Chapter 8: The Son My Brother Stole
Daniel's estate stood on a hill overlooking the city.
Marcus had visited it countless times.
He had celebrated birthdays there, attended business dinners, and spent Christmas mornings beside the enormous fireplace.
He had never imagined that his own son was living behind those gates.
Detective Harris arranged surveillance around the property. Two officers remained in the vehicles while Marcus approached the front entrance with a folder containing copies of the ownership documents.
Daniel opened the door himself.
He wore a charcoal suit and held a glass of whiskey.
“Little brother,” he said.
“You look terrible.””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Where's my son?””
Daniel stepped aside.
“Come in.””
The living room was filled with expensive furniture. A grand piano stood beside the windows. On the mantelpiece were family photographs.
One showed Daniel holding a newborn baby.
Marcus recognized the child.
His son.
Another photograph showed Victoria standing beside Daniel, smiling at a birthday party.
The boy was sitting between them.
Marcus felt his hands shaking.
“You've been pretending to be his father.””
Daniel took a slow sip of whiskey.
“Someone had to.””
“You stole him.””
“I raised him.””
“You stole him from his mother!””
Daniel placed his glass on the table.
“Your wife was unstable. She was obsessed with exposing everyone. She wanted to destroy the company, the family, and everything our father built.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“She gave birth to my children.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Ah. Rebecca finally talked.””
“Where is Elina?””
“Safe.””
“Where?””
Daniel smiled.
“That's the wrong question.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“What do you want?””
Daniel pointed toward the folder.
“The original ownership documents. Your signature transferring voting control to me. Once that's done, we'll discuss family arrangements.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You think I'll hand you the company?””
“I think you'll do anything to get your son back.””
A small voice came from the staircase.
“Uncle Daniel?””
Marcus turned.
A little boy stood halfway down the stairs, holding a blue toy car.
He wore a white shirt and dark trousers.
His hair fell over his forehead.
Marcus felt tears gathering in his eyes.
The boy looked exactly like him at that age.
“What's your name, sweetheart?”” Marcus asked softly.
The boy looked at Daniel.
“I'm Noah.””
Marcus smiled through his tears.
“Hello, Noah.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Go back upstairs.””
“But you said I could watch television.””
“NOW.””
The boy flinched.
Marcus's fists tightened.
“Don't shout at him.””
Daniel turned.
“Careful. You don't want to frighten him.””
Noah looked at Marcus again.
“Are you my daddy?””
The question shattered something inside him.
Marcus knelt.
“Yes, buddy. I am.””
Daniel laughed.
“Don't confuse him.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Come here, Noah.””
The boy took one cautious step.
Then another.
Daniel suddenly grabbed his arm.
“Noah, go upstairs!””
The child began crying.
“Don't hurt him!”” Marcus shouted.
Daniel released him.
Noah ran toward the staircase.
But before he disappeared, he turned around.
“Are you the daddy in Mommy's picture?””
Marcus froze.
“What picture?””
Noah pointed toward the hallway.
“The lady with the long hair showed me.””
Daniel's face went white.
Marcus stood.
“Where did you see her?””
Noah pointed toward a closed door.
“Inside the room.””
Marcus moved toward it.
Daniel blocked his path.
“Don't.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Move.””
“She's not there.””
“Move, Daniel!””
Marcus pushed past him and opened the door.
Inside was a small bedroom.
A photograph sat on the bedside table.
Elina.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Beside the bed lay a notebook with her handwriting.
Marcus opened it.
The first page read:
Noah, if you ever find your father, tell him I never stopped loving him.
His vision blurred.
Then he noticed a second photograph.
This one showed a little girl.
Lily.
Standing beside a woman who looked exactly like Elina.
Marcus turned toward Daniel.
“She's been here.””
Daniel said nothing.
“You brought her here.””
“I brought her because she was asking too many questions.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is she now?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“She's gone.””
“Where?””
“Marcus, you're making this difficult.””
Marcus grabbed his brother's collar.
“WHERE IS MY WIFE?””
Daniel shoved him away.
“She went looking for the girl!””
Marcus froze.
“What girl?””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Your daughter. The other twin.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Elina knows where she is?””
Daniel's expression changed.
For the first time, Marcus saw genuine fear in his brother's eyes.
“No,” Daniel whispered.
“She can't know.””
Marcus reached for his phone.
But before he could call Harris, a loud crash came from the front of the house.
The police had entered.
“POLICE! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!””
Daniel raised his hands.
Marcus turned toward the staircase.
“Noah!””
The little boy appeared at the top.
He was crying.
“Daddy!””
Marcus ran toward him.
But a woman suddenly emerged from the hallway behind the child.
Victoria.
She was holding a small suitcase.
And in her other hand was a photograph.
“Don't move,” she said.
Marcus stopped.
“Victoria?””
She looked exhausted, her hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot.
“You should have stayed out of this.””
“Where's Elina?””
Victoria laughed.
“You still don't understand. Elina is the only reason any of this happened.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You stole my children.””
“I saved them from her.””
“Liar!””
Victoria raised the photograph.
It showed Elina standing outside a hospital, holding a newborn baby.
But something about the image caught Marcus's attention.
The date.
It was taken three months after Elina supposedly died.
He looked at Victoria.
“She's been alive this entire time.””
Victoria's lips trembled.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she knows what happened to your mother.””
Marcus froze.
His mother's death.
Seven years earlier.
He had always believed she died from a sudden heart condition.
Victoria looked toward Daniel.
Then she whispered:
“Your brother didn't just steal your company, Marcus. He murdered the woman who raised you.””
Daniel lunged toward her.
“SHUT UP!””
The police officers grabbed him.
Victoria dropped the photograph.
Marcus picked it up.
On the back was a hospital address and a handwritten message.
The little girl is not Lily.
Marcus looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria's face crumpled.
May you like
Then she spoke the words that changed everything.
“Lily is not your biological daughter.””
