Chapter 7: The Son Nobody Mentioned
The photograph stayed on the table all night.
Nobody touched it.
Nobody moved it.
It sat between the family like a piece of evidence from a life Malik had never known existed.
The boy in the picture looked about seventeen.
Same age Malik was now.
Same uncertain expression.
Same tired eyes.
Malik hated that he noticed the similarities.
Because it meant this wasn't some stranger's story.
This was connected to his home.
His family.
His stepmother.
The next morning, Malik found Yolanda sitting alone in the kitchen.
No coffee.
No television.
No phone in her hand.
Just the photograph.
For the first time since Malik had known her, she looked small.
Not intimidating.
Not defensive.
Just tired.
Malik stood in the doorway.
"Who is he?""
Yolanda didn't look up.
"You already know.""
"No, I don't.""
She ran her finger across the edge of the photo.
"His name is Elijah.""
Malik waited.
"And?""
A tear fell onto the photograph.
"He was my son.""
The words landed harder than Malik expected.
He sat across from her.
"You had another son?""
"Yes.""
"Where is he?""
Yolanda looked toward the window.
"I don't know.""
Malik frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means I lost him.""
"You lost him?""
The anger returned.
"You don't just lose a person.""
Yolanda looked down.
"I know.""
The kitchen became silent.
Then she started talking.
Not defending.
Not explaining.
Just talking.
"Elijah was sixteen when I made the worst decision of my life.""
Malik listened.
"When his father left, I was struggling. I was young. I was working two jobs. I had no money.""
She swallowed.
"I thought I could fix everything by making deals with people I shouldn't have trusted.""
"Marcus?""
She nodded.
"Marcus was my sister's boyfriend back then. He knew people. He told me he could help me get out of debt.""
"And?""
"He helped.""
Malik waited.
"And then he owned every favor.""
She looked at him.
"Every mistake. Every secret.""
"What happened to Elijah?""
Yolanda closed her eyes.
"I left him with his grandmother for a few months.""
"Why?""
"Because Marcus convinced me I needed to disappear until my problems were gone.""
Malik stared.
"And you never went back?""
"I tried.""
Her voice cracked.
"I tried too late.""
A heavy silence filled the room.
Malik looked at the woman sitting across from him.
The woman who had taken his refund.
The woman who had gone through his room.
The woman who had hidden things.
And somehow, she was also someone who had lost a child.
Both things could be true.
That was the part Malik hated.
"Why did Marcus come back now?""
Yolanda looked at the photograph.
"Because Elijah found him.""
Malik frowned.
"What?""
"Last year, Elijah learned the truth about his childhood.""
"And he went to Marcus?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because Marcus told him I abandoned him.""
Malik felt his chest tighten.
"And did you?""
Yolanda looked at him.
The question hurt her.
"I left.""
The honesty surprised him.
"I left because I was scared.""
She wiped her eyes.
"But I never stopped loving him.""
Before Malik could answer, the front door opened.
Reggie walked in.
He looked exhausted.
"I heard everything.""
Yolanda stood.
"Reggie—"
"No.""
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I need to know one thing.""
She looked at him.
"Did you use Malik's money because Marcus forced you?""
Yolanda hesitated.
That hesitation answered the question.
Reggie's face fell.
"Partly.""
Malik looked away.
Reggie shook his head.
"Partly?""
Yolanda stepped closer.
"He threatened to expose everything.""
"What everything?""
She looked at Malik.
Then at Reggie.
"That I wasn't who I said I was.""
Reggie laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because he was hurt.
"After all these years, you thought I would leave you because of your past?""
"I didn't know.""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"You didn't trust me.""
That sentence hurt more than yelling would have.
Yolanda sat down.
"I was afraid.""
Reggie looked at the photograph.
"Afraid enough to hurt my son.""
She didn't respond.
That afternoon, Malik went to his room and opened his laptop.
He couldn't explain why.
Maybe because he needed answers.
Maybe because he needed something he could control.
He searched Elijah's name.
At first, nothing appeared.
Then he found an old social media account.
A profile photo.
A young man.
Older than the picture.
But the eyes were the same.
Malik stared.
There was a recent post.
Only three words.
*Coming home soon.*
Posted yesterday.
Malik's stomach dropped.
Someone knocked.
He closed the laptop.
It was Tiana.
"Can I come in?""
He nodded.
She sat on the floor.
"I owe you an apology.""
Malik didn't answer.
She looked down.
"I knew Mom had problems.""
"How long?""
"Months.""
"And you said nothing.""
"I was scared.""
Everyone was scared.
Malik almost laughed.
That was becoming the excuse everyone used.
"I'm tired of people being scared and making me pay for it.""
Tiana nodded.
"You should be.""
She took a breath.
"There's something else.""
Malik looked at her.
"What?""
"Marcus didn't just ask Mom for money.""
"What did he ask for?""
Tiana looked nervous.
"He asked for information about you.""
Malik froze.
"What kind of information?""
"Your school. Your job. Your bank.""
The room went quiet.
"Why?""
Tiana looked at him.
"Because he said you were the easiest person to use.""
Malik felt his hands tighten.
"Use for what?""
Tiana looked away.
Before she answered, Malik's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
A picture.
Malik opened it.
It was a photo of his bedroom.
Taken from inside.
May you like
The message underneath said:
*You should ask your stepmom what she promised me.*
