Chapter 5: The Truth Behind the Name
I didn’t read the rest of the email.
Not immediately.
I couldn’t.
The words sat on the screen like a threat.
“He needs to know what his daughter was never told.””
My daughter.
Two words.
But they felt heavier than anything else.
Jada noticed my expression.
“Dad?””
I locked my phone.
“Go upstairs for a minute.””
Her face changed.
“No.””
“Jada.””
“No.””
Her voice was firmer.
“I’m tired of everyone deciding what I can handle.””
That stopped me.
Because she was right.
For years, adults had protected children by keeping them away from painful truths.
But sometimes the secret hurt more than the truth.
Camille looked at her.
“Jada…”
“No, Mom.””
She shook her head.
“I want to know.””
Andre looked at me.
“You sure?””
Jada nodded.
“Yes.””
I took a deep breath.
“Okay.””
Nobody moved.
I looked at my daughter.
“Derrick knew something about you.””
She swallowed.
“What?””
“I don’t know yet.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“I know.””
She looked hurt.
“But I’m going to find out.””
Andre pulled out another document.
This time, it was older.
A hospital record.
A birth record.
My eyes went straight to the date.
Eighteen years ago.
Jada’s birth.
My hands shook.
“Why do you have this?””
Andre looked at Camille.
“She gave it to me.””
I turned.
“Camille?””
She looked terrified.
“Marcus…”
“What is happening?””
She stood slowly.
The movement was difficult because of her recovery.
“I wanted to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the baby was born.””
“Why?””
“Because I was scared.””
I stared at her.
“Scared of what?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Of losing you.””
The answer hurt.
Because I had never imagined my wife could be afraid of me leaving.
“What does this have to do with Jada?””
Camille sat back down.
“Everything.””
Jada looked at her mother.
“Mom?””
Camille took a breath.
“When I was pregnant with you…”
She stopped.
Then continued.
“Your biological father disappeared.””
The room went completely still.
I felt like someone had punched the air out of me.
Jada looked confused.
“What?””
Camille looked at me.
“I met Marcus when you were six months old.””
My mouth opened.
But no words came.
No.
That wasn’t possible.
I replayed every memory.
Every birthday.
Every school event.
Every night I held Jada’s hand when she was sick.
Every time she called me Dad.
I had never questioned it.
Because she was my daughter.
Not because of blood.
Because of love.
Jada’s voice trembled.
“Dad?””
I looked at her.
“You’re my daughter.””
“But…”
“No.””
I stepped toward her.
“Listen to me.””
Her eyes were full of fear.
“You are my daughter.””
She looked at Camille.
“Mom?””
Camille cried silently.
“I never wanted you to feel like you were anything less.””
“Who is he?””
Nobody answered.
Then Andre said:
“Derrick.””
Jada froze.
The name meant nothing to her.
But it meant everything to me.
My former partner.
The man who destroyed my business.
The man who had been trying to reach me.
I felt sick.
“Derrick is your biological father?””
Camille nodded.
The room became unbearable.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
For eighteen years, I had loved a child I didn’t create.
And for eighteen years, someone else had known.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Camille cried harder.
“Because you became her father.””
“That’s not a reason.””
“Yes, it is.””
Her voice suddenly grew stronger.
“Marcus, you were there.””
She pointed toward Jada.
“You were there when she had nightmares.””
She looked at me.
“You were there when she took her first steps.””
Her voice broke.
“You were there when she called you Dad for the first time.””
I looked at Jada.
She was crying now.
“And you think knowing biology changes that?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know what I felt.
Anger.
Pain.
Betrayal.
Love.
Everything existed at once.
Jada wiped her tears.
“Did Derrick know?””
Camille nodded.
“Yes.””
“Does he want me?””
Nobody spoke.
That silence answered.
Jada laughed sadly.
“Of course.””
She looked away.
“He didn’t want me until now.””
I felt anger rise.
Not toward her.
Toward him.
“I’m going to find him.””
Camille grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, no.””
“Why?””
“Because he’s not coming back to fix something.””
Her eyes were filled with fear.
“He’s coming back because he needs something.””
Andre looked at me.
“He sent another message.””
I turned.
“When?””
“Ten minutes ago.””
My heart stopped.
“What did he say?””
Andre unlocked his phone.
Then he handed it to me.
The message was short.
Only one sentence.
“Tell Marcus I know he missed graduation because he was protecting the wrong family.””
My blood ran cold.
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Andre’s face hardened.
“It means Derrick knows something else.””
“What?””
He hesitated.
May you like
Then said:
“He knows why your accident happened.””