Chapter 11 - ETHAN’S FINAL LIE
Ethan stood motionless beneath the weight of Claire’s accusation.
Daniel removed his hands from his face.
“You told me you did not know.”
Ethan’s voice shook.
“I did not know Noah was yours when Mom first brought him to me.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Claire said you helped take him.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
Ethan looked toward Noah.
Rosa led the children into another room.
Only then did Ethan speak.
“Mom told me Helen was threatening Claire.”
“She said Helen planned to sell the babies to the highest bidder.”
“I drove Mom to a motel outside Madison.”
“Helen was there with the triplets.”
Daniel’s fists tightened.
“What did you do?”
“I carried Noah to the car.”
“Mom told me the girls would be placed with another family.”
Helen stared at him.
“I begged you not to take him.”
Ethan began to cry.
“I believed my mother.”
Helen’s voice grew stronger.
“You heard me screaming that he belonged to Daniel.”
Ethan looked down.
That was the answer Daniel needed.
His brother had known enough to stop.
He had simply chosen not to.
“Why Noah?” Daniel asked.
Ethan swallowed.
“Lauren and I had just learned we could not have children.”
“Mom said Noah needed us.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You did not rescue him.”
“You took advantage of Helen’s powerlessness.”
Ethan nodded through his tears.
“Yes.”
Detective Ortiz informed him that his confession could lead to criminal charges.
Ethan did not resist.
“I will sign whatever statement you need.”
“But please do not punish Noah for what I did.”
Daniel looked through the doorway at the little boy playing beside his sisters.
Noah showed Ivy how to roll a toy car across the rug.
Skye laughed each time it bumped into the wall.
They had known one another for less than a day.
Yet something between them already felt natural.
Daniel turned back to Ethan.
“Noah will not be punished.”
“But you will not decide what happens next.”
Ethan nodded.
Police escorted him away for formal questioning.
That evening, Daniel received an email from an unknown address.
The subject line contained three words.
“BRING THE CHILDREN.”
Attached was a photograph of Lauren standing beside Calvin Reece.
Behind them was Margaret’s attorney, Charles Voss.
The message demanded Daniel sign over control of Whitmore Holdings to Ethan.
If he refused, Lauren would release falsified evidence claiming Daniel and Claire had illegally purchased the triplets.
At the bottom was an address for an abandoned Whitmore hotel near Rockford.
Detective Ortiz warned Daniel not to respond.
Daniel studied the photograph.
Then he noticed a reflection in the window behind Lauren.
May you like
Someone else was standing in the room.
A woman wearing Claire’s silver medallion.
