Chapter 9: The Man Who Was Never My Father
The airport police took Marco and Daniel into separate interview rooms.
Sofia was placed under the supervision of a child protection specialist while my mother and I waited nearby.
I couldn't stop looking at her.
She sat at a small table, coloring a picture of a house.
Every few seconds, she looked up to make sure my mother was still there.
My mother never moved more than a few feet away.
I stood near the window.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
My mother approached slowly.
"Lena—"
"Don't.""
She stopped.
"You just told me I have a different father.""
She looked down.
"Yes.""
"Who is he?""
"Thomas Bennett.""
I turned.
"The man from the letter?""
She nodded.
"Before I met Marco, Thomas and I were together. We were young. He wanted to build a family, but his work took him away for long periods.""
"And you left him?""
"No. We separated because his family was involved in a financial scandal. He wanted me to leave the country with him, but I was pregnant with Sofia.""
I folded my arms.
"Then how did Marco become your husband?""
"Marco was a friend at first. He helped me through Sofia's birth. When Thomas disappeared, Marco offered to help raise her.""
"Then he took her?""
My mother shook her head.
"He told me she had died.""
I stared.
"And later you had me?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell Marco I wasn't his?""
She hesitated.
"He knew.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did he love me?""
My mother looked directly at me.
"I believe he loved you in his own way.""
I laughed bitterly.
"What does that even mean?""
"He raised you. He was there when you learned to walk. He carried you when you were sick. But he also knew that your biological father might one day return.""
"Thomas.""
She nodded.
"Marco was afraid of losing control of the family.""
I looked toward Sofia.
"Did he know about her?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know Daniel was raising her?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did he help him?""
My mother lowered her voice.
"Because Daniel had something Marco wanted.""
"What?""
"Control of the company.""
She explained that Marco had built Alvarez Holdings with money from several investors, including Thomas's family.
When Thomas disappeared, Marco took control of the remaining assets.
Daniel helped him hide the transactions.
In exchange, Marco agreed to make sure Daniel could raise Sofia without interference.
It wasn't an adoption.
It was an arrangement.
A child had been treated like property.
I felt sick.
"Where is Thomas now?""
My mother took out the old letter.
"He's alive.""
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
She handed me the paper.
There was an address in Austin.
And a phone number.
Detective Shaw approached.
"Your mother has given us everything she remembers. We found additional documents at Marco's office.""
She opened a folder.
"There's a bank transfer from an account belonging to Alvarez Holdings to a private account registered under Thomas Bennett's name.""
I looked up.
"Does that mean Thomas was involved?""
"Not necessarily. The account may have been opened without his permission.""
My mother looked troubled.
"Marco always said Thomas was dead.""
Detective Shaw nodded.
"We're checking that.""
She paused.
"There's something else. Daniel has agreed to cooperate.""
My mother stiffened.
"Why?""
"He wants immunity.""
I laughed.
"Of course he does.""
Detective Shaw continued.
"He claims Marco arranged the original attack and paid Victoria to sabotage the vehicle. He says Daniel was supposed to help conceal the financial evidence afterward.""
My mother stared at her.
"Was he involved in the accident?""
"He admits arranging the meeting and providing Victoria with the route.""
My mother closed her eyes.
Detective Shaw added:
"He also claims Marco ordered him to take Sofia after the crash.""
I looked toward the interview rooms.
"So Daniel is blaming Dad.""
"Yes.""
"Can you believe him?""
"We're treating his statement as evidence that needs corroboration.""
I nodded.
Then I asked the question that had been haunting me.
"Where is Victoria?""
Detective Shaw looked at the folder.
"She has been identified as Victoria Hale. We located her apartment this morning.""
"And?""
"She left three days ago.""
My mother suddenly grabbed the detective's arm.
"Did she leave anything?""
Detective Shaw nodded.
"A storage key.""
She removed a small envelope.
"Your father had a storage unit registered under her name.""
My mother looked at me.
"What's inside?""
"We haven't opened it yet.""
A few minutes later, Detective Shaw received permission to take us to the storage facility.
Sofia remained with the child protection specialist.
The unit was in a quiet industrial complex outside the city.
A police officer cut the lock.
Inside were several boxes, old photographs, medical records, and a collection of bank statements.
There was also a large envelope marked with my name.
LENA.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate.
My mother's name appeared in the appropriate place.
But the father's name was different.
Thomas Bennett.
I stared at the document.
Then I noticed a second paper.
A DNA test.
It had been conducted when I was seventeen.
The results showed a biological relationship between me and Thomas.
I looked at my mother.
"You knew.""
She shook her head.
"No. I never ordered that test.""
Detective Shaw examined the paperwork.
"Who did?""
I turned over the envelope.
There was a receipt.
Payment made by Marco Alvarez.
I felt something twist inside me.
My father had known.
He had tested me.
He had discovered that I wasn't biologically his.
And he had kept raising me without telling me.
But why?
I looked at the other documents.
One was a letter addressed to Marco.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
You promised you would tell Lena the truth when she turned eighteen. You have no right to keep her from her real father.
The signature at the bottom was Thomas Bennett.
I read the final sentence twice.
If you refuse, I will come for both my daughters myself.
I looked up.
"Mom, when was this written?""
She examined the date.
Her face went pale.
"Three years ago.""
"Did Thomas ever contact you?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Detective Shaw took the letter.
"That gives us a reason to locate him.""
I was about to respond when my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a man standing outside the airport.
He was older than the photograph my mother had shown me.
His hair was gray.
He wore a brown jacket and held a small bouquet of white flowers.
Beneath it was a message.
Lena, I know this is a terrible way to meet. But I've waited twenty-two years to see my daughter.
My hands began shaking.
Another message followed.
Please don't let Marco convince you that I abandoned you.
I showed the screen to my mother.
She began crying.
"Thomas.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Is he really my father?""
She nodded.
Then she took my hand.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
My phone rang.
The same unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice came through.
"Lena?""
I couldn't speak.
He continued softly.
"My name is Thomas Bennett.""
A pause.
Then:
"Your father told you I was dead, didn't he?""
I looked through the storage unit's open door.
Outside, a black SUV had just pulled into the parking lot.
A man stepped out.
He looked exactly like the photograph.
Thomas.
He raised his hand.
And behind him, another car pulled into the complex.
A woman stepped out.
Long blonde hair.
Victoria.
Thomas's voice suddenly became urgent.
"Lena, listen carefully. Do not let that woman near your mother.""
I looked toward the entrance.
Victoria was already walking toward us.
Then she shouted something that made Detective Shaw reach for her weapon.
"Thomas! Tell them what you did to the baby!""
My mother froze.
May you like
Thomas lowered his head.
And I realized that the truth was still far from finished.
