Chapter 7: The Secret About Lily's Father
"Marcus, there's something about Lily's biological father that I never told you.""
Emily's words seemed to drain the air from the hospital room.
Marcus stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
Emily looked toward the photograph on his phone.
The little girl in the hospital bed was unmistakably Lily. Her cheeks were pale, and her favorite stuffed rabbit rested against her chest.
But the second phone sitting on the bedside table had a contact name that Marcus couldn't understand.
DAD – NEW NUMBER.
He looked at Emily again.
"Are you telling me Lily wasn't my biological daughter?""
Emily closed her eyes.
"I didn't say that.""
"Then what are you saying?""
She sat down slowly.
For several seconds, she rubbed her palms together, trying to find the words.
"Before you and I got married, I was involved with someone else.""
Marcus frowned.
"I know that. You told me about your college boyfriend.""
"No. Not that relationship.""
His expression changed.
Emily took a shaky breath.
"His name was Andrew Miller.""
Marcus repeated the name.
He had never heard it before.
"Who was he?""
"Someone I met when I was twenty-three. We worked at the same hospital. He was a medical researcher.""
Marcus looked confused.
"What does he have to do with Lily?""
Emily looked directly at him.
"Andrew was the person who helped me through a difficult period before I met you. We were together briefly, but it ended before you and I started dating.""
"Did he know about Lily?""
"Yes.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Why?""
"Because when Lily was born, Andrew was still working at the hospital where she received her first medical examination.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Was he her father?""
Emily shook her head immediately.
"No. You are Lily's biological father. We had a paternity test when she was born because there was a medical question that needed clarification.""
Marcus exhaled.
"Then why does she have another number saved as Dad?""
Emily looked down.
"Because Andrew became someone she trusted.""
Marcus's face hardened.
"Explain.""
Emily pulled her phone from her handbag.
She opened an old photograph.
It showed Andrew sitting at a kitchen table, helping a little girl build a tower from wooden blocks.
Lily.
She was about four years old.
Marcus recognized the kitchen.
It was the house where he and Emily had lived before their divorce.
He stared at the picture.
"When was this taken?""
"After we separated.""
"You let another man spend time with my daughter?""
Emily's eyes filled.
"He wasn't a replacement for you. He was a family friend.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because every time I mentioned another man being around Lily, you accused me of trying to replace you.""
Marcus looked away.
He remembered those arguments.
He remembered telling Emily that Lily didn't need another father.
But he had never imagined that Andrew had remained in their lives.
"Did Lily call him that night?""
Emily nodded.
"She had his number because he used to help her with school projects. Sometimes he visited when I was working.""
Marcus's voice dropped.
"Did he answer?""
"I don't know.""
He looked at the photograph again.
"Why didn't you tell me about him when Lily was in the hospital?""
Emily began crying.
"Because I thought you would misunderstand.""
"Understand what?""
"Andrew was the person I called when you didn't answer.""
Marcus stared at her.
"So another man was there for my daughter while I ignored her?""
Emily didn't respond.
He walked toward the window.
Outside, an ambulance pulled into the emergency entrance.
Its red lights flashed against the wet pavement.
For a moment, Marcus imagined Lily sitting inside.
He imagined her looking at the ceiling and waiting for him.
Then he remembered the message.
DON'T CALL ME AGAIN.
He turned.
"Give me Andrew's number.""
Emily hesitated.
"Marcus—"
"Please.""
She handed him her phone.
He dialed the number saved under Andrew Miller.
The call connected after two rings.
"Hello?""
"Is this Andrew?""
"Yes. Who's speaking?""
"Marcus Hale.""
Silence.
Then Andrew's voice changed.
"Marcus.""
"I need to ask you something about Lily.""
A long pause followed.
"Where are you?""
"St. Mary's.""
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
Andrew's voice became urgent.
"Because I've been trying to contact you for three weeks.""
The call ended.
Marcus looked at Emily.
"Three weeks?""
She nodded.
Andrew arrived twenty minutes later.
He was in his early forties, wearing a navy sweater and carrying a worn leather folder.
When he entered the consultation room, he looked first at Emily.
Then at Marcus.
"I'm sorry," he said.
Marcus folded his arms.
"Start explaining.""
Andrew placed the folder on the table.
"I was Lily's pediatric research coordinator during her early childhood. After you and Emily separated, we stayed in contact. I helped with her school science projects, and sometimes I watched her when Emily had work commitments.""
Marcus looked at him suspiciously.
"Why would you be involved in my daughter's life?""
"Because I cared about her.""
"Did she call you Dad?""
Andrew shook his head.
"Sometimes she did. Usually when she was upset or frightened. I always reminded her that you were her father.""
Marcus looked at Emily.
She nodded.
"Andrew never tried to replace you.""
Andrew opened the folder.
Inside were printed emails and a small notebook.
"On October fourteenth, Lily called me at 8:31 p.m.""
Marcus froze.
"What?""
"She was frightened. She told me someone had sent her a message saying her father didn't want to hear from her.""
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Andrew continued.
"She asked whether I could contact you. I told her I would.""
"Did you?""
"Yes. I called your number four times.""
Marcus looked at his phone.
