Chapter 7: The Man Who Wanted My Daughter
For several seconds, Russell couldn't hear anything.
The photograph remained in his hand.
His late wife stood outside a hospital, smiling faintly at the camera. Beside her was Marcus, the same man who had been contacting Dana.
And now Ellie was telling him that her mother had warned her about him.
Russell crouched in front of his daughter.
"Sweetheart, I need you to tell me exactly what you remember.""
Ellie held the staircase railing.
"I was little.""
"How little?""
"Maybe six.""
"Where did you see him?""
"At the hospital. Mom was sitting in a chair, and he came into the room.""
Russell swallowed.
"Did he speak to you?""
Ellie nodded.
"He asked me if I wanted to live somewhere with a big swimming pool.""
Russell's face tightened.
"What did your mother say?""
"She told him to leave.""
Ellie looked at Dana.
"Then she said he wasn't allowed to come near me again.""
Dana folded her arms.
"That's enough.""
Russell turned.
"No. It isn't.""
Ellie continued.
"Mom told me he was dangerous. She said if I ever saw him again, I should tell you.""
Russell gently took her hands.
"Why didn't you tell me before?""
"Because Mom said not to worry you until I was older.""
He pulled her into a hug.
"You're not in trouble. Not even a little.""
Behind him, Dana shifted uncomfortably.
Russell stood.
"How do you know Marcus?""
Dana looked away.
"I met him through a mutual acquaintance.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"He contacted me several months ago.""
"Why?""
"About the house.""
Russell stared.
"What?""
Dana took a breath.
"He told me he knew about the trust. He said there was a way to challenge it.""
"Why would he want to?""
"Because he believed Ellie wasn't entitled to everything.""
Russell felt his stomach turn.
"Who is he?""
Dana remained silent.
Russell repeated the question.
"Who is Marcus?""
Dana finally looked at him.
"He's Ellie's biological father.""
The room went silent.
Ellie gripped Russell's sleeve.
Russell stared at Dana.
"That's a lie.""
Dana shook her head.
"Your wife never told you the truth.""
"Stop.""
"Marcus is her biological father.""
"Stop talking.""
"Your wife had a relationship with him before you met her. She never told you because she knew you'd—"
"ENOUGH!""
Russell's voice echoed through the living room.
Ellie began crying.
He immediately turned toward her.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
He knelt and wiped her tears.
"Nothing changes. Do you hear me? Nothing.""
Ellie nodded, but her face was pale.
"Are you still my dad?""
Russell's eyes filled.
He placed both hands against her cheeks.
"I was your dad before you could even say my name. I will be your dad when you're fifty. Nothing anybody says can change that.""
Ellie threw her arms around him.
Dana watched them.
Her expression was difficult to read.
Russell stood again.
"Where is Marcus?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I'm telling you the truth.""
He held up his phone.
"He's been messaging you. He's asking for documents. He knows about the trust. And now you're telling me he's Ellie's biological father.""
Dana rubbed her forehead.
"He said he wanted to meet her.""
"Why?""
"Because he believes he has rights.""
Russell laughed bitterly.
"Rights? He hasn't been there for ten years.""
Dana's voice rose.
"Neither have you been the only person making decisions about her!""
Russell went still.
"What does that mean?""
Dana realized she had said too much.
She looked toward the staircase.
Then she picked up her suitcase.
"I'm leaving.""
"Not until you explain what you've done.""
"I don't owe you another explanation.""
She walked toward the door.
Russell didn't stop her.
But he said one thing before she reached it.
"If Marcus is Ellie's biological father, why did you spend months trying to remove her from this house?""
Dana stopped.
For a moment, her shoulders stiffened.
Then she answered without turning around.
"Because Marcus promised me something.""
Russell's blood ran cold.
"What?""
Dana opened the door.
"That if Ellie came to live with him, he'd make sure Cole and I never had to worry about money again.""
She stepped outside.
The door closed.
Russell stood motionless.
Ellie was still beside the staircase.
She had heard everything.
That evening, Russell took Ellie to Margaret's house.
He didn't want her spending another night in a house filled with unanswered questions.
Margaret opened the door.
One look at their faces told her something was wrong.
"What happened?""
Russell walked inside.
"Mom, I need the truth.""
Margaret closed the door.
He placed the photograph on the dining table.
"Who is Marcus?""
Margaret looked at the picture.
Her expression changed.
"Oh, Russell.""
"Was he Ellie's biological father?""
Margaret sat down.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she nodded.
"Yes.""
Russell gripped the back of a chair.
"How long have you known?""
"Since before Ellie was born.""
He stared at her.
"And you let me raise her without knowing?""
"Your wife loved you.""
"That doesn't answer my question!""
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Marcus was involved with your wife before she met you. When she became pregnant, he initially promised to support her. But then he started making demands.""
"What demands?""
"He wanted control over Ellie. He wanted her to spend time with his family. He even suggested that your wife sign an agreement giving him primary custody.""
Russell lowered himself into a chair.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she was afraid you'd feel betrayed.""
"She should have trusted me.""
Margaret reached across the table.
"She did trust you. That's why she chose you to be Ellie's father.""
Russell shook his head.
"How does that work?""
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"Marcus disappeared before Ellie was born. He refused to help. He said he wasn't interested in being responsible for a child.""
Russell looked at the photograph again.
"Then why is he back?""
Margaret opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"Because your wife discovered he had been contacting people about her inheritance.""
Russell looked up.
"What inheritance?""
"The money from her father's estate. The money used to purchase the house.""
Margaret slid the envelope toward him.
Inside was a letter from his late wife.
*Marcus has returned. He claims he wants a relationship with Ellie, but he keeps asking about the property and the trust. I don't believe him. I believe he wants what he can get from her.*
Russell read the sentence twice.
Then he found another paragraph.
*If he ever approaches Ellie, protect her. Do not let him use her name to get access to what belongs to her.*
Russell closed his eyes.
He finally understood why his wife had been so careful.
But he still didn't understand Dana.
"Why would she work with him?""
Margaret looked toward the window.
"Because he promised her something.""
"Money.""
Margaret nodded.
"And something else.""
"What?""
"He promised to help Dana get full control of the household if you ever decided to separate.""
Russell stared.
Margaret reached into the envelope again.
She removed a final piece of paper.
It was a handwritten note.
At the bottom was a name.
*Marcus Reed.*
And beside it, a sentence:
*If Russell discovers the arrangement, Dana must make sure Ellie leaves before the documents are reviewed.*
Russell felt sick.
He looked toward the living room.
Ellie was sitting on the sofa, hugging her grandmother's old quilt.
She was only ten.
And adults had been making plans around her as if she were a piece of property.
Russell stood.
"Tomorrow, I'm ending this.""
Margaret caught his arm.
"Be careful.""
He looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because Marcus isn't the only person who wants those documents.""
She lowered her voice.
"Dana already has a copy of the original trust.""
Russell went completely still.
"How?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Then her phone rang.
She checked the screen.
It was an unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice came through.
"Margaret, it's Marcus.""
Her face drained of color.
Russell took the phone.
"Don't ever call this family again.""
The man chuckled.
"Hello, Russell.""
"What do you want?""
"Something that belongs to me.""
"Ellie doesn't belong to you.""
There was a pause.
Then Marcus said:
"Maybe not. But I know something about your wife's final weeks that you don't.""
Russell tightened his grip.
"What?""
Marcus laughed quietly.
"Ask Dana who was with your wife the night she died.""
The call disconnected.
May you like
Russell stared at the phone.
And for the first time, he wondered whether his wife's death had been surrounded by more secrets than anyone had told him.
