Chapter 10 - WHAT BEN REMEMBERED
Victoria sat on the edge of Ben's bed.
Her hands were shaking.
“Ben,” she whispered, “when did you see him?”
The little boy thought.
“Before the crash.”
Marcus crouched beside him.
“What did he say?”
Ben frowned.
“He said Daddy was bad.”
Marcus felt his heart sink.
“What else?”
“He said Mommy had to go away.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
Marcus looked at her.
“You remember him?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know his name.”
“What happened?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“He came to the house.”
Marcus stared.
“When?”
“Three days before the accident.”
“What did he want?”
“He said he could protect us.”
“From Richard?”
“I thought so.”
Victoria's voice broke.
“He told me your father had another son.”
Marcus sat down.
“Did he say Nathan?”
“No.”
“He said his name was Daniel.”
Marcus froze.
“Daniel?”
Victoria nodded.
“He said Nathan was dead.”
Pia looked confused.
“Then who is Nathan?”
Nobody answered.
Marcus suddenly realized something.
There might not be one mystery.
There might be two.
One man calling himself Nathan.
Another man using the name Daniel.
And both knew his family secrets.
Marcus called Tom.
“Find every person connected to the Delgado family named Nathan or Daniel.”
Tom paused.
“How far back?”
“Everything.”
Hours passed.
Then Tom called.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“There was a Nathan Delgado.”
Marcus stood.
“Where?”
“Private psychiatric facility.”
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Age?”
“Thirty-one.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Send me the location.”
Tom hesitated.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Nathan was admitted ten years ago.”
“By whom?”
“Your mother.”
Marcus stared at the phone.
Then another call came through.
His mother.
He answered.
“Mom.”
Her voice was exhausted.
“Marcus.”
“You admitted Nathan to a psychiatric facility.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was dangerous.”
“Dangerous to whom?”
“To himself.”
“That's not what Maria said.”
Evelyn sighed.
“Maria doesn't know the whole story.”
“Then tell me.”
“You're not ready.”
“I've spent eight months believing my wife was dead.”
His voice cracked.
“I think I'm ready for anything.”
Evelyn began crying.
“Nathan was your father's son.”
“I know.”
“He hated your father.”
“I know.”
“He blamed you.”
“For what?”
“For taking his place.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“I was a child.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you hide him?”
“Because Richard used him.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
“Richard convinced Nathan that your father stole his life.”
“And?”
“He used Nathan's anger.”
Marcus suddenly understood.
Richard didn't need to control Nathan physically.
He only needed to control his pain.
Marcus drove to the facility.
Victoria insisted on coming.
Pia stayed with Ben.
When Marcus arrived, Nathan was waiting.
He looked exactly like the photograph.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
Same dark hair.
Marcus stood outside the glass.
Nathan looked up.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Nathan smiled.
“You look like him.”
Marcus entered.
“You look like me.”
Nathan laughed.
“That's the problem.”
Marcus sat.
“Did you try to kill Victoria?”
“No.”
“Did you help Richard?”
Nathan's expression changed.
“Richard helped me.”
“How?”
“He told me the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That your father abandoned me.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“He didn't.”
“You don't know that.”
“I've heard the story.”
“From your mother.”
Marcus fell silent.
Nathan smiled bitterly.
“She lied.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Nathan pulled a folded photograph from his pocket.
He placed it on the table.
Marcus looked.
His father stood beside Nathan as a child.
Both were smiling.
On the back was a date.
The day Marcus was born.
Marcus's eyes widened.
“My father knew you.”
Nathan nodded.
“He loved me.”
“Then why did he hide you?”
“Because Richard threatened to kill me.”
Marcus stared.
“And my mother?”
“She agreed to hide me.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Marcus's heart cracked.
Nathan continued.
“Your father didn't abandon me.”
“Then who did?”
Nathan looked directly at him.
“Richard.”
Marcus stood.
“Where is he?”
Nathan smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“Richard isn't the mastermind.”
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Then who?”
Nathan leaned forward.
“Your mother.”
Marcus froze.
“My mother?”
“She started everything.”
“No.”
“She wanted your father dead.”
“No.”
“She wanted the company.”
“No.”
Nathan looked at him sadly.
“You're still protecting her.”
Marcus remembered the night Evelyn had fled.
The money.
The warnings.
The lies.
Then Nathan said:
“She didn't kill Victoria.”
Marcus exhaled.
“But she paid someone to make sure Victoria disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria knew your mother had been stealing from the company for years.”
Marcus's phone vibrated.
A message from Pia.
COME HOME NOW.
Marcus called.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then a second message arrived.
DON'T TRUST ANYONE.
Marcus ran outside.
His phone rang.
It was Maria.
“Marcus…”
“What happened?”
Her voice was trembling.
“They found us.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Marcus stopped.
“What about Pia and Ben?”
Silence.
Then Maria whispered:
“She took them.”
Marcus's heart stopped.
He turned toward Nathan.
Nathan was standing behind him.
And he was smiling.
“You see?”
Marcus stared.
“You knew.”
Nathan nodded.
“Because this is what I've been trying to stop.”
Marcus stepped toward him.
“Where did she take them?”
Nathan's smile disappeared.
“To the place where your father died.”
Marcus felt a chill.
“The old Delgado factory.”
Nathan nodded.
“And Marcus?”
“What?”
“If you want your wife, your son, and the truth…”
Nathan looked into his eyes.
“You'll have to choose which one you're willing to lose.”
May you like
The doors behind them slammed shut.
And somewhere across the city, Victoria screamed Marcus's name.
