Chapter 4: The Brother Nobody Mentioned
Madison stopped crying.
She simply stared.
Claire slowly stood.
“What?””
Charles looked sick.
“David Mercer is my half brother.””
Ethan stepped toward him.
“You never told me you had a brother.””
“We haven’t spoken in twenty-seven years.””
“Why?””
Charles looked at Richard.
Richard said nothing.
Madison’s voice came out thin.
“My biological father might be Ethan’s uncle?””
Charles closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Madison grabbed the edge of the vanity.
Ethan moved toward her.
She backed away from him instinctively.
He stopped.
That hurt both of them.
I saw it.
Madison stared at Charles.
“Then Ethan and I…”
Charles swallowed.
“If David is your biological father, then you and Ethan are first cousins.””
Claire sank back onto the sofa.
“No.””
Madison shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at her mother.
“You said his name was David Mercer.””
“Yes.””
“Are you sure?””
“Of course I’m sure.””
“Could there be another David Mercer?””
Claire looked desperately at Charles.
Charles slowly shook his head.
“The age fits.””
Madison pressed both hands against her temples.
Ethan turned away.
He walked to the window and stared outside.
Through the glass, I could see guests gathering in the gardens below.
They had no idea the wedding had already shattered.
Someone laughed near the aisle.
A child chased flower petals across the lawn.
Inside, Madison whispered, “This can’t be happening.””
I put one hand on her shoulder.
“We don’t know for certain yet.””
Charles nodded quickly.
“Tom’s right.””
Madison looked at him.
“You just said—”
“I said it’s possible.””
“But Rebecca told Dad not to let us sign a marriage certificate.””
“Yes.””
“So she thinks it’s true.””
“She thinks it needs to be verified.””
Ethan turned from the window.
“When?””
Everyone looked at him.
“When can it be verified?””
I answered.
“Immediately, if we can get David’s DNA.””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Good luck.””
Madison looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
“David disappeared from my life before you were born.””
Charles shook his head.
“No.””
Claire stared.
“What?””
“He didn’t disappear.””
Charles’s voice was quiet.
“He was forced out.””
Richard suddenly said, “Charles.””
Charles ignored him.
Ethan walked closer.
“By who?””
Charles looked at Richard.
“My father.””
Richard swore.
Charles continued.
“My father found out David was having an affair.””
Claire’s face tightened.
“With me?””
Charles nodded.
“He didn’t know your name at first.””
Richard crossed the room.
“Stop.””
Charles turned.
“Why?””
Richard’s face darkened.
“Because you don’t know everything.””
“Then explain it.””
“I’m not discussing family history in front of two hundred wedding guests.””
Ethan laughed.
“We are not going downstairs.””
Madison looked at him.
He met her eyes.
His expression softened.
“I’m sorry.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
That tiny exchange nearly broke me.
They had been ten minutes away from marriage.
Now they were afraid to touch.
Charles looked at Richard.
“What did my father do?””
Richard stared at him.
“You really don’t know?””
“No.””
Richard smiled without humor.
“Of course you don’t.””
Charles stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
Richard leaned against the wall.
“Your father discovered David was involved with a married woman.””
Claire whispered, “Me.””
“Yes.””
Richard continued.
“He was already furious with David because David wanted to expose the financial problems inside Carter Industrial.””
Charles frowned.
“What financial problems?””
Richard laughed.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The part your family conveniently forgot.””
Charles’s jaw tightened.
“Stop speaking in riddles.””
Richard pointed toward the old documents.
“The missing money.””
“You stole it.””
“No.””
Charles stared.
Richard’s voice became calm.
“David moved it.””
Nobody spoke.
Charles shook his head.
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he disappear the same week I did?””
Charles froze.
Ethan looked at his father.
“Is that true?””
Charles said nothing.
Richard continued.
“Your family blamed me because I was convenient.””
“You had control of the accounts.””
“I processed transfers.””
“To your company.””
Richard laughed.
“Vale Heritage Holdings wasn’t mine.””
Charles frowned.
Richard pointed toward Claire.
“Ask her boyfriend.””
Claire looked horrified.
“What are you saying?””
Richard’s expression turned cold.
“David created that company.””
I felt every piece shift again.
Madison whispered, “Then why was it named after you?””
Richard looked at her.
“Because he needed someone to blame.””
Charles shook his head.
“You expect me to believe David stole from his own family and framed you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Richard looked at Claire.
“Because he was leaving.””
Claire stood.
“Leaving where?””
“With you.””
She stared.
Richard continued.
“He had money hidden. He had passports. He planned to take Claire and disappear before your father could stop him.””
Claire looked like she might faint.
“No.””
“You didn’t know?””
“No.””
Richard laughed quietly.
“Apparently none of us knew the whole story.””
Madison shook her head.
“This doesn’t matter.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed at Richard.
“I don’t care about a company from twenty-five years ago.””
Then at Charles.
