I stared at Tanya.
“What?””
She wiped her tears.
“Nia’s biological father died.””
The sentence didn’t make sense.
Not after everything.
Not after the court documents.
Not after the DNA test.
I walked closer.
“Then who filed the motion?””
Tanya shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“You said you were afraid he would come back.””
“I was wrong.””
She looked at the floor.
“I thought it was him.””
My voice became sharper.
“Thought?””
She nodded.
“I found someone using his name.””
The room felt smaller.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to confirm it.””
“You spent years investigating this?””
“Yes.””
“And instead of telling me, you pushed my daughter away?””
Her face collapsed.
“I know.””
For the first time, she didn’t defend herself.
She didn’t blame Nia.
She didn’t blame Imani.
She simply admitted it.
“I was wrong.””
I wanted to feel satisfied.
But I didn’t.
Because my daughter was still hurt.
And apologies couldn’t erase that.
My phone buzzed.
Another message from Rebecca.
*Come to the office immediately. We found something about the DNA test.*
I drove there with Tanya beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
When we arrived, Rebecca placed a file on the table.
“The DNA report submitted by the claimant is fake.””
I looked up.
“What?””
She turned the document around.
“The lab listed on the report doesn’t exist.””
My stomach tightened.
“Someone forged it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Rebecca looked at Tanya.
“That’s what we need to figure out.””
Tanya went pale.
“You think I did this?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.””
She pointed to another page.
“The fake report was created after the custody petition.””
I looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
“It means someone filed the custody case first.””
Rebecca tapped the document.
“Then created a reason afterward.””
A chill ran through me.
Someone wasn’t trying to protect Nia.
Someone was trying to take her.
But why?
Rebecca pulled up another record.
“Darius, we traced the person who accessed Nia’s school records.””
My hands tightened.
“Who?””
She turned the screen toward me.
A name appeared.
Marcus Hill.
My heart sank.
“No.””
Rebecca nodded.
“He wasn’t just helping Tanya.””
I stared at the name.
“He was using her.””
Tanya covered her mouth.
“What?””
Rebecca continued.
“Marcus accessed private records, contacted legal offices, and helped create the false evidence.””
I looked at Tanya.
She looked devastated.
“Why would he do that?””
Rebecca opened another file.
Inside was a photograph.
Marcus.
Standing beside another person.
A man I had never seen before.
But Tanya recognized him.
Her face turned white.
“Darius…”
“Who is that?””
She whispered:
“That’s Evan.””
The investigator.
The man who supposedly helped uncover the truth.
The man who had been warning us.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice came through.
“Darius?””
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“You’re looking in the wrong direction.””
My grip tightened.
“Who are you?””
The man breathed heavily.
“I’m the person who has been trying to keep Nia safe.””
“From who?””
Silence.
Then he said:
“From the people closest to her.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
And then a message arrived.
One photo.
It showed Nia leaving school.
Walking toward a black SUV.
The caption underneath said:
“They’re coming for her tomorrow.””
