Chapter 7: The Man Your Father Tried to Bury
For several seconds, Marcus couldn't speak.
The greenhouse seemed to shrink around him. Rain tapped against the glass ceiling, and somewhere outside, a security alarm continued its distant electronic wail.
He stared at Eleanor.
“Explain what you just said.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Marcus, please sit down.””
“No. I've spent eleven months being told what happened to my wife. I've spent the last hour discovering that my brother helped imprison her, that my fiancée is my half-sister, and that my father apparently kept an entire second family hidden from us.””
He pointed toward the telephone.
“And now Vanessa is telling me there's another man involved in Ava's birth. I want the truth.””
Daniel stood near the filing cabinet, avoiding everyone's eyes.
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“Before you and I met, I worked at a medical research foundation in Boston. Your father was one of its largest financial donors.””
Marcus frowned.
“I remember you telling me about that job.””
“I told you I worked in administration. I didn't tell you that I was assigned to a confidential research project.””
“What project?””
“Genetic therapy. Specifically, experimental treatments for children born with rare blood disorders.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What does that have to do with Ava?””
Eleanor reached into the envelope and removed an old photograph.
It showed a younger man in a white laboratory coat standing beside Richard Whitmore.
Marcus recognized the man immediately.
Dr. Adrian Cole.
He had been his father's closest business rival.
Adrian had once owned a medical technology company that Richard acquired through a hostile takeover. The acquisition had destroyed Adrian's career, bankrupted his investors, and forced him out of the industry.
Marcus remembered his father referring to him as a dishonest scientist.
“What is Adrian doing in this photograph?””
Eleanor looked down.
“He was the lead researcher on the project.””
“Was he Ava's doctor?””
“He helped develop the treatment that saved her life.””
Marcus went still.
Eleanor continued.
“When Ava was born, doctors discovered a serious genetic condition. They told us she needed an experimental treatment that wasn't available through ordinary hospitals.””
Marcus remembered those months.
The hospital corridors.
The endless blood tests.
Eleanor crying in the bathroom when she thought he couldn't hear her.
He had been working overseas during much of the treatment, desperately trying to keep the company afloat after his father's death.
He had believed Eleanor was receiving care from a specialist team in Boston.
“I thought the hospital treated her,” he whispered.
“They did. But Adrian designed the treatment protocol.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Your father had threatened to destroy Adrian if he ever worked with our family again. I was afraid you'd refuse the treatment if you knew who was involved.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“Did Adrian know Ava was my daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did Vanessa bring him into this?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“Because Adrian discovered something about Richard's research funding. Your father had secretly redirected money from the medical foundation into his private company. When Adrian objected, Richard accused him of stealing research data.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“I remember that scandal. Dad said Adrian had stolen millions.””
“He didn't,” Eleanor replied.
“Richard used his influence to make it appear that way.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Why would Dad do that?””
“Because Adrian had discovered that Richard was using the research foundation to conceal illegal financial transfers.””
Daniel looked up.
“The same transfers Vanessa was making?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Your father wasn't innocent, Marcus. He knew about the shell companies. He created some of them himself.””
Marcus felt the floor shift beneath him.
His father had been a complicated man, but Marcus had always believed his wealth came from hard work and calculated risks.
Now every memory seemed contaminated.
Eleanor took his hand.
“Adrian helped save Ava. He also helped me understand what your father had done. When I discovered the financial records, I planned to expose everything.””
“And Vanessa stopped you.””
“Yes.””
“Where is Adrian now?””
Eleanor hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Marcus frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“He disappeared after your father died. Vanessa told me he had been killed in a car accident.””
Daniel looked toward the greenhouse entrance.
“Wait. Vanessa said something about Adrian tonight.””
“What?””
“She told me he was supposed to arrive after the proposal.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Why?””
Daniel swallowed.
“She said the family would finally be complete.””
Ava.
The will.
The medical treatment.
The secret man who had saved his daughter.
Marcus suddenly remembered something from the photograph.
There was a small inscription on Adrian's laboratory coat.
A name.
Not Adrian Cole.
*Adrian Whitmore.*
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
“Why does his coat have our family name?””
Eleanor's expression crumpled.
“Because Adrian is your father's son.””
Daniel staggered backward.
“No.””
“He was born before your father married your mother,” Eleanor continued.
“Richard never acknowledged him publicly. Adrian was raised by his mother and took her surname later.””
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Another hidden child.
Another family secret.
Another person Richard Whitmore had destroyed.
Daniel sat down heavily.
“So Vanessa and Adrian are both our father's children?””
“Yes.””
“And they're working together?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don't think so.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What makes you say that?””
“Vanessa hates Adrian. She believes he was the child your father actually loved. She thinks he received the education, the opportunities, and the recognition she was denied.””
Ava's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
“Mommy?””
Everyone turned.
The little girl stood holding the hand of the housekeeper.
She had been brought into the greenhouse after Marcus failed to return.
Eleanor rushed toward her.
“Ava!””
Mother and daughter embraced.
Ava pressed her face against Eleanor's neck.
“I knew you were coming back.””
Eleanor kissed her hair.
“You were so brave, sweetheart.””
Marcus watched them, his eyes burning.
Then Ava pulled away and looked at her father.
“Daddy, the man with the silver watch was here.””
Marcus frowned.
“What man?””
“The man who came to the little window before Mommy disappeared.””
Eleanor went pale.
“Ava, what did he look like?””
“He had gray hair. He smelled like Daddy's office. He gave Mommy a red flower.””
Marcus exchanged a look with Daniel.
“Did you see his face?””
Ava nodded.
“He looked like Daddy.””
Silence.
Marcus glanced at the family photograph again.
Richard.
Adrian.
Daniel.
Himself.
The resemblance between the men was unmistakable.
Eleanor crouched beside Ava.
“Sweetheart, did the man say anything?””
Ava nodded.
“He said Mommy had to come with him because he was going to take her somewhere safe.””
Marcus's stomach tightened.
“Did Mommy go willingly?””
Ava shook her head.
“No. She was crying.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“That wasn't Adrian.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
“The man who came to the window wasn't Adrian. It was someone pretending to be him.””
Before Marcus could ask another question, Daniel's phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number.
He answered cautiously.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Daniel. I need to speak to Marcus.””
Daniel's face changed.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Adrian Cole.””
Marcus grabbed the phone.
“Adrian?””
A pause.
Then the voice replied.
“Hello, Marcus.””
“Where are you?””
“Not far from your property.””
“Why have you been hiding?””
“Because your father made sure that anyone who told the truth would lose everything.””
Marcus looked toward Eleanor.
“Vanessa says you're involved in all this.””
“Vanessa is desperate. She has the documents, but she doesn't have the original medical records.””
“What medical records?””
Adrian lowered his voice.
“The records proving that Ava's treatment was never simply medical.””
Marcus frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“Your daughter was used as part of a private genetic experiment. Your father funded it. Vanessa has been trying to recover the results for years.””
Eleanor grabbed Marcus's wrist.
“Adrian, stop.””
But the voice continued.
“Marcus, there's something you need to know about the night Eleanor disappeared.””
“What?””
“Your wife wasn't the only person taken from the mansion.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Who else?””
Adrian paused.
Then he said:
May you like
“Your mother.””
The call ended.
