Chapter 10: The Secret in His Father’s Safe
Daniel returned to the Carter mansion just after midnight.
His father was waiting in the study.
Arthur Carter sat behind the enormous mahogany desk, a glass of untouched whiskey beside his hand.
He didn't look surprised to see his son.
“You spoke to your mother.”
It wasn't a question.
Daniel closed the door.
“She told me to ask you about my ex-wife's pregnancy.”
Arthur's fingers tightened around the glass.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Daniel stepped closer.
“Why?”
Arthur looked toward the fireplace.
“Some truths are better left buried.”
“Not anymore.”
Daniel placed both hands on the desk.
“I have two children.”
Arthur's eyes lifted.
“And if they're mine, I want to know why you and Mother spent years convincing me they couldn't be.”
Arthur's face turned pale.
“Your mother didn't tell you everything.”
“Neither did you.”
A long silence followed.
Then Arthur stood.
He walked toward an antique painting hanging behind the desk.
He pressed a hidden switch.
A section of the wall opened.
Daniel stared.
A steel safe was embedded behind the painting.
“You're kidding.”
Arthur entered a code.
The lock clicked.
Inside was a single black folder.
Arthur removed it slowly.
“This contains something I should have destroyed years ago.”
Daniel took the folder.
“What is it?”
“Your mother's mistake.”
Daniel opened it.
The first document was a medical report.
His eyes scanned the page.
Then stopped.
PATIENT: CLAIRE CARTER
DIAGNOSIS: FERTILITY STATUS—NORMAL
Daniel's breathing stopped.
He looked up.
“That can't be right.”
Arthur said nothing.
Daniel flipped to the next page.
Another report.
Then another.
All from different specialists.
All confirming the same thing.
Claire had never been infertile.
She had never been told she couldn't have children.
Daniel's hands began shaking.
“Then why did the doctor tell me she couldn't conceive?”
Arthur's voice was quiet.
“Because that wasn't the report he received.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Arthur pulled another document from the folder.
“This is the report your mother gave him.”
Daniel read it.
SEVERE INFERTILITY. NATURAL CONCEPTION HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
His face went cold.
“Mother forged this?”
Arthur nodded.
“But why?”
Arthur sat down heavily.
“Because she didn't want Claire to give you an heir.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because your mother had already chosen someone else for you.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“Who?”
Arthur hesitated.
“Victoria.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Victoria?”
“Your mother's friend's daughter. The woman you eventually married after divorcing Claire.”
Daniel took a step backward.
“That marriage was arranged?”
“Not entirely. But your mother made certain you believed Claire could never give you children.”
Daniel looked down at the documents again.
His entire past was collapsing in front of him.
The arguments.
The accusations.
The divorce.
The night Claire had cried and begged him to believe her.
The moment he had walked away.
And then the children.
His children.
Five years of birthdays.
Five years of first words.
First steps.
First days of school.
Five years he could never get back.
Daniel's voice became barely audible.
“Does Claire know?”
“No.”
“Does Victoria?”
Arthur's silence answered him.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then he noticed something else inside the folder.
A photograph.
He pulled it out.
It showed Claire standing outside a private fertility clinic five years earlier.
Beside her was a man Daniel didn't recognize.
On the back of the photograph was handwritten:
She found out the truth. Stop her before she reaches Daniel.
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“What is this?”
Arthur's face changed.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Daniel turned the photograph over again.
There was one more detail.
A date.
The exact date Claire had disappeared from his life after their divorce.
Daniel's breathing became uneven.
He suddenly understood.
The pregnancy hadn't been the only thing his mother had hidden.
Someone had been watching Claire.
Someone had been following her.
And someone had been terrified that she would tell Daniel the truth.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
You should have left the past alone.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
The twins aren't the only thing your ex-wife was hiding.
His face hardened.
Then a final message appeared.
Ask her what happened the night your divorce was finalized.
Daniel immediately called Claire.
She answered after several rings.
“Daniel?”
His voice was low.
“Claire, I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Five years ago… on the night our divorce became final…”
He paused.
“Who came to see you?”
Silence.
Too long.
Then Claire whispered:
“Daniel…”
Her voice trembled.
“I never told you because I was afraid.”
His heart slammed against his ribs.
“Afraid of what?”
Claire took a shaky breath.
“Your mother wasn't the only person who wanted me gone.”
The call suddenly went dead.
Daniel stared at the phone.
Then he heard something behind him.
A soft click.
He turned.
May you like
The study door was slowly opening.
And someone was standing on the other side.