“I don’t care which brother hated which brother.””
Her voice broke.
“I need to know whether I almost married my cousin.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
Nobody had an answer.
Madison wiped her cheeks.
“Where is David?””
Charles looked away.
Richard answered.
“California.””
Claire turned toward him.
“You know where he is?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“He contacted me.””
“Rebecca said that,” I said.
Madison stepped closer to Richard.
“Why?””
Richard hesitated.
She slammed her palm against the vanity.
“Stop doing that!””
The room went silent.
“Every time someone asks you a question, you pause like you’re deciding which lie costs you less.””
Richard stared at her.
Madison pointed at him.
“Why did David contact you?””
Richard’s face hardened.
“Because he saw the engagement announcement.””
Madison’s stomach seemed to drop.
“Then he knew who Ethan was too.””
“Yes.””
“And he knew Charles was Ethan’s father.””
“Yes.””
“And if he is my biological father…”
She couldn’t finish.
Richard nodded.
“He understood the possibility.””
Madison stared.
“He knew we might be cousins.””
“Yes.””
“And instead of calling me, he called you.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Richard looked toward Charles.
“Because he didn’t want Charles finding him.””
Charles frowned.
“Why would I care where David is?””
Richard laughed.
“You really have no idea what your father did.””
“My father has been dead twelve years.””
“And took plenty with him.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Richard looked at him.
“You want answers?””
“Yes.””
“Then stop treating Charles like he knows everything.””
Ethan’s face tightened.
“Watch yourself.””
Richard gave a bitter smile.
“You sound just like him.””
Ethan went still.
The cruelty of it landed instantly.
Richard realized too late what he had said.
Charles looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked away.
Richard lowered his voice.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did,” Ethan said.
I stepped between them.
“This gets us nowhere.””
Then I looked at Richard.
“Call David.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“He won’t answer.””
“Try.””
“No.””
Madison walked toward him.
“Please.””
Richard looked at her.
For the first time that day, something close to guilt appeared in his face.
“He told me never to give you his number.””
Madison’s expression hardened.
“You stopped being entitled to protect his wishes when you used me to get money.””
Richard flinched.
“Call him.””
He looked around the room.
Nobody moved.
Finally, he took out his phone.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
Then he selected a number.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
Richard ended it.
“He won’t—”
His phone rang immediately.
Everyone froze.
Richard looked at the screen.
DAVID.
Madison inhaled sharply.
“Answer it.””
Richard put the call on speaker.
“David?””
A man’s voice came through.
Low.
Older.
Angry.
“What did you do?””
Richard frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“I told you to keep that wedding from happening.””
Madison closed her eyes.
Ethan stared at the phone.
Richard said, “They know.””
Silence.
Then David whispered, “How much?””
“All of it.””
Another silence.
Charles stepped closer to the phone.
“David.””
Nothing.
Charles swallowed.
“It’s Charles.””
The line remained quiet for several seconds.
Then David laughed.
It was not a happy sound.
“Of course it is.””
Charles clenched his jaw.
“Is Madison your daughter?””
Claire covered her mouth.
David did not answer.
Madison leaned toward the phone.
“My name is Madison.””
Silence.
“I need you to tell me the truth.””
The man on the line inhaled.
Madison’s voice shook.
“Are you my father?””
David finally answered.
“I don’t know.””
She closed her eyes.
“But you knew it was possible.””
“Yes.””
“You knew I was marrying Ethan.””
“Yes.””
“You knew he was Charles’s son.””
“Yes.””
Her face twisted.
“And you did nothing?””
“I tried.””
“You called Richard.””
“I couldn’t call you.””
“Why?””
David’s voice changed.
“Because if Charles found out where I was, everything would start again.””
Charles stepped forward.
“What would start again?””
David ignored him.
Madison held the phone closer.
“Can you take a DNA test?””
Silence.
“David?””
“No.””
Her face fell.
“Why?””
“I can’t.””
“You can’t or you won’t?””
“I said no.””
Ethan spoke.
“Then the wedding is over.””
Madison looked at him.
Pain crossed his face.
“Until we know.””
She nodded slowly.
“I understand.””
David suddenly said, “That’s not enough.””
Ethan frowned.
“What?””
“You need to stay away from each other.””
Charles snapped.
“Explain yourself.””
David’s voice grew tight.
“Because the DNA isn’t the only reason that marriage can’t happen.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
Madison whispered, “What else?””
David breathed heavily.
Then said something none of us expected.
“Ask Charles what happened to Ethan’s mother.””
Ethan went completely still.
Charles’s face drained of color.
“My mother died in a car accident,” Ethan said.
David answered quietly.
“No.””
Charles grabbed the phone.
“Shut up.””
David continued.
“That’s what they told you.””
“David.””
“But Margaret didn’t die in an accident.””
Ethan stared at his father.
Charles looked terrified.
May you like
And then David delivered the sentence that silenced the room.
“Ethan, your mother is alive.””
