Chapter 6: The Brother Who Disappeared
Marcus stared at the photograph until his eyes hurt.
He wanted to believe it was a mistake.
A misunderstanding.
A coincidence.
Anything except what it appeared to be.
But the picture didn’t lie.
Daniel stood on one side.
His brother, Ethan Carter, stood on the other.
Both of them were smiling.
Both of them looked comfortable.
Like they had been planning something together for a long time.
Marcus felt something inside him collapse.
Ethan.
His younger brother.
The person he had protected since childhood.
The person he had defended when nobody else believed in him.
The person who knew every detail about Marcus’s life.
Including the things nobody else knew.
Marcus slowly lowered the photograph.
“How long?””
Claire looked confused.
“What?””
“How long have they been working together?””
She looked away.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“Don’t lie to me.””
“I’m not.””
“Claire.””
His voice was quiet.
But she knew him well enough to understand that quiet was more dangerous than anger.
“I swear, I didn’t know at first.””
“At first?””
Claire closed her eyes.
“I thought Daniel was just trying to get close to me again.””
Marcus laughed softly.
“You thought your ex showing up after four years, asking about my finances, and sending you money was romantic?””
She looked ashamed.
“No.””
“Then what did you think?””
“I thought he cared.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You thought he cared.””
The words sounded impossible.
Because Marcus knew what real care looked like.
It looked like staying awake beside a sick child.
It looked like missing birthdays because you were working overtime.
It looked like carrying groceries inside with frozen hands because your family needed dinner.
It didn’t look like secrets.
It didn’t look like lies.
“Why Ethan?””
Claire swallowed.
“Because Daniel said Ethan hated you.””
Marcus went still.
That was true.
At least partly.
Three years earlier, Marcus and Ethan had a fight.
A terrible one.
The kind that changes a relationship forever.
Ethan had accused Marcus of thinking he was better than everyone.
Marcus had accused Ethan of always blaming others for his failures.
Neither apologized.
Neither called.
And eventually, silence became normal.
But hate?
No.
Marcus never believed his own brother hated him.
“He told Daniel that?””
“Yes.””
“What else did Ethan say?””
Claire hesitated.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What else?””
“He said you took everything from him.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Claire looked at the floor.
“I don’t know.””
“Yes, you do.””
“No, Marcus.””
Her voice cracked.
“I really don’t.””
Marcus watched her carefully.
She looked afraid.
Not like someone protecting a lie.
Like someone who had realized she was caught inside something much bigger than she understood.
A sound came from downstairs.
A small voice.
“Daddy?””
Marcus immediately turned.
Nia stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Holding her stuffed rabbit.
His anger disappeared instantly.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
She looked at Claire.
Then at him.
“Are you leaving?””
The question stopped him.
“Why would you ask that?””
Nia shrugged.
“Because Mommy said people leave when they find out things.””
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
He walked down the stairs and knelt.
“Come here.””
She ran into his arms.
Marcus held her.
“No one is taking me away from you.””
“But you’re mad.””
“Yes.””
Her eyes became worried.
“But not at you.””
He brushed her hair back.
“Never at you.””
Nia looked toward the kitchen.
“Can I eat?””
Marcus froze.
The question was so simple.
So innocent.
But it hurt.
She wasn’t asking for a snack.
She was asking permission.
Something a child should never need.
Marcus swallowed.
“You can eat whenever you’re hungry.””
Nia nodded.
“Mommy says I have to ask.””
Marcus looked over her shoulder.
Claire heard it.
And for the first time, she looked away in shame.
Marcus stood.
“Get your shoes.””
Nia blinked.
“Why?””
“Because we’re going somewhere.””
“Where?””
“To get your favorite dinner.””
A small smile appeared.
“What about Mommy?””
Marcus looked at Claire.
The answer was complicated.
Too complicated for a four-year-old.
“Mommy needs to talk to Daddy.””
Nia nodded.
She trusted him.
That trust hurt more than anything.
After Nia left the room, Marcus picked up his phone.
He had one person to call.
Someone he hadn’t spoken to in three years.
Ethan.
His thumb hovered over the name.
Then he pressed.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Voicemail.
Marcus ended the call.
Immediately, the phone rang back.
Unknown number.
Marcus answered.
“Ethan?””
Silence.
Then:
“You shouldn’t have called me.””
Marcus froze.
“You knew I would?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Another pause.
Then Ethan said:
“Because Daniel told me you found the box.””
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“So you’re working with him.””
Ethan didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Why?””
“Marcus…”
“No.””
His voice shook.
“I want to hear you say it.””
“Say what?””
“That you helped them.””
Silence.
Then Ethan sighed.
“I didn’t want it to happen like this.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“How did you want it to happen?””
No answer.
“Ethan.””
“I wanted you to understand.””
“Understand what?””
“That you ruined my life.””
The words landed heavily.
Marcus closed his eyes.
There it was.
The same anger.
The same accusation.
“You still believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Ethan’s voice became harder.
“Because you always got everything.””
Marcus frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“You got the business.””
“I built the business.””
“You got Dad’s approval.””
Marcus went quiet.
Their father.
Another wound.
One they never discussed.
“You’re blaming me because Dad was proud of me?””
“I’m blaming you because he chose you.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That’s not my fault.””
“You always say that.””
“Because it’s true.””
Ethan’s breathing changed.
He was angry.
But underneath it was something else.
Pain.
“I needed help.””
Marcus stared at the wall.
“So you helped Daniel destroy my family?””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“You knew enough.””
Silence.
Then Ethan said:
“I didn’t know about Nia.””
Marcus’s grip tightened.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
“You all knew something about my daughter.””
Ethan became quiet.
Then he whispered:
“Marcus…”
“What?””
“There’s something you need to know.””
“What?””
“The DNA test.””
Marcus stopped.
“What DNA test?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
Marcus felt his heart sink.
“Ethan.””
“Claire did one.””
“When?””
“A month ago.””
The room went cold.
“A month ago?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Because Daniel wanted proof.””
Marcus felt sick.
“And?””
“He got the results.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The question came out slowly.
“What did they say?””
Silence.
Too long.
Too painful.
Finally Ethan spoke.
“Marcus…”
“What did they say?””
Ethan’s voice broke.
“The test said Daniel is not Nia’s father.””
Marcus opened his eyes.
Everything stopped.
For a moment, he didn’t understand.
Not Daniel.
Not him.
Then who?
“Ethan…”
His brother whispered:
“That’s why you need to be careful.””
Marcus’s heart raced.
“What are you saying?””
“Because the person who is Nia’s biological father…”
Ethan stopped.
“Who?””
Another pause.
Then Ethan answered:
“Marcus, it’s me.””
The line went dead.
Marcus stood completely frozen.
The phone slipped slightly in his hand.
Ethan.
His own brother.
The impossible answer.
The one person he never considered.
Behind him, Claire gasped.
She had heard.
Marcus turned slowly.
Her face was filled with horror.
And that was when he realized something even worse.
May you like
Claire wasn’t shocked by the name.
She was shocked that he finally knew.
