Chapter 7: The Daughter Who Was Never Supposed to Be His
For several seconds, Damian couldn't move.
Ruby's words kept repeating in his head.
Ava wasn't supposed to be Daddy's daughter.
He looked at Daniel.
“Tell me that's another lie.””
Daniel glanced at the monitor, then at the photograph of Evelyn Carter.
“I don't know what to tell you.””
Damian grabbed the hospital record from the desk.
“My daughter is seven years old. I watched her take her first steps. I held her when she had nightmares. I was there when she lost her first tooth.””
His voice cracked.
“Don't tell me somebody can change that with a piece of paper.””
Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I'm not saying she's not your daughter.””
“Then what are you saying?””
“I'm saying Marcus has been manipulating our lives since before we were born.””
Damian pulled away.
“I'm going to find Evelyn.””
He picked up Ruby and headed toward the exit.
Daniel followed.
Behind them, the monitor flickered.
Marcus appeared again.
“Damian, you are making a mistake.””
Damian stopped.
“You should have thought about that before you went near my daughter.””
Marcus adjusted his glasses.
“Your daughter?””
His smile was almost affectionate.
“Which one?””
Damian turned toward the screen.
“Both of them.””
“That's a sentimental answer. Unfortunately, sentiment has never been a reliable basis for family.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You're finished, Marcus.””
Marcus laughed.
“Daniel, you have no idea what your mother signed.””
The screen went black.
A second later, an alarm began blaring.
Daniel grabbed Damian's arm.
“We need to move!””
They rushed through the maintenance corridor and emerged into the warehouse loading area.
Outside, police sirens echoed across the harbor.
Detective Harris had arrived with two patrol cars.
Damian ran toward him.
“My daughter is at my house. Two men broke in. I need officers there now!””
Harris raised his radio.
“Units are already responding.””
“What about the warehouse?””
“We've got it surrounded.””
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
“Then you're too late.””
Harris turned.
“Who are you?””
Daniel raised both hands.
“That's a long story.””
The detective stared at his face.
Then at Damian.
His expression changed.
“Okay. Somebody better explain why I'm looking at twins.””
Damian didn't have time.
“Evelyn Carter. We need to find her. She delivered both girls.””
Harris frowned.
“Evelyn Carter retired seven years ago.””
“Where does she live?””
The detective hesitated.
“Why?””
“Because she may be the only person who knows why my father has been following my family.””
Harris studied him.
Then he pulled out his phone.
“I'll get you an address.””
At 2:13 a.m., they reached a small brick house in a quiet neighborhood.
A single porch light illuminated the front steps.
Damian knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
“Ms. Carter? My name is Damian Brooks. I need to speak with you about Olivia Brooks.””
A curtain moved.
An elderly Black woman appeared behind the glass.
When she saw Damian, her hand flew to her mouth.
Then she opened the door.
“Dear God.””
Damian stepped forward.
“Do you know me?””
She nodded slowly.
“I delivered you.””
Damian's chest tightened.
“And my brother?””
Evelyn looked past him.
Daniel stood beneath the porch light.
She nearly collapsed.
“Oh, my goodness.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You know me, too?””
Evelyn began crying.
“I prayed I'd never see this day.””
Damian held up the hospital photograph.
“Tell me what happened.””
Evelyn looked at the paper.
Then she opened the door wider.
“Come inside. Both of you.””
Her living room was crowded with books, family photographs, and old medical journals.
Evelyn sat in an armchair while Damian and Daniel remained standing.
Ruby sat beside Damian, holding his hand.
“Start from the beginning,” Damian said.
Evelyn nodded.
“Your mother delivered two healthy boys. You and Daniel. But your father had already arranged for Daniel to be transferred to a private facility.””
“Why?”” Daniel asked.
“Marcus believed one child would be easier to control if raised away from Denise.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“And you helped him?””
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
“I was young. I had a family to protect. Marcus threatened my husband. He told me he could destroy our lives.””
Damian placed the photograph on the table.
“What does this have to do with Ava?””
Evelyn looked at Ruby.
Then she looked at Damian.
“Two years ago, Olivia came to see me.””
Damian leaned forward.
“What did she want?””
“She wanted to know whether the hospital had kept the original birth records.””
“Did you?””
Evelyn nodded.
“I had copies.””
She stood and walked toward a cabinet.
After moving several books, she removed a small envelope.
Inside were two birth certificates and a medical report.
She placed them on the table.
“The records show that Ava and Ruby were both born at St. Agnes on the same night.””
Damian frowned.
“Ruby was born at another hospital.””
“That is what her current records say.””
Evelyn pointed to the document.
“Her original birth registration was altered.””
Daniel looked at the page.
“Why?””
“Because Marcus wanted the two girls separated.””
Damian felt his stomach tighten.
“Who are their biological parents?””
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she pointed to the first record.
“Damian Brooks and Olivia Brooks.””
She pointed to the second.
“Daniel Brooks and Olivia Brooks.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Olivia was carrying my child?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Twins.””
The room went silent.
Daniel slowly sat down.
“Ruby is one of the twins?””
“No,” Evelyn whispered.
“Ruby is your biological daughter. Ava is Damian's biological daughter.””
Damian released a shaky breath.
For the first time that night, something made sense.
But Evelyn wasn't finished.
“Olivia gave birth to both girls during the same medical emergency. There were complications. Marcus had arranged for the records to be altered because he wanted control over both children.””
Daniel looked up.
“Why would Olivia have two children by two different men?””
Evelyn's expression became pained.
“Because Marcus arranged everything.””
Damian stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn took a deep breath.
“Your father used a private fertility program. He controlled the medical records and manipulated the treatment process. Olivia believed she was receiving treatment for a condition that prevented pregnancy.””
Daniel stood.
“He used our family for an experiment?””
Evelyn nodded.
“He wanted to prove that two genetically identical men could father children with the same woman and produce children whose similarities could be studied across generations.””
Damian looked down at Ava's photograph.
“So Olivia knew?””
“She discovered the truth after the girls were born.””
“And the signature on the file?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Marcus forged her authorization.””
Ruby suddenly looked up.
“Mommy said Grandpa stole her babies.””
Evelyn began crying.
“Yes, sweetheart. He did.””
Damian picked up the medical report.
At the bottom was a signature.
*Dr. Marcus Brooks.*
But beneath it was another name.
*Dr. Evelyn Carter.*
He looked at her.
“You signed this.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I did.””
“Then you helped him.””
“I did. And I have spent seven years trying to make it right.””
Damian stepped back.
“Seven years?””
Evelyn reached into her cardigan pocket and removed another envelope.
“Olivia gave me this before she disappeared.””
She placed it in Damian's hand.
“There's a recording inside. She told me to give it to you only when both brothers were together.””
Damian opened the envelope.
A small memory card fell into his palm.
Evelyn pointed toward an old laptop.
“Play it.””
Damian inserted the card.
A video appeared.
Olivia's face filled the screen.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Damian. Daniel. If you're watching this together, then Marcus has finally made his move.””
She swallowed.
“There is something you both need to know.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Marcus isn't the only person responsible for what happened to our daughters.””
She looked down.
Then whispered:
“Denise helped him.””
Damian stopped breathing.
The video continued.
“And she did it because she believed one of you would eventually kill the other.””
The screen went black.
Daniel looked at Damian.
Neither brother noticed the front door slowly opening behind them.
A woman's voice came from the hallway.
“Please don't believe everything Olivia told you.””
May you like
Denise stood in the doorway.
And she was holding a photograph of two little boys.
