Chapter 3 - The Lie Elena Took to Her Grave
Arthur drove home without speaking.
Daniel sat beside him.
The DNA report rested between them.
Arthur remembered Maya’s first birthday.
He had been there.
Elena had invited him.
He remembered holding Maya while she slept against his chest.
He remembered joking that she had his stubborn expression.
Elena had laughed.
He remembered Ethan being born.
He had sent flowers.
He had visited the hospital.
Elena had introduced another man as Ethan’s father.
Michael Carter.
Arthur had believed her.
Everyone had.
Michael disappeared from their lives less than a year later.
Now Arthur understood why Elena had never pursued him.
There had been nothing to pursue.
Arthur walked through the front door.
Maya was sitting at the kitchen table.
Ethan was eating cereal.
Both children looked up.
Maya immediately noticed Arthur’s face.
“What happened?”
Arthur couldn’t answer.
How did a man tell two children that their entire lives had been built around a lie?
Daniel stepped in.
“We found the locker.”
Ethan put down his spoon.
“Was there something bad?”
Arthur looked at him.
His son.
The word hit him with almost physical force.
Ethan had his eyes.
How had he never noticed?
Maya stood.
“What was inside?”
Arthur sat down.
“Maya.”
Something in his tone frightened her.
“What?”
“Your mother left records.”
“What kind?”
Arthur looked at Daniel.
Daniel gave a small nod.
Arthur placed the DNA report on the table.
Maya stared at it.
She picked it up.
She read slowly.
Ethan moved beside her.
Neither spoke.
Then Maya looked at Arthur.
“No.”
Arthur swallowed.
“I didn’t know.”
“No.”
“Maya—”
“My dad was Michael Carter.”
Arthur felt the pain behind the words.
“I thought he was.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re lying!”
Maya threw the report onto the table.
She ran upstairs.
Arthur started after her.
Daniel caught his arm.
“Give her a minute.”
Arthur turned toward Ethan.
The boy hadn’t moved.
He was staring at the report.
Then he looked at Arthur.
“Are you really our dad?”
Arthur crouched.
“According to this test, yes.”
Ethan’s eyes filled with tears.
“Did Mom know?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Ethan wiped his face angrily.
“Why didn’t she tell you?”
Arthur had no answer.
Then a vehicle stopped outside.
Daniel walked toward the window.
His face tightened.
“Arthur.”
Three black SUVs had entered the driveway.
Men in suits stepped out.
Charles Whitmore emerged from the middle vehicle.
Victoria followed him.
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“Keep the kids upstairs.”
Daniel grabbed his phone.
Arthur opened the front door before Charles could knock.
Charles smiled.
“Good morning.”
Arthur stepped outside.
“You have thirty seconds to leave my property.”
Victoria looked past him.
“Where are they?”
Arthur stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
“The children.”
“You will never go near them again.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
Charles raised one hand.
“Let’s behave like adults.”
Arthur laughed.
“You knew Elena.”
Victoria went still.
Charles did not.
That told Arthur everything.
He stepped closer.
“You both knew her before I met Victoria.”
Charles sighed.
“So you found it.”
Victoria turned toward him.
“Dad.”
Arthur felt ice move through his veins.
“You knew about locker 317.”
Charles smiled faintly.
“I knew Elena enjoyed collecting things she didn’t understand.”
Arthur pulled the DNA report from his jacket.
Victoria saw it.
Her face collapsed.
Arthur watched her.
“You knew.”
Victoria said nothing.
“You knew Maya and Ethan were mine.”
“Arthur…”
“How long?”
Victoria looked at Charles.
Arthur shouted.
“HOW LONG?”
Maya appeared at the top of the stairs behind him.
Arthur saw her.
He immediately lowered his voice.
Victoria noticed Maya too.
Something ugly crossed her face.
Charles spoke calmly.
“Perhaps this discussion should happen privately.”
“No.”
Arthur pointed toward the driveway.
“You’re leaving.”
Charles stared at him.
Then his smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what you found.”
“I found proof someone moved millions through my companies.”
Victoria looked sharply at her father.
Arthur caught it.
Charles remained calm.
“You should be very careful making accusations.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“You should be very careful assuming I’m afraid of you.”
Charles stepped backward.
“Twenty-four hours.”
Arthur frowned.
“What?”
“You have twenty-four hours to return everything Elena stole.”
“Or what?”
Charles looked toward the house.
Toward Maya.
Toward Ethan.
Arthur stepped directly into his line of sight.
Charles smiled.
“Or the truth about their mother becomes public.”
Maya’s face went pale.
Arthur felt her standing behind him.
“What truth?”
Charles adjusted his cuff.
“Ask Elena why Michael Carter disappeared.”
Arthur stared at him.
“Elena is dead.”
May you like
Charles looked straight into his eyes.
“That’s exactly what she wanted you to believe.”
