Chapter 9: The Child Everyone Wanted
“Noah!””
Marcus’s voice tore through the dark classroom.
He ran toward the doorway.
Nothing.
Only the sound of tires disappearing into the night.
“NOAH!””
Elias stood frozen beside Lena.
His face was pale.
“Where did he go?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
He couldn't breathe.
For seven years, he had protected Noah from every nightmare he could imagine.
A broken family.
A cruel stepmother.
A hidden past.
But he had never imagined the one thing he feared most.
Someone taking his son away.
Rachel grabbed his arm.
“Marcus.””
He pulled away.
“Let me go.””
“We need a plan.””
“My son is gone.””
“And running outside without knowing who took him will get you killed.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Someone just stole my child.””
His voice cracked.
“I don't care what happens to me.””
Elias stepped forward.
“Then take me.””
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“If they want a child, take me.””
“Elias—”
“They think I'm the important one.””
The boy's voice trembled.
“But Noah is the one they took.””
Marcus stared at him.
Elias looked down.
“He was always the brave one.””
Marcus felt something break inside him.
These two boys had spent their whole lives separated by secrets they never created.
And somehow, even now, Elias wanted to save his brother.
Lena pulled Elias close.
“No.””
Elias looked at her.
“Mom.””
That word made everyone stop.
Lena covered her mouth.
She hadn't heard him call her that in years.
Elias whispered:
“I don't want another brother to disappear.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You're not going anywhere.””
Ethan moved to the broken window.
“There's a vehicle trail.””
Marcus looked up.
“Where?””
He pointed toward the road.
“One SUV.””
Rachel followed.
“Not one of theirs.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“The people outside came in three vehicles.””
She looked at the tire marks.
“This one was already waiting.””
Marcus understood.
Someone had planned the kidnapping before they arrived.
His father's appearance.
Vanessa's arrival.
The attack.
Everything.
A trap.
Collins suddenly spoke.
“Your father.””
Marcus turned.
“What about him?””
“He didn't take Noah.””
“How do you know?””
“Because he was trying to stop them.””
Marcus stared.
“Why would he care?””
Collins looked toward the darkness outside.
“Because Noah isn't just a child to him.””
“What is he?””
Collins hesitated.
“The last piece of the truth.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Explain.””
Collins looked exhausted.
“Your father built everything around controlling the Mercer inheritance.””
“Elias.””
“Yes.””
“But Noah?””
Collins looked at the empty doorway.
“Noah is proof that your father's entire plan failed.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because Noah wasn't supposed to survive.””
The room went silent.
Lena closed her eyes.
Marcus felt cold.
“What do you mean?””
Collins looked at him.
“The night the twins were born, your father ordered Daniel to remove Noah.””
Marcus froze.
“Remove?””
“He believed Noah was the wrong child.””
“He wanted Elias.””
“Yes.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
“But Noah survived.””
“Because your mother intervened.””
“And Lena?””
“She helped.””
Marcus looked at Lena.
“You knew?””
Lena nodded slowly.
“I knew someone was coming for him.””
“Why didn't you take him?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because I had already lost Elias.””
The room became quiet.
Lena looked at Marcus.
“Your mother promised me she would protect one child if I could get the other away.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You let her take Noah.””
“I had no choice.””
“No choice?””
Lena's voice broke.
“I was told if I didn't cooperate, both babies would disappear.””
Marcus looked away.
The pain was too much.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
Marcus answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Hello, Marcus.””
His blood turned cold.
“Noah.””
The voice laughed.
“No.””
A pause.
“Not yet.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Where is he?””
“Safe.””
“Let me talk to him.””
“Soon.””
“You touch him and—”
“And what?””
The voice was calm.
“You'll do exactly what everyone before you did.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Who are you?””
“You already know.””
A video appeared on Marcus's phone.
Noah was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Scared.
Buddy was not with him.
Marcus's heart dropped.
“Noah.””
His son looked at the camera.
“Dad!””
The call connected to video.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Are you hurt?””
Noah shook his head.
“I’m okay.””
A man's hand appeared behind him.
Marcus recognized the ring.
His father's ring.
The same one he had seen in childhood.
Marcus whispered:
“Dad.””
The camera moved.
His father appeared.
“You finally understand.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“You took him.””
“No.””
“Then who did?””
His father looked away.
“For once, I am not the enemy.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“After everything?””
“I made mistakes.””
“You destroyed lives.””
“Yes.””
The old man looked at Noah.
“But I did not take him.””
Marcus went silent.
“Then why is he with you?””
“Because I found him first.””
“Where?””
“Your father's old estate.””
Marcus frowned.
“That house burned down.””
“No.””
His father looked directly at him.
“That was the lie.””
The video shook.
Noah looked frightened.
Marcus said:
“Bring him back.””
“I will.””
“Why?””
“Because I owe your mother.””
Marcus froze.
“My mother?””
His father nodded.
“She saved both of us.””
“What does that mean?””
The old man looked tired.
“Your mother discovered the truth too late.””
“What truth?””
“That the boys were never the only thing being hidden.””
Marcus stared.
“What else?””
His father looked at the camera.
“Your mother had a third child.””
Everyone froze.
Lena whispered:
“No.””
Marcus felt the world stop.
“What?””
His father continued.
“A daughter.””
Rachel looked shocked.
“That’s impossible.””
“Nothing about this family is impossible.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My mother only had me.””
“No.””
His father stared.
“She had a child before you.””
“Where is she?””
His father looked toward Noah.
“That is why they took him.””
Marcus didn't understand.
“What does Noah have to do with her?””
“Because she knows where she is.””
The video cut.
Marcus stared at the black screen.
Then immediately called back.
No answer.
He turned to Rachel.
“What was that?””
She looked shaken.
“I don't know.””
Collins whispered:
“I do.””
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You knew.””
Collins looked down.
“Your mother made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
“To never tell you.””
Marcus grabbed his coat.
“I am done with promises.””
Collins finally looked up.
“Your sister's name was Claire.””
Marcus froze.
“Where is she?””
Collins hesitated.
“She disappeared the same year you were born.””
Marcus's mind raced.
Another missing child.
Another secret.
Another lie.
“How does Noah know?””
Collins shook his head.
“He doesn't.””
“Then why would my father say that?””
Collins looked toward the road.
“Because he knows where Claire went.””
Marcus turned.
“And?””
Collins whispered:
“Because the person who took Noah…”
He paused.
“…is the same person who took your sister.””
The room went silent.
Elias stepped closer to Marcus.
“What are we going to do?””
Marcus looked at him.
At Lena.
At Rachel.
At the road where Noah had disappeared.
Then he picked up the broken phone from the table.
The recording icon was still blinking.
Marcus stared.
“Wait.””
Rachel frowned.
“What?””
“The phone.””
“What about it?””
Marcus played the last saved recording.
Static.
Then Vanessa's voice.
Then another voice.
But this time Marcus heard something he hadn't noticed before.
A child.
A little girl's voice.
Whispering in the background.
“Mommy said Marcus would come back for me.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
Rachel looked at him.
“Who is that?””
Marcus stared at the phone.
He had spent his entire life believing he was an only child.
But the voice was young.
Female.
And familiar.
The recording continued.
A woman whispered:
“Claire, hide.””
Marcus dropped the phone.
Because the voice answering was his own mother's.
May you like
And she said:
“Your brother will find you someday.””
