Chapter 9 - THE OTHER DELGADO
Marcus spent the morning searching for Nathan Delgado.
There was no birth certificate.
No school record.
No driver's license.
No social media.
Nothing.
It was as though the man didn't exist.
But the photograph was real.
And the resemblance was undeniable.
Victoria sat across from Marcus.
“Your father never mentioned another son?”
“Never.”
“Your mother?”
Marcus shook his head.
“She said my father was faithful.”
Pia looked at them.
“Maybe Nathan wasn't your father's biological son.”
Marcus looked up.
“What?”
“Maybe he was adopted.”
“Then why hide him?”
“Because your family had secrets.”
Marcus hated hearing it.
But she was right.
At noon, Rose McKenzie was brought to the house under medical supervision.
She looked weak.
But her mind was clear.
Marcus sat beside her.
“Tell me about Nathan.”
Rose closed her eyes.
“He was born before you.”
Marcus froze.
“Who was his mother?”
“Her name was Elena.”
“Who?”
“Your father's first love.”
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“My father had another family?”
“Before your mother.”
“Why did he abandon them?”
“He didn't.”
Rose looked at Victoria.
“Your father tried to protect Elena and Nathan.”
“From Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did my mother marry him?”
“Because she believed Elena was dead.”
Marcus stared.
“What happened to her?”
“Richard killed her.”
Silence.
Marcus couldn't breathe.
“And Nathan?”
“Your father hid him.”
“Where?”
Rose shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Victoria asked:
“Then how is he connected to Richard?”
Rose looked terrified.
“Because Richard found him.”
Marcus stood.
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“What does he want?”
Rose whispered:
“Revenge.”
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“Against me?”
“No.”
Rose's eyes filled with tears.
“Against your father.”
Marcus shook his head.
“My father is dead.”
“That doesn't matter.”
Rose reached for Marcus's hand.
“Nathan believes you inherited everything that should have been his.”
Marcus sat down.
“So this is about money?”
“No.”
Rose's voice became quieter.
“It is about being forgotten.”
Marcus understood.
A child hidden away.
A family erased.
A father who died without acknowledging him publicly.
A brother who grew up believing Marcus had stolen his life.
Suddenly, Marcus felt less anger.
And more sadness.
But that changed when his phone rang.
Nathan.
The number was unknown.
Marcus answered.
“Hello?”
“Marcus Delgado.”
“Yes.”
“You've been looking for me.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you've never bothered to look.”
“Why did you take Ben?”
Silence.
“I didn't.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
“Richard did.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
“Richard doesn't work alone.”
Marcus glanced at Victoria.
“Who does?”
“You've been looking in the wrong direction.”
Marcus's heart raced.
“Tell me.”
“You have someone inside your house.”
Marcus looked around.
Nathan continued.
“Someone who has been reporting everything.”
Marcus thought about Maria.
Pia.
The security staff.
David.
His mother.
“Who?”
Nathan hung up.
Marcus immediately checked the security cameras.
Nothing.
Then he remembered.
The hidden cameras.
He opened the live feed.
Kitchen.
Empty.
Living room.
Empty.
Hallway.
Pia was walking toward the nursery.
Marcus switched screens.
His mother was downstairs.
David was in the office.
Then he saw something.
Maria entered the study.
She looked around.
Then opened Marcus's desk.
Marcus froze.
She removed a folder.
Then pulled out her phone.
Marcus increased the audio.
“It's done.”
A man's voice answered.
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Marcus stood.
Victoria looked at him.
“What?”
“Maria.”
Pia appeared behind them.
“What about her?”
Marcus pointed at the screen.
They watched.
Maria placed the folder inside her bag.
Then the camera angle changed.
Someone had accessed the system.
The screen went black.
Marcus whispered:
“She knows.”
Victoria shook her head.
“Maria has worked for your family for twenty years.”
“So did everyone else.”
Marcus went downstairs.
Maria was in the kitchen.
She smiled.
“Lunch is almost ready.”
Marcus looked at her.
“What did you take from my office?”
Her smile disappeared.
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Then why is it in your bag?”
Maria stepped backward.
Marcus reached for the bag.
She suddenly ran.
Pia blocked the doorway.
Maria stopped.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You don't understand.”
Marcus stared.
“Then explain.”
Maria whispered:
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From whom?”
She looked at Victoria.
“From the man who has been controlling this family since before Marcus was born.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who?”
Maria looked terrified.
Then she whispered:
“Nathan.”
Marcus froze.
“But Nathan called me.”
Maria shook her head.
“That wasn't Nathan.”
“Then who?”
Maria's face turned white.
“It was Richard.”
A phone rang upstairs.
Marcus recognized the ringtone.
It was coming from Ben's room.
He ran.
On the bed was a phone.
The screen showed a live video.
Nathan stood in front of the camera.
He looked directly at Marcus.
And said:
“Now you understand.”
The video ended.
Then Ben's voice came from behind him.
“Daddy?”
Marcus turned.
Ben was standing there.
Holding a photograph.
“Daddy, I know him.”
Marcus took the photograph.
Ben pointed at Nathan.
“He came to see Mommy before she died.”
Marcus's blood went cold.
Victoria heard him.
“What?”
Ben looked at her.
“He told Mommy not to trust Daddy.”
Victoria's face collapsed.
Because she suddenly remembered.
She had seen Nathan before the accident.
May you like
And she had believed he was trying to save her.
She had been wrong.
