Chapter 4: The Child Who Wasn't Supposed to Exist
Marcus didn't move.
The black car disappeared around the corner.
Rainwater dripped from the church roof, striking the pavement in a steady rhythm.
Beside him, Noah looked up.
“Dad, what did the man say?””
Marcus forced himself to breathe.
Vanessa was staring at the road.
“He said something stupid,” she whispered.
Marcus turned toward her.
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“He said something you already knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know.””
“The certificate.””
“I never saw it.””
“Then why do you look terrified?””
She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Because I know what people will do when they think they can use Noah.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You keep saying that.””
“I mean it.””
“Then tell me why someone would say my son isn't my son.””
Vanessa looked at Noah.
“Because they're trying to make you doubt yourself.””
Marcus laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“You've spent months making me doubt him.””
“That was different.””
“How?””
She couldn't answer.
Marcus reached for Noah's hand.
“Come on.””
“Where are we going?”” Vanessa asked.
“The hospital.””
“Marcus, don't.””
“You heard the message.””
“That's exactly why you shouldn't go.””
He stopped.
“Why?””
“Because Dr. Collins isn't the person you think he is.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You know him.””
“I knew him.””
“When?””
“After Noah was born.””
Marcus's fingers tightened around Noah's.
“What did he do?””
Vanessa looked toward the church.
“He helped your mother.””
“With what?””
“I don't know.””
“Stop saying that.””
“I don't know everything.””
“Then tell me what you do know.””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Your mother came to me one night.””
Marcus said nothing.
“She told me Noah was in danger.””
“From whom?””
“She wouldn't tell me.””
“She trusted you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Because your mother knew I was the only person you would believe.””
Marcus went silent.
The rain grew heavier.
Noah shivered.
Marcus removed his jacket and wrapped it around his son.
“Get in the car.””
Vanessa hesitated.
Marcus opened the rear door.
“Now.””
They drove to an all-night diner three miles away.
Marcus chose a corner booth where he could see the entrance.
Noah sat beside Buddy.
Vanessa sat across from Marcus.
For several minutes, no one spoke.
A waitress placed three cups of coffee on the table.
Noah whispered, “I don't want coffee.””
Marcus almost smiled.
“You don't have to drink it.””
Buddy rested his head on Noah's knee.
Marcus pulled out the photograph from the hidden trunk.
He slid it across the table.
“Who is this woman?””
Vanessa looked at it.
Her face changed.
“You've seen her.””
“Where?””
She touched the edge of the photograph.
“Years ago.””
“Name.””
“I don't know.””
Marcus slammed his palm against the table.
“Enough!””
Noah jumped.
Marcus immediately lowered his voice.
“Sorry.””
He looked at his son.
“I'm sorry.””
Noah nodded.
Vanessa stared at Marcus.
“The woman's name is Lena.””
Marcus froze.
“Lena what?””
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“I swear I don't.””
“What was she doing with my mother?””
Vanessa looked down.
“She wanted Noah back.””
Marcus's chest tightened.
“What?””
“She believed your mother had taken him.””
Marcus stared.
“That makes no sense.””
“It didn't to me either.””
“Why would she believe that?””
“Because Noah was never supposed to leave the hospital with you.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Explain.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother arranged everything.””
“What did she arrange?””
“The paperwork.””
“For what?””
“To make Noah yours.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“You're saying my mother changed the records?””
“I think so.””
“You think?””
“She never told me exactly how.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Then why did she?””
Vanessa whispered, “Because Lena was running.””
“From whom?””
“Daniel.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Why would Daniel chase her?””
“Because she knew what happened before Noah was born.””
“What happened?””
Vanessa glanced toward the diner entrance.
“Your father was trying to control Daniel.””
Marcus stared.
“And Lena?””
“She was pregnant.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Marcus looked at Noah.
Then back at Vanessa.
“You're telling me Lena was pregnant with Noah?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
Noah heard his name.
“Who is Lena?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Vanessa answered instead.
“Your first mother.””
Noah frowned.
“I have a mommy.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Yes.””
Noah looked at the photograph.
