Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Emma opened the door only after fastening the chain. Adrian looked exhausted, his hair wet, his face pale.
"Marcus told me you took Lily," he said.
"Marcus told you that?"
"He said you had a breakdown."
Emma almost laughed. "Of course he did."
She showed him the photograph, the receipt, and Lily's worksheet. Adrian stared at the evidence in silence.
"The piano wasn't my idea," he said at last. "I told Marcus Ethan didn't need one."
"Then why is it in your house?"
Adrian sat in the motel chair and covered his face. "Because Marcus believes Ethan is his son."
The room seemed to tilt.
Years earlier, before Emma met Marcus, Adrian's wife, Natalie, had briefly separated from him. Marcus had comforted her during that period. Adrian had always suspected there was more to the story, but Natalie denied it before she died.
"Two months ago," Adrian continued, "Marcus found an old letter in Natalie's things. It said she wasn't sure who Ethan's father was. Marcus ordered a private DNA test."
Emma's hands went cold. "And?"
"The result said there was a high probability he was Ethan's biological father."
Lily shifted in bed but did not wake.
Adrian explained that Marcus had become consumed by guilt. He believed Ethan had lost a mother and been raised by the wrong father while he lived comfortably with Emma and Lily. He began paying for Ethan's school, lessons, clothes, and medical care. Adrian accepted some help because his business was failing, but he never agreed to replace Lily.
"Why custody papers?" Emma asked.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Because Marcus wants shared guardianship. Rebecca told him the easiest way was to prove my home unstable and your marriage emotionally unsafe."
Emma stared at him. "He planned to bring Ethan into our house by discrediting both of us."
"I think so."
Her phone rang. Marcus.
She answered on speaker.
"Come home," he said. "We need to discuss this like adults."
"Did you tell Lily that Ethan might replace her?"
Silence.
"Did you hire Rebecca to prepare custody papers?"
Marcus's voice hardened. "Adrian has been talking."
"Answer me."
"Ethan is my responsibility."
"So is Lily."
"You don't understand what I owe him."
Emma looked at her sleeping daughter. "No, Marcus. You don't understand what you already took from her."
May you like
Before she ended the call, Marcus said something that frightened both Emma and Adrian.
"Bring Lily back before the evaluator arrives tomorrow. If you don't, I'll tell them you abducted her."
