Chapter 7: The Father Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
The voice came from the hallway again.
“James?””
My hands went numb.
I looked at Ryan.
He looked back at me.
Neither of us spoke.
Because we both knew what was impossible.
My father had died seven years ago.
I had watched the doctors disconnect the machines.
I had signed the paperwork.
I had buried him.
And yet his voice was standing inside my house.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
“James…”
I barely heard her.
Slowly, I walked toward the hallway.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Then I saw him.
Standing near the front door.
Older.
Thinner.
Gray hair replacing the dark hair I remembered.
But the eyes were the same.
My father’s eyes.
“Dad?””
The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
The man looked at me.
A painful smile appeared on his face.
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me.””
My knees almost gave out.
“You’re dead.””
He nodded slowly.
“I know.””
My anger exploded.
“You know?””
I stepped forward.
“You know I spent seven years thinking I lost you?””
His expression changed.
Guilt.
Real guilt.
“I had no choice.””
“No choice?””
My voice echoed through the house.
“You let me bury an empty coffin?””
Sarah stood behind me, crying quietly.
Ryan remained frozen.
My father looked at him.
“You brought him here.””
Ryan nodded.
“She deserved the truth.””
My father sighed.
“I hoped we had more time.””
“More time for what?””
Nobody answered.
That scared me.
I looked at Sarah.
“What is happening?””
She wiped her tears.
“James, your father knows about Ethan.””
My stomach dropped.
“What does my father have to do with my son?””
My father walked closer.
“Everything.””
I clenched my fists.
“Explain.””
He looked toward the stairs.
Toward Ethan’s room.
Then lowered his voice.
“Ethan was never the target.””
“What?””
“The people watching your house weren’t after your money.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“They were trying to find your father.””
I stared at him.
“My father?””
My father nodded.
“Seven years ago, I discovered something about Michael.””
My heart tightened.
“Michael?””
“Yes.””
My father looked at the documents on the table.
“He wasn’t just stealing from you.””
“What was he doing?””
My father took a deep breath.
“He was building a case against you.””
I laughed once.
A hollow sound.
“Why?””
“Because you inherited something.””
I frowned.
“What?””
He looked directly at me.
“Your grandfather’s company.””
I shook my head.
“That company was sold years ago.””
“That’s what everyone thinks.””
The room went silent.
My father walked toward the table and picked up the DNA report.
“The night Ethan was born wasn’t an accident.””
Sarah covered her mouth.
“What are you saying?””
My father looked at her.
“The hospital mistake wasn’t a mistake.””
A chill ran through me.
“Then what was it?””
He placed the paper down.
“Someone was searching for a specific bloodline.””
I stared at him.
“This sounds insane.””
“I wish it was.””
My father pulled out a small envelope from his coat.
“I kept this because I knew one day they would come after you.””
Inside was an old photograph.
A family.
My grandfather.
My father.
A younger version of me.
And another child.
I picked it up.
“Who is this?””
My father looked at the picture.
“Your half-brother.””
I froze.
“What?””
“You had a brother nobody told you about.””
Sarah looked confused.
Ryan looked shocked.
“My mother never mentioned a brother.””
“Because she didn’t know.””
I looked at him.
“Then who knew?””
My father’s expression darkened.
“Michael.””
The name felt like a knife.
“How?””
“Because Michael’s family was connected to ours.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
My father looked at me.
“He knew about Ethan because Ethan’s DNA proved something.””
“What?””
He pointed to the report.
“The genetic match wasn’t random.””
My heart pounded.
“Who matched him?””
My father didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked toward the front window.
His face suddenly changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“What?””
He whispered:
“They found me.””
I turned.
A black SUV was parked outside.
The engine was running.
The headlights were off.
May you like
Then the front door handle slowly moved.
Someone was trying to get inside.
