Chapter 8: The Name Written In The File
Nobody spoke.
The words stayed in the room like a sound that refused to disappear.
*Nia’s biological father.*
I looked at Dad.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Robert.
I waited for someone to laugh.
For someone to say it was a mistake.
A misunderstanding.
A wrong name on an old piece of paper.
But nobody did.
And that was when I realized the truth.
Something had been hidden from me for my entire life.
Dad took a step back.
“No.””
His voice was barely a whisper.
Daniel looked at him carefully.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
Dad shook his head.
“You’re telling me some paperwork says someone else is her father?””
Robert crossed his arms.
“Paperwork doesn’t lie.””
Dad turned toward him.
“Get out.””
Robert didn’t move.
“You still don’t want to hear it.””
“I said get out.””
“You spent twelve years believing a story Claire created.””
That sentence broke something in my father’s face.
Not because he believed Robert.
Because he was afraid.
Afraid there was something he didn’t know.
I hated that feeling.
Because I knew it too.
“Dad,” I said quietly.
He looked at me immediately.
And for a second, everything else disappeared.
The threats.
The secrets.
The strangers.
Just me and him.
“Tell me the truth.””
His eyes filled with pain.
“I don’t know what the truth is yet.””
That answer hurt.
Not because it was cruel.
Because it was honest.
Robert stepped closer.
“Nia, your mother loved you.””
Dad looked at him.
“Don’t pretend you know anything about her.””
Robert ignored him.
“She wanted to protect you.””
“From who?”” I asked.
Robert looked at Dad.
The answer was obvious.
Or at least, that was what he wanted me to think.
“From being lied to.””
My chest tightened.
I looked at Dad.
“Did you know?””
His face changed.
“Nia…”
“Did you know there was a chance?””
Silence.
That silence was enough.
My heart sank.
“Dad.””
He looked away.
And that hurt more than anything.
Because my father had always looked at me.
Even when things were hard.
Even when he didn’t have answers.
But now he couldn’t.
“I need to explain,” he said.
“Then explain.””
He took a breath.
“When your mother was pregnant, there were complications.””
I listened.
“She was scared.””
“About me?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“About losing you.””
My eyes burned.
“She told me there were questions about your biological father.””
The room became completely silent.
“But she told me she had chosen me.””
I swallowed.
“She chose you?””
Dad nodded.
“She said biology wasn’t what made a family.””
That sounded like my mother.
She always believed love was something people chose every day.
“But why didn’t you tell me?””
Dad closed his eyes.
“Because I thought it didn’t matter.””
I looked at him.
“It mattered to someone.””
His eyes moved toward Robert.
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Marcus, Claire didn’t want this secret hidden forever.””
Dad looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel reached into his bag.
He pulled out a small notebook.
“I found this with the documents from Claire’s storage.””
Dad stared.
“Her journal?””
Daniel nodded.
“She wrote about the weeks before she died.””
My hands trembled.
“Does it talk about me?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Yes.””
I didn’t know if I wanted to hear it.
But I needed to.
Daniel opened the notebook.
“She wrote that she was afraid Thomas would come back.””
I frowned.
“Thomas?””
Robert’s expression changed.
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Thomas is connected to this.””
“How?””
Daniel looked at Dad.
“Because Thomas believed Nia was his daughter.””
Dad’s face tightened.
“And Claire?””
Daniel turned the page.
“She wrote that she had proof he was wrong.””
I felt a strange wave of relief.
Then confusion.
“Then why hide everything?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because Thomas wasn’t the only problem.””
Everyone went quiet.
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked like she already knew.
“Who else?””
Daniel answered softly.
“Robert.””
Robert’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
Daniel ignored him.
“Claire discovered Robert had been searching for information about Nia.””
Dad looked at Robert.
“Why?””
Robert said nothing.
“Why?”” Dad repeated.
Robert finally spoke.
“Because Claire had something that belonged to me.””
Dad laughed.
“Your obsession with that sentence is exactly the problem.””
Robert’s face changed.
“You don’t understand what happened.””
“Then explain.””
Robert looked at me.
“Your mother made choices that affected everyone.””
I stepped back.
I didn’t like the way he spoke.
Like my mother was the villain.
Like he was the victim.
“What choices?””
Robert looked at the floor.
“She took something from me.””
“What?””
He didn’t answer.
Dad moved closer.
“You came here tonight because you thought the box was still in this house.””
Robert smiled.
“No.””
“Then why?””
Robert looked toward me.
“Because I wanted to stop you before you found out.””
My stomach tightened.
“Found out what?””
Robert stared at me.
“The truth about why your mother changed her will.””
Dad froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked shocked.
“Will?””
Robert nodded.
“She changed everything before she died.””
I looked at Dad.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
Again.
Always silence.
Always adults protecting me from the truth.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
“What does it mean?””
Dad looked at me.
“It means your mother left instructions.””
“For what?””
“For who would control your inheritance.””
I understood.
And suddenly, all the pieces started connecting.
The account.
The box.
The documents.
Vanessa.
Robert.
Everyone wanted control over something that belonged to me.
But why?
Why was my life worth fighting over?
Daniel opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
“What?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“There’s one more thing.””
I almost laughed.
“One more secret?””
Nobody smiled.
Daniel continued.
“When Claire changed the documents, she removed Thomas.””
“And?””
“She also removed Marcus.””
Dad looked shocked.
“What?””
I felt like the floor disappeared.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at me.
“It means your mother made sure nobody could access what she left you.””
“Not even Dad?””
“No.””
The room was silent.
Then Dad whispered:
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the journal.
“Because Claire wrote…”
He stopped.
“Because Claire wrote what?””
Daniel looked at him.
“She wrote that she trusted Marcus completely.””
Dad exhaled.
“But?””
Daniel’s eyes moved to the final page.
“But she was afraid someone could use him.””
My heart dropped.
“Use him?””
Daniel nodded.
“She believed someone close to you would try to take control.””
Dad looked toward Vanessa.
Then Robert.
Then back at me.
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Because suddenly, the answer was obvious.
Everyone in the room had secrets.
Everyone had something to gain.
Except me.
I only wanted to know who my mother was trying to protect me from.
Then Robert’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
For the first time all night, his confidence disappeared.
“What is it?”” Dad asked.
Robert didn’t answer.
He stared at the phone.
Then slowly looked at me.
“What?””
He lowered the phone.
“The storage unit.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“What happened?””
Robert’s face had gone pale.
“The box is gone.””
Nobody moved.
“But someone left something behind.””
Dad stared.
“What?””
Robert looked at me.
“A letter.””
My heart started pounding.
“From who?””
Robert swallowed.
“Your mother.””
I stepped forward.
“Where is it?””
Robert didn’t answer.
Because he was staring at the final message on his phone.
A message from whoever opened the storage unit.
May you like
A message that changed everything.
*Tell Nia the truth before someone else does. She deserves to know who her real enemy is.*
