The message stayed on my screen.
“Ask Tanya who Nia’s real father is.””
I looked at Tanya.
She looked like she already knew this moment was coming.
“Darius…”
“No.””
My voice was quiet.
“Not another secret.””
She closed her eyes.
“I was hoping I’d never have to tell you.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“Tell me what?””
She sat down.
“Nia’s birth records were changed.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Before you met me, Imani changed them.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
“She was protecting Nia.””
“From who?””
Tanya looked at me.
“From the truth.””
I wanted to walk away.
I wanted to scream.
But I stayed.
Because every secret connected back to my daughter.
“Start from the beginning.””
Tanya took a deep breath.
“Imani’s relationship with Nia’s biological father ended badly.””
I nodded.
“I know he left.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“He didn’t leave.””
The room went silent.
“What happened?””
“He disappeared.””
“That’s the same thing.””
“No.””
Her voice lowered.
“Because someone made him disappear.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
I stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
She looked down.
“I know I lost the right to ask you to trust me.””
That was the first thing she said that felt honest.
She continued.
“When I found the old records, I discovered Nia’s father had been involved with dangerous people.””
“What kind of people?””
“People who wanted money. People who wanted information.””
I looked toward Nia’s room.
“And Nia?””
“She was the only thing they could use against him.””
I swallowed.
“So Imani changed the records.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To hide Nia.””
I sat down.
Everything hurt.
Because the truth wasn’t simple.
Nobody was completely innocent.
Nobody was completely evil.
Except my daughter.
She was just a child caught between adults who kept deciding they knew best.
My phone rang.
Rebecca.
I answered.
“Darius.””
Her voice was urgent.
“We found Evan.””
“Where?””
“Police located him.””
I stood.
“And Marcus?””
“Gone.””
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean gone?””
“His house is empty.””
I looked at Tanya.
“What about Evan?””
Rebecca paused.
“He wants to talk.””
I drove to the station.
Evan sat behind the glass.
He looked exhausted.
Not like a mastermind.
Like someone who had been running for a long time.
When he saw me, he immediately said:
“I know what you think.””
“You helped destroy my family.””
He looked down.
“I helped someone protect a child.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You call this protection?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
His eyes lifted.
“I call it failure.””
I sat down.
“Who are you protecting Nia from?””
He was silent.
Then said:
“Her grandfather.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Nia’s biological grandfather.””
I stared.
“He’s alive?””
Evan nodded.
“And he’s the one who has been moving everything.””
My mind raced.
“Why?””
“Because Nia inherited something.””
“What?””
Evan looked at me.
“Evidence.””
I frowned.
“What evidence?””
“Her biological father hid information before he disappeared.””
My chest tightened.
“And Nia has it?””
“No.””
Evan leaned closer.
“But someone thinks she does.””
I stared through the glass.
“Who?””
His answer came quietly.
“Marcus.””
My blood ran cold.
“He thinks Nia knows where it is.””
“What is it?””
Evan looked away.
“The reason her father was killed.””
The room went silent.
Then Evan said:
“And Darius…”
“Yes?””
“Your wife wasn’t trying to remove Nia from your life.””
I waited.
“She was trying to keep someone from finding her.””
My phone suddenly rang.
Rebecca.
I answered.
Her voice was shaking.
“Darius…”
“What?””
“We found Marcus.””
“Where?””
A pause.
“At your house.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Rebecca whispered:
“He took Nia’s things.””
I stood immediately.
“Which things?””
Another pause.
Then:
“Her old stuffed rabbit.””
I froze.
The one she had since she was five.
The one she never let go of.
“Why would he take that?””
Rebecca’s voice became quiet.
“Because the evidence is hidden inside.””
