Chapter 8: The Second Result
I barely slept.
Again.
The past few days had turned into a cycle.
Questions.
Secrets.
Memories I couldn’t trust.
Every time I thought I reached the bottom, another door opened.
And something darker waited behind it.
The next morning, I drove straight to Daniel’s office.
I didn’t call.
I didn’t warn him.
I needed to see his reaction.
His building was exactly what I expected.
Glass walls.
Perfect floors.
A place designed to make people believe everything inside was controlled.
But I knew better now.
Nothing was controlled.
Not families.
Not love.
Not secrets.
The receptionist looked up.
“Can I help you?””
“I’m here to see Daniel Grant.””
“Do you have an appointment?””
“No.””
She hesitated.
“He’s in a meeting.””
I placed the report on the desk.
“Tell him it’s about Rachel.””
Her expression changed.
Five minutes later, Daniel appeared.
The second he saw my face, he knew.
“You found it.””
I held up the report.
“You knew.””
He looked around.
“Come with me.””
“No.””
People nearby glanced over.
I didn’t care.
“You knew.””
Daniel closed his office door.
“Yes.””
The word echoed.
I felt anger rise.
“You knew Ava was mine.””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe otherwise.””
“No.””
“You did.””
He shook his head.
“Marcus, listen.””
“I listened yesterday.””
I threw the report onto his desk.
“I listened to your story about fear and mistakes.””
Daniel looked at the paper.
“This isn’t the whole story.””
“Then give me the whole story.””
He sat down slowly.
“The second test was not for Ava.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“It was for Rachel.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Before Ava was born, Rachel was diagnosed with a genetic condition.””
I froze.
“What condition?””
“She was afraid it could affect the baby.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand.””
“She wanted testing done.””
“And?””
Daniel swallowed.
“The doctors discovered something unexpected.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Rachel wasn’t the only person hiding something.””
The words made no sense.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel opened a drawer.
He pulled out another envelope.
My name wasn’t on this one.
Rachel’s was.
“She never told you because she was trying to protect you.””
I took the envelope.
“What is it?””
“Open it.””
I did.
Inside was a medical report.
I read.
And slowly, my confusion became something else.
Fear.
Because the report wasn’t about paternity.
It was about genetics.
Rachel had been diagnosed with a hereditary condition.
A condition that explained why doctors had been monitoring her health.
A condition that could have affected Ava.
I looked up.
“Why didn’t she tell me?””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Because she thought you would see Ava differently.””
I stared at him.
“I would never.””
“I know that.””
“Then why?””
“Because Rachel was afraid.””
I folded the report.
“She spent her whole life afraid.””
Daniel nodded.
“She was afraid of losing you.””
I looked at him.
“And Vanessa?””
His expression darkened.
“She found the report.””
“When?””
“After Rachel died.””
My jaw tightened.
“And she used it.””
“Yes.””
“For what?””
Daniel looked away.
“To make herself seem like the only person who could protect Ava.””
A sick feeling moved through me.
Vanessa hadn’t just wanted my life.
She wanted to become necessary.
She wanted me to believe I needed her.
My phone buzzed.
A text.
From Emily.
*Marcus, please call me. It’s urgent.*
I called immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
“Marcus.””
Her voice was shaking.
“What happened?””
“It’s Ava.””
My entire body went cold.
“What about her?””
“She found something.””
I stood.
“What?””
“She found Rachel’s old journal.””
My heart dropped.
“Where?””
“At your house.””
I looked at Daniel.
He saw my expression.
“What?””
I lowered the phone.
“What did Ava find?””
Emily answered before I could ask again.
“She found the page Rachel wrote the night before she died.””
I stopped breathing.
“What page?””
May you like
Emily’s voice cracked.
“The one where Rachel wrote who she was really afraid of.””