He searched his call history.
Nothing.
Andrew noticed his expression.
"I also sent two emails.""
Marcus opened his inbox.
There they were.
Both had been archived.
The first was sent at 8:46 p.m.
Marcus, Lily is very unwell. She wants to speak with you. Please call me immediately.
The second was sent at 9:02 p.m.
This is urgent. Please answer.
Marcus looked at the sender details.
Andrew had used the correct address.
But the emails had been moved into an archive folder he rarely checked.
"Who did that?"" he whispered.
Andrew looked at him.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
He turned to another page.
"Three days after Lily passed away, I received a message from an unknown number.""
Marcus looked up.
"What did it say?""
Andrew handed him a printed screenshot.
Stop contacting the Hale family. Lily's death is not your concern.
The sender was Vanessa.
Marcus stared.
"Why would she contact you?""
Andrew shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Then he placed another document on the table.
It was an email exchange between Andrew and Patricia.
The first message was from Patricia.
Andrew, I understand you have been speaking with Lily. I need you to stop. There are family matters you do not understand.
Andrew's reply was short.
Lily asked me for help. I'm not going to abandon her.
Patricia responded:
Then you may become part of a situation you cannot control.
Marcus read the sentence again.
His mother had threatened Andrew.
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"I did.""
Marcus looked up.
Andrew opened the folder to reveal a police report.
"Three weeks ago. I reported the messages and provided the email records. They told me they would investigate.""
"Why didn't anyone contact me?""
Andrew hesitated.
"Because someone had already reported that you were aware of everything and had declined further involvement.""
Marcus felt a chill.
"Who made that report?""
Andrew looked toward Emily.
Then he answered.
"Patricia.""
Marcus stood.
His mother had not simply hidden the truth.
She had constructed an entire false account of what happened.
Officer Reynolds arrived shortly afterward.
Marcus showed her the documents.
She examined the emails, the police report, and the photograph of the second phone.
"Mr. Miller," she said, "did you ever receive any recordings from Lily?""
Andrew nodded.
"One.""
He removed his phone.
"There was a voice message she sent me before the hospital took her phone.""
Marcus's heart pounded.
"Can we hear it?""
Andrew pressed play.
A soft voice emerged.
"Daddy Andrew?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
It was Lily.
"Can you please tell my real daddy something?""
Andrew's expression tightened.
Lily continued.
"Tell him Grandma took the papers. I found them in her bag.""
A cough interrupted her.
Then she whispered:
"I think she is going to make Daddy angry.""
Marcus gripped the table.
Lily continued.
"Please tell him I didn't steal anything. I only wanted him to know.""
The recording ended.
Marcus looked at Andrew.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?""
"I tried.""
"Then why didn't you come to my house?""
Andrew's voice cracked.
"Because when I called, your mother answered. She said you didn't want to speak to me. She told me that if I kept interfering, she'd make sure I lost my job.""
Officer Reynolds looked up.
"Did she explain why?""
Andrew nodded.
"She said I had seen documents I wasn't supposed to see.""
Marcus stared at the recording.
Then Officer Reynolds's phone vibrated.
She read the message.
Her expression changed.
"Mr. Hale, I need you to listen carefully.""
"What?""
"We've just received confirmation that Patricia Hale has left her residence.""
Marcus frowned.
"Where is she going?""
Officer Reynolds turned her phone toward him.
A photograph from a security camera showed Patricia entering a parking garage.
She was carrying a large black suitcase.
And beside her stood Vanessa.
Marcus stared.
"Why are they together?""
Officer Reynolds's radio crackled.
An officer's voice came through.
"Dispatch, we've located a vehicle registered to Patricia Hale. It's parked outside the private terminal.""
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
His mother was preparing to leave.
And she wasn't leaving alone.
Then Officer Reynolds received another notification.
She read it silently.
Her face became serious.
"Mr. Hale, there's been a development.""
"What?""
"Your mother has just withdrawn a substantial amount of money from an account connected to Northbridge Consulting.""
Marcus looked at Emily.
"How much?""
Officer Reynolds answered.
"Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars.""
The exact amount that had disappeared from Lily's trust.
And then Marcus's phone rang.
Patricia.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
Her voice was strangely calm.
"Somewhere safe, darling.""
"Why are you leaving?""
"Because your girlfriend has made a terrible mess, and I'm not going to let you destroy your life trying to save someone who doesn't deserve it.""
Marcus's blood ran cold.
"You're talking about Lily.""
Patricia sighed.
"Marcus, you need to stop digging.""
"Tell me what happened.""
A pause.
Then his mother whispered:
"Your daughter found something she was never supposed to see.""
The call ended.
Marcus stared at his phone.
Officer Reynolds immediately contacted the airport authorities.
But before she could finish, Andrew spoke.
"There's something else.""
Everyone turned.
Andrew opened his leather folder and removed a final document.
It was a printed email dated October thirteenth.
One day before Lily was hospitalized.
The subject line read:
*LILY KNOWS ABOUT THE SECOND ACCOUNT.*
The sender was Patricia Hale.
The recipient was Vanessa Cole.
May you like
And the final sentence read:
If she tells Marcus, we lose everything.
