Chapter 7: The Secret Hidden in Lily's Birth Certificate
“From the truth about Lily's father.””
Marcus stood motionless, his phone pressed against his ear.
For several seconds, he couldn't even form a question.
Then he looked at Claire.
“Tell me she's lying.””
Claire's face had gone completely pale.
“Marcus…”
“Tell me Lily was my daughter.””
Claire covered her mouth.
Officer Brooks stepped closer.
“Mr. Hale, I think we should sit down.””
Marcus ignored him.
He was staring at the woman who had once shared his bed, raised his daughter beside him, and watched him walk away from their marriage.
“Claire. Look at me.””
She slowly lifted her eyes.
“Was Lily mine?””
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Yes.””
“Then why is my mother talking about paternity records?””
Claire lowered her head.
“Because your mother never believed you were Lily's father.””
Marcus felt something break inside him.
“Never believed?””
“She questioned the pregnancy from the beginning.””
“That was seven years ago!””
“I know.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Claire's voice cracked.
“Because I thought if I loved you enough, eventually she would stop.””
Marcus stepped backward.
Officer Brooks gestured toward a chair.
“Let's take this one step at a time.””
But Marcus was already calling his mother again.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus, please.””
“I'm coming to your house.””
“No. Don't.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to explain.””
“Then explain now.””
His mother began crying.
“Your father and I had a terrible argument when Claire was pregnant. He thought you were making a mistake by marrying her. He believed she was using you for money.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“What does that have to do with Lily?””
“Your father hired someone to investigate Claire.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What?””
“He found out she had been seeing someone before you met.””
“Everyone has a past, Mom.””
“Marcus, the investigator found photographs.””
“What photographs?””
“Claire with another man.””
Marcus looked at his ex-wife.
Claire was shaking her head.
“That doesn't prove anything,” she whispered.
His mother continued.
“Your father believed the baby might belong to that man. He wanted you to get a paternity test before the wedding.””
Marcus's voice became cold.
“Did you?””
A pause.
“Did you what?””
“Did you have a paternity test done?””
His mother began sobbing.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Marcus gripped the phone so tightly his fingers hurt.
“When?””
“After Lily was born.””
“Without telling me?””
“Your father arranged it.””
“Why?””
“He said he wanted to protect the family.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Protect the family? By secretly testing my newborn daughter?””
His mother couldn't answer.
“Where is the result?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Your father kept the documents.””
Marcus stared at Claire.
“Did you know?””
She shook her head.
“No. I swear I didn't know.””
His mother suddenly interrupted.
“Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Vanessa told you, she wasn't supposed to get involved. I only asked her to make sure you didn't become distracted by Claire's problems.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You paid Vanessa?””
“I wanted her to help you move forward.””
“How much?””
Silence.
“How much did you pay her?””
“Two hundred thousand dollars.””
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
The same amount that had appeared in the suspicious financial transfer.
He looked at Officer Brooks.
The officer was writing something down.
“Mom, why did you give her that money?””
“Because Claire was threatening to reopen the past.””
Claire stepped forward.
“I never threatened you!””
Marcus's mother heard her.
“Claire, please. You need to stop pretending.””
Claire's voice rose.
“I spent seven years raising that little girl while you treated her like an inconvenience!””
“Because you lied!””
“I DIDN'T LIE!””
The call became chaotic.
Marcus raised his voice.
“ENOUGH!””
Both women fell silent.
He took a breath.
“Mom, where are the paternity results?””
“I don't know.””
“Then find them.””
“Marcus—”
“If you don't give them to the police, I'll make sure they get every document you've ever signed.””
He ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Officer Brooks spoke.
“We need to verify the paternity claim independently.””
Marcus nodded.
“Do it.””
Detective Bennett opened her notebook.
“Mr. Hale, there's something we need to clarify. If your mother commissioned a test, we need to identify the laboratory and obtain the original report.””
Claire sat down.
Her hands were trembling.
Marcus looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me your mother was investigating you?””
Claire laughed through her tears.
“Because I was afraid you'd believe her.””
“Why would I believe her?””
“Because you already did.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
Claire wiped her face.
