Chapter 4: The Second Baby
"Daniel, don't tell him about the second baby.""
Nia's voice trembled through the hospital hallway.
I slowly lowered my phone.
For several seconds, I simply stared at her.
The second baby.
Those three words had just turned an already unbearable situation into something I couldn't comprehend.
I looked at my wife.
"How many children do you have with my brother?""
Nia covered her mouth.
"Marcus, please.""
"How many?""
She looked toward the floor.
"Two.""
I felt something inside me break.
Two children.
My wife had two children with my older brother, and I had spent four years believing we were building our own family.
I turned toward the hospital room.
Lily was watching us through the glass.
Her tiny hand was wrapped around the stuffed rabbit Denise had given her.
I couldn't bring myself to look away.
"Where is the other child?"" I asked.
Nia wiped her cheeks.
"He's with Daniel.""
"He's?""
She nodded.
"A boy. His name is Ethan.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course. A boy.""
"Marcus, please don't do this.""
"How old?""
"Two.""
Two years old.
That meant Daniel and Nia had continued their relationship after I married her.
Not just before the wedding.
Not just during some complicated period when they were younger.
After.
While I was working late to pay our mortgage, while I was taking Nia on anniversaries, while I was planning vacations with my wife, my brother had been fathering another child with her.
I put the phone back to my ear.
"Daniel, where are you?""
"At home.""
"Stay there.""
"Marcus, listen—"
"Don't move.""
I ended the call.
Jordan stepped forward.
"Marcus, you need to understand that things weren't as simple as they look.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't you dare explain my family to me.""
He lowered his head.
Nia reached for my arm.
I stepped away.
"Don't touch me.""
She began crying.
"I know I made mistakes.""
"Mistakes?""
I pointed toward the hospital room.
"That little girl is four years old. Her brother is two. My brother is their father.
You've been lying to me for four years. And you're calling it mistakes?""
She shook her head.
"I never planned for any of this to happen.""
"Then tell me how it happened.""
Nia looked at Denise.
The older woman stood silently near the wall.
Finally, Nia spoke.
"Daniel and I were together before you and I became serious.""
"I know that.""
"We had a relationship. It was complicated. When we broke up, I started seeing you.""
I stared at her.
"How long were you seeing both of us?""
"Marcus—"
"Answer me.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Almost three months.""
My stomach twisted.
"And you knew Lily could be Daniel's?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you marry me?""
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I loved you.""
I shook my head.
"You don't get to use that word anymore.""
She flinched.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Denise approached us.
"Marcus, there's something I think you should know.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
She glanced at Nia.
"Your brother didn't just send money for the children. He told me that you had agreed to help raise them.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why would he tell you that?""
"Because he said you wanted the children to have a stable home.""
I opened my eyes.
"Did he ever say I knew they were his?""
Denise nodded slowly.
"He told me you knew everything.""
I looked at Nia.
She shook her head.
"I didn't know he was telling people that.""
I believed she was lying.
I didn't know why, but something about her expression felt rehearsed.
My phone vibrated again.
A message from Daniel.
Please don't make a scene at the hospital. We need to talk privately.
I read it aloud.
Jordan let out a quiet breath.
"That's Daniel. He always wants to control the situation.""
I turned toward him.
"What do you mean?""
Jordan hesitated.
"He's been doing that for years.""
Nia immediately interrupted.
"Jordan, stop.""
I looked at him.
"Finish.""
Jordan rubbed his hands together.
"Daniel was the one who decided what everyone should say. He arranged the money. He told Denise you knew. He even told me that if you ever asked questions, I should say the children weren't his.""
My heart pounded.
"Why would he involve you?""
"Because he didn't trust Nia to keep quiet.""
Nia stepped toward him.
"You're making things up!""
Jordan looked at her.
"You know I'm not.""
I stared at both of them.
There was another layer to this.
Something beyond the affair.
Something my brother had carefully organized.
I looked at Denise.
"Can I see Lily?""
She nodded.
"Of course.""
I entered the room quietly.
The little girl turned her head.
"Mommy?""
Nia followed me.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
Lily looked at me.
"Who's that?""
Nia froze.
Then she forced a smile.
"That's Marcus.""
Lily studied my face.
"Are you Mommy's friend?""
I swallowed.
"Something like that.""
She looked down at her rabbit.
Then she whispered, "Are you my daddy?""
The question hit me harder than anything else that night.
Nia began crying.
I looked at the little girl.
"No, sweetheart. I'm not your daddy.""
Her expression fell.
"Oh.""
She turned toward the window.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then she asked something that made Nia cover her mouth.
"Did Daddy forget me again?""
I looked at Nia.
"What does she mean?""
Nia wiped her eyes.
"Daniel sometimes visits her.""
"Sometimes?""
"Marcus, please.""
I stepped closer to the bed.
"How often does he visit his daughter?""
She didn't answer.
Lily tugged at her mother's sleeve.
"Mommy, Daddy promised he'd come for my birthday.""
Nia kissed her forehead.
"I know, baby.""
"Is he coming?""
Nia looked away.
I understood then.
Daniel hadn't just hidden his children from me.
He had been making promises to them.
Promises he didn't keep.
I looked at Lily's small hand resting on the blanket.
Whatever had happened between the adults, she hadn't chosen any of it.
I gently pulled the chair closer.
"What's your rabbit's name?""
Her face brightened slightly.
"Benny.""
"That's a good name.""
"He goes everywhere with me.""
I nodded.
"Then Benny must be a very brave rabbit.""
She smiled.
For the first time that evening, the room felt a little less suffocating.
But the moment didn't last.
My phone rang again.
Daniel.
I answered.
"Where's Ethan?""
"Marcus, come home. We need to discuss this.""
"Where is my nephew?""
Daniel sighed.
"He's with me.""
"Send me the address.""
"Why?""
"Because I'm coming to see him.""
There was a pause.
Then Daniel said quietly:
"Don't bring Nia.""
I looked at my wife.
"Why not?""
"Because I need to show you something she doesn't know.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What could possibly be left?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Marcus, I have documents proving that the money you found wasn't the only money taken from your company.""
My blood ran cold.
"What are you talking about?""
"Your company has been paying for more than the children.""
I looked at the bank statement again.
Then Daniel added:
"And if you want to know why, bring the original financial records from the year Lily was born.""
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Nia was watching me.
"What did he say?""
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
"He wants to talk.""
She reached for my hand.
"Marcus, don't go alone.""
I looked at her.
May you like
For the first time, I understood that the person I needed protection from might not be my brother.
It might be my wife.
