him.
“Daniel…”
“My uncle disappeared before I was born.””
His voice sounded distant.
“My mother told me he left. She said nobody knew where he went.””
I looked at the article again.
“But he was at the hospital.””
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
“Why?””
That was the question.
The one that had followed us through every secret.
Why?
Why did Patricia hide Lucas?
Why did she test Mia?
Why did she know about Marcus?
Why was Daniel's missing uncle connected to the night my daughter was born?
The next morning, we went back to Patricia's house.
This time, we didn't knock.
She opened the door and immediately knew.
“You found out.””
There was no surprise.
No confusion.
Just exhaustion.
Daniel stepped inside.
“Who was Ethan Hayes?””
Patricia closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she moved toward the living room.
“I hoped this day would never come.””
I followed.
“No more secrets.””
She looked at me.
“I know.””
“Then tell us everything.””
Patricia sat down.
For once, she didn't look like the powerful woman who controlled every room she entered.
She looked like someone who had been carrying something heavy for too long.
“Ethan was my brother.””
Daniel stood across from her.
“What happened to him?””
Patricia looked at him.
“He made mistakes.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
She sighed.
“Ethan was at the hospital the night Mia was born because he was helping me.””
My heart tightened.
“Helping you do what?””
Patricia looked at me.
“Protect you.””
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because I had heard that word too many times.
“Protect me from what?””
She looked down.
“From Ethan.””
The room went silent.
Daniel frowned.
“Wait.””
He looked between us.
“Are you saying your own brother was dangerous?””
Patricia nodded.
“He was obsessed with control.””
My stomach turned.
A horrible thought entered my mind.
Was that where Patricia learned it?
From him?
“He knew about Emily's situation,” Patricia continued.
“He knew about Marcus. He knew about the pregnancy before Mia. He knew things about her life that he shouldn't have known.””
I felt cold.
“How?””
Patricia looked ashamed.
“Because I told him.””
The confession landed hard.
“You told him?””
“I was scared. I didn't know what to do.””
Daniel stared at his mother.
“So you involved him?””
“I thought he could help.””
“And then?””
Patricia's voice lowered.
“Then I realized I had made a mistake.””
She explained that Ethan became interested in my life.
Not romantically.
Not like a family member.
Like something he believed he had a right to control.
“He thought he knew what was best for everyone.””
My hands clenched.
“He sounds exactly like you.””
Patricia flinched.
I didn't apologize.
Because it was true.
The difference was that Patricia finally seemed to understand it.
“The night Mia was born,” she said, “Ethan came to the hospital.””
Daniel looked at the article.
“He left that night.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Patricia looked at me.
“Because he tried to take control of the situation.””
My breath caught.
“What does that mean?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“He tried to convince me that Mia should be raised by someone else.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who?””
Patricia looked at him.
“You.””
He froze.
“What?””
“He wanted Mia to be raised by Daniel because he believed our family would provide a better life.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“No,” Patricia whispered.
“It doesn't.””
She admitted that Ethan disappeared after she confronted him.
She never told anyone because she was ashamed.
She thought keeping everything quiet would protect everyone.
Instead, the silence allowed more damage.
“Where is he now?”” Daniel asked.
Patricia looked away.
“I don't know.””
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
My blood ran cold.
Because the message contained a photograph.
A recent photograph.
Of Ethan Hayes.
Alive.
May you like
And underneath it were four words.
*He wants to meet Mia.*