“Do you remember Lily's fifth birthday?””
He nodded slowly.
“Your mother came to the party,” Claire continued.
“She brought a present, but she refused to let Lily call her Grandma.””
Marcus looked away.
“She said she wasn't ready.””
“She told me that afternoon that she would never love a child who might not belong to her family.””
Marcus felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I did.””
Claire's voice broke.
“You told me your mother was difficult and that I should stop creating problems.””
Marcus lowered his head.
He remembered.
He remembered Claire crying in the kitchen.
He remembered Lily sitting on the stairs, listening.
He remembered telling Claire that she was being dramatic.
Then he remembered the following week.
Lily had stopped asking when Grandma would visit.
He had thought she had simply forgotten.
Claire leaned forward.
“She was your daughter, Marcus. I never doubted that.””
“Then why did Vanessa say she knew something?””
“Because she knew about the investigation.””
Officer Brooks looked up.
“Did Vanessa ever mention your father?””
Claire nodded.
“She asked me once whether Lily's birth certificate was genuine.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What?””
“She said your mother had told her there was a problem with the original documents.””
Detective Bennett immediately wrote that down.
“Do you still have Lily's original birth certificate?””
Claire nodded.
“It's in the safe upstairs.””
Marcus stood.
“Let's get it.””
A few minutes later, Claire returned with a small document envelope.
She placed the certificate on the table.
Marcus examined it.
His name was listed as the father.
His signature was at the bottom.
Everything looked normal.
But Detective Bennett noticed a small detail.
“Mr. Hale, do you remember signing this document?””
“Of course.””
“Did you sign it at the hospital?””
“Yes.””
She examined the date.
“Then why was the registration submitted almost three weeks later?””
Claire frowned.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You handled the paperwork.””
“I submitted what the hospital gave me.””
Detective Bennett turned the document over.
There was a faint stamp on the back.
*AMENDED REGISTRATION — REPLACEMENT COPY.*
Marcus felt a chill run down his spine.
“This isn't the original?””
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
Officer Brooks photographed the certificate.
“We'll need the original registration records from the civil office.””
Marcus looked at the officers.
“How can my daughter's birth certificate be a replacement?””
Detective Bennett answered carefully.
“It doesn't necessarily mean anything improper happened. But given the circumstances, we need to investigate.””
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
A message from his mother.
Your father kept the original documents in his study. The key is in the old desk.
Another message arrived.
Please don't tell anyone I said this.
Marcus showed the officers.
Officer Brooks immediately stood.
“We'll need to secure those documents.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I'm going there.””
“Not alone.””
“I don't care.””
“Mr. Hale, this is evidence. We need to preserve it properly.””
Marcus nodded reluctantly.
They arranged to visit his parents' house with the appropriate authorization.
Before leaving, Claire touched his arm.
“Marcus?””
He turned.
“Whatever you find, remember Lily was never responsible for any of this.””
He looked at her.
“I know.””
“No, you don't. You spent years letting other people decide how much love she deserved.””
The words struck harder than any accusation.
Marcus nodded.
“I know.””
But when they arrived at his parents' house, the study was already unlocked.
The old desk stood against the wall.
Its top drawer was open.
And the envelope that his father had supposedly kept inside was missing.
Officer Brooks examined the empty drawer.
“Someone's been here.””
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
“Mom?””
No answer.
Then they heard footsteps upstairs.
A door slammed.
Officer Brooks immediately moved toward the staircase.
“Police! Stay where you are!””
A few seconds later, his mother appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was holding a thick brown envelope.
“Mom,” Marcus whispered.
She looked down at him.
“I was going to tell you.””
Officer Brooks extended his hand.
“Mrs. Hale, please bring the envelope downstairs.””
She shook her head.
“No. You don't understand.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What's inside?””
His mother began crying.
“The original paternity report.””
“Give it to the police.””
She clutched it tighter.
“Marcus, sweetheart, you need to understand something before you read this.””
“What?””
His mother looked directly into his eyes.
“The test said you weren't Lily's biological father.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
Claire gripped the banister.
May you like
Then his mother added:
“But your father never told you about the second test.””
