CHAPTER 5: THE DNA SECRET ANNA HID FOR EIGHT YEARS
For several seconds, I didn't understand what Rachel had said.
Not because the words were complicated.
Because my mind refused to accept them.
Michael was Lily's biological father.
The sentence repeated itself over and over.
Like a recording I couldn't turn off.
My brother.
My daughter.
My family.
All connected by a secret I never knew existed.
I laughed once.
A broken, empty sound.
"No."
Rachel looked at me with sadness.
"Daniel—"
"No."
I stepped backward.
"That's impossible."
"I know what it sounds like."
"No, you don't."
My voice rose.
"You don't understand what you're saying."
Rachel didn't argue.
She just stood there.
Because she knew anger was easier than pain.
"You are telling me that for eight years..."
My throat tightened.
"For eight years, I raised another man's child?"
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
"Daniel..."
"Was Anna lying to me?"
The question finally came out.
The one that hurt the most.
Not Michael.
Not Evelyn.
Anna.
My wife.
The woman I trusted more than anyone.
Rachel looked down.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"Anna never lied because she wanted to hurt you."
"Then why?"
"Because she was protecting you."
I almost shouted.
"Protecting me?"
I pointed toward the notebook.
"She let me believe Lily was mine."
Rachel stepped closer.
"Because she knew you were Lily's father in every way that mattered."
I looked away.
Those words should have comforted me.
They didn't.
Because love and biology were suddenly fighting a war inside my head.
I knew Lily.
I knew every scar on her knees.
Every nightmare that woke her up.
Every food she hated.
Every song she loved.
I knew the exact way she smiled when she was pretending not to laugh.
I was her father.
But now there was a shadow standing behind that truth.
Michael.
"Tell me everything."
My voice was quieter.
Rachel nodded.
She opened Anna's notebook.
"Anna found out when she was pregnant."
I looked at her.
"She knew before Lily was born?"
"Yes."
My hands clenched.
"How?"
Rachel hesitated.
"Because Michael told her."
The room became silent.
"He told her?"
Rachel nodded.
"He thought Anna would leave you."
My stomach twisted.
"Why would he think that?"
"Because he believed he deserved her."
I stared at Rachel.
"What?"
Rachel looked away.
"Daniel, you knew Michael was close to Anna before you married her."
I froze.
I remembered.
Years ago.
Before Lily.
Before marriage.
Michael and Anna were friends.
Close friends.
But I never thought more than that.
Anna always told me Michael was like a brother.
Apparently, that was only one person's version of the story.
"Michael was obsessed with Anna."
Rachel continued.
"He thought she chose you because you were safer."
I felt sick.
"He told Anna that if she didn't leave you, he would expose everything."
"Everything?"
Rachel nodded.
"His affair with her."
The words hit me.
I couldn't speak.
"You're saying..."
Rachel took a deep breath.
"Michael and Anna had one mistake before you and Anna got married."
My world shifted.
Again.
"He was never supposed to be part of your family."
Rachel looked at me.
"But after Anna found out she was pregnant, Michael believed he finally had a reason to control her."
I opened Anna's notebook.
The pages were filled with handwriting.
Dates.
Names.
Details.
Anna had documented everything.
One entry caught my attention.
March 14
Michael came to my house today.
He said Daniel would never know the truth unless I did what he wanted.
I turned the page.
He believes Lily is his second chance.
Another page.
I am terrified because Michael doesn't see Lily as a child.
He sees her as something he owns.
My hands started shaking.
Because suddenly everything made sense.
The custody battle.
The inheritance.
The attack at the luncheon.
This was never about money.
Money was only the excuse.
Michael wanted Lily.
Not because she had three million dollars.
Because he believed she belonged to him.
"Why didn't Anna tell me?"
The question escaped my mouth.
Rachel was quiet.
Then she answered:
"Because she was afraid."
"Of Michael?"
"Yes."
"She could have gone to the police."
Rachel shook her head.
"You don't know Michael."
I looked at her.
"He was careful."
She pointed at the notebook.
"He knew exactly how to appear innocent."
"Like now."
Rachel nodded.
"Exactly."
She sat down.
"After Anna discovered Michael had been secretly monitoring her accounts, she planned to tell you."
"When?"
"The night before the accident."
My heart stopped.
"The night before?"
Rachel nodded.
"She called me."
"What did she say?"
Rachel looked at the floor.
"She said, 'Tomorrow I will tell Daniel everything.'"
A cold feeling spread through me.
"But she never did."
"No."
"Because she died."
Rachel didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
A sound came from outside the warehouse.
A car door closing.
Rachel immediately became alert.
"Someone followed you?"
I turned.
"No."
But her expression told me something was wrong.
"Daniel, how many people knew you were coming here?"
I didn't answer.
Because only one person knew.
Detective Collins.
And she wouldn't betray us.
Unless...
My phone rang.
Michael.
I stared at the screen.
Rachel's face went pale.
"Don't answer."
"Why?"
"Because he knows."
"Knows what?"
Rachel whispered:
"That you found me."
The phone continued ringing.
I answered.
"Hello?"
Michael's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Daniel."
I said nothing.
"You always were too trusting."
My grip tightened.
"What do you want?"
A small sigh.
"I wanted to save you from this."
"Save me?"
"Yes."
I looked at Rachel.
"You tried to kill my daughter."
"No."
His answer was immediate.
"I tried to protect my daughter."
The words made my blood freeze.
"My daughter?"
Michael continued.
"You finally know, don't you?"
I couldn't speak.
"I always wondered how long Anna could hide it from you."
My voice became dangerous.
"Where are you?"
A quiet laugh.
"You still think this is about me."
"What does that mean?"
Silence.
Then:
"Ask Rachel what happened the night Anna died."
My eyes moved toward Rachel.
She looked terrified.
Michael continued.
"Ask her who was driving."
The call ended.
I turned slowly.
"Rachel."
She didn't answer.
"Who was driving?"
Her face changed.
The fear I saw wasn't fear of Michael.
It was guilt.
"Rachel."
Finally, she whispered:
"I was."
The room disappeared.
"You were driving the car?"
She nodded.
"I was with Anna that night."
My heart pounded.
"Then why did everyone say she was alone?"
Rachel closed her eyes.
"Because that's what Michael wanted everyone to believe."
I stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Rachel looked at me.
And the truth she gave me was worse than anything I expected.
"Daniel..."
Her voice broke.
"Anna wasn't killed by an accident."
A pause.
"She was trying to escape."
I held my breath.
"Escape from who?"
Rachel looked toward the warehouse door.
Then whispered:
May you like
"Michael."
End of Chapter 5
