Chapter 7 - The Child Who Knew Too Much
Ethan waited until Victoria left the room.
Then he sat beside Leo’s bed.
His son immediately grabbed his hand.
“Daddy…”
“I’m here.”
Leo looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
“Don’t tell Mommy.”
Ethan’s heart sank.
“Tell me what?”
Leo squeezed his fingers.
“Mommy said if I tell anyone…”
“She will leave me alone forever.”
Ethan felt his blood run cold.
“Leave you alone?”
Leo nodded.
“She said nobody wanted a bad boy.”
Ethan looked away for a moment.
Trying to control his emotions.
Because he did not want Leo to see him break.
“You are not bad.”
“You are my son.”
“I love you more than anything.”
Leo finally relaxed.
But then he said something that changed everything.
“Mommy talks to a man.”
Ethan froze.
“What man?”
Leo pointed toward the closet.
“The man in the pictures.”
Ethan slowly opened the closet.
Behind some old boxes…
He found a small photo album.
Inside were pictures of Victoria.
And Adrian Cross.
But the final picture…
Made Ethan stop breathing.
It was a newborn baby.
A hospital bracelet was visible.
The name written on it was:
Leonard Cross.
Not Leonard Hale.
Not Ethan’s family name.
Cross.
Ethan stared at the photo.
His hands shook.
Then another paper fell from the album.
A DNA test request.
The date was six months before Ethan married Victoria.
The result was missing.
Only one sentence remained.
“The child’s biological father has been confirmed.”
Suddenly…
The bedroom door opened.
Victoria stood there.
Her face had lost all color.
“You found it.”
Ethan turned slowly.
“Tell me the truth.”
Victoria said nothing.
“Is Leo my son?”
The silence answered before she did.
May you like
And then Victoria whispered:
“No.”