“Is she the lady?””
Marcus's heart broke.
“I don't know yet.””
Noah touched the corner of the picture.
“She looks sad.””
Vanessa whispered, “She was.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“How do you know?””
“I saw her.””
“When?””
“The night Noah disappeared.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Disappeared?””
“After the fire.””
His face went pale.
“Which fire?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“The fire that killed your father's assistant.””
Marcus stood.
“What fire?””
The waitress glanced over.
Marcus sat again.
Vanessa spoke softly.
“Three months before Noah was born, there was a fire at your father's warehouse.””
Marcus remembered.
His father had told everyone a worker had been careless.
The case had been ruled accidental.
One person had disappeared that night.
Marcus suddenly remembered the name.
Lena.
His mother had claimed Lena moved away.
“She was there,” Vanessa said.
Marcus whispered, “Lena was at the warehouse?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To confront Daniel.””
“About what?””
“About the baby.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Why would Daniel care about an unborn baby?””
Vanessa looked directly at him.
“Because Daniel was Noah's father.””
The words landed like a gunshot.
Marcus couldn't breathe.
Noah was staring at him.
Vanessa continued quickly.
“But that's not the whole story.””
Marcus slowly sat down.
“Go on.””
“Daniel wasn't supposed to be the father on paper.””
“Why?””
“Because Lena was supposed to disappear.””
“And my mother?””
“She took Noah.””
“From the hospital?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She changed the records and gave him to you.””
Marcus's mind raced.
His mother's warnings.
The hidden room.
The photograph.
The mysterious woman.
Everything seemed connected.
But one question remained.
“Why would my mother do that?””
Vanessa looked toward the rain-streaked window.
“Because she believed your father was going to kill the baby.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And she thought giving Noah to me would protect him.””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Noah.
For the first time, the question of whether Noah was biologically his didn't matter.
He had been his father every day of the boy's life.
But then his phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A text appeared.
*DON'T TAKE HIM TO DR. COLLINS.*
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She had seen it.
“Who sent that?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Another message arrived.
*HE'S ALREADY THERE.*
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa's face went white.
Then the diner door opened.
A tall man in a dark coat stepped inside.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
The same face from the recording.
The same man from the black car.
He calmly walked toward their booth.
Buddy stood and began growling.
The man stopped beside the table.
“Marcus.””
Marcus stood.
“Who are you?””
The man looked at Noah.
“I'm the reason he's alive.””
Marcus moved in front of his son.
“You've been following us.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To warn you.””
“About what?””
The man looked at Vanessa.
“Ask her why she never told you who Daniel really was.””
Vanessa went rigid.
Marcus looked at her.
“What does he mean?””
The stranger placed a folded envelope on the table.
“Your mother left this for you.””
Marcus didn't touch it.
“Why would she give it to you?””
“Because she knew what would happen.””
“What?””
The man looked directly at Noah.
“The moment you learned he wasn't your biological son…”
He paused.
“…someone would come looking for the child who was.””
Marcus's heart slammed against his ribs.
“What are you talking about?””
The stranger pulled out a second photograph.
He placed it beside the first.
It showed Lena.
But she wasn't alone.
A newborn baby rested in her arms.
Marcus leaned closer.
There was something wrong.
He recognized the baby.
Same blue blanket.
Same hospital bracelet.
Same date.
Except the photograph was taken two hours before Noah was supposedly born.
Marcus looked up.
“That’s impossible.””
The stranger said nothing.
Vanessa began to tremble.
Marcus looked at her.
“You know what this means.””
She whispered:
“There were two babies.””
And before Marcus could ask another question, the diner windows exploded inward.
Everyone screamed.
Buddy lunged toward Noah.
Marcus threw himself over his son.
The stranger pulled a gun from his coat and shouted:
“GET DOWN!””
Through the shattered window, a second man raised his weapon.
And on the table, Marcus's mother's envelope slowly slid open in the wind.
Inside was a photograph of two newborn babies.
Both wearing identical blue blankets.
May you like
And written across the back were six words:
*ONE WAS YOURS. ONE WAS TAKEN.*
