Chapter 6
We drove to the hospital before sunrise.
Marcus barely spoke.
His hands remained tight around the steering wheel.
I sat beside him, watching the highway lights pass.
Every few minutes, I glanced at his face.
He looked exhausted.
But determined.
He had spent his entire life believing the wrong story about his father.
Now he was finally going to meet the man who had never stopped looking for him.
When we reached the hospital, Nia was waiting near the elevators.
Her cream dress had been replaced by loose maternity clothes.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
"Thank you for coming."
Marcus nodded.
"How is he?"
She swallowed.
"Stable for now."
We followed her upstairs.
Outside Daniel's room, Marcus stopped.
I looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
He stared at the door.
"I don't know what to say."
I took his hand.
"You don't have to know."
He swallowed.
"What if he doesn't want me?"
Nia turned toward him.
Her face softened.
"Marcus."
He looked at her.
"My father has been waiting thirty-eight years to see you."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Nia opened the door.
Inside, an older Black man lay in a hospital bed.
His hair was gray.
His face was thin.
A heart monitor beeped beside him.
But when he saw Marcus, his expression changed.
His eyes widened.
Then filled with tears.
"Marcus?"
My husband stood frozen.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel reached out one trembling hand.
"My boy."
Marcus's face crumpled.
He took one step.
Then another.
Finally, he reached the bedside.
Daniel touched his cheek.
"Oh, my God."
His voice broke.
"Look at you."
Marcus began crying.
I had never seen him cry like that.
Not when his grandfather died.
Not when we nearly lost our house.
Not even when our daughter was born.
He lowered himself beside the bed.
Daniel pulled him into an embrace.
"My son."
Marcus clung to him.
For thirty-eight years, he'd been waiting to hear those words.
I stood beside Nia.
We were both crying.
Daniel held Marcus as tightly as his weakened body allowed.
"I'm sorry."
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
Daniel began crying harder.
"I tried to find you."
"I know."
"I never stopped."
Marcus pulled back.
His eyes were red.
"I know, Dad."
The word seemed to take Daniel's breath away.
He stared at Marcus.
Then smiled through tears.
"Say that again."
Marcus laughed and cried at the same time.
"Dad."
Daniel covered his face.
And for a moment, the hospital room felt filled with something sacred.
Not because everything was fixed.
But because two people who had been separated by lies were finally together.
After several minutes, Daniel asked us to sit.
He wanted to explain what happened at Lake Mercer.
Marcus held his hand.
Daniel looked at him.
"Your grandfather wasn't afraid I'd hurt you."
Marcus frowned.
"Then why did he hate me seeing you?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Because I knew something about his business."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?"
Daniel looked toward Nia.
She nodded gently.
"Tell them, Dad."
He took a slow breath.
"Walter was using company funds for illegal transactions."
Marcus stared.
"What kind?"
"Money laundering."
I felt cold.
Daniel continued.
"I worked on several vehicles used by his associates. I found records in one of the trucks."
Marcus frowned.
"Records?"
"Payments. Names. Delivery schedules."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I didn't understand everything at first."
He looked at Marcus.
"But when I realized what was happening, I threatened to report it."
My heart pounded.
"Walter found out?"
Daniel nodded.
"He offered me money."
Marcus leaned closer.
"To keep quiet?"
"Yes."
Daniel's voice hardened.
"I refused."
He looked away.
"Then he threatened my family."
Nia wiped her eyes.
Daniel continued.
"When I came back in 1995, I wanted two things."
He looked at Marcus.
"To see my son."
"And?" Marcus asked.
"To make Walter admit what he'd done."
I felt sick.
"Did you record the meeting?"
Daniel nodded.
"I brought a small tape recorder."
Marcus stared.
"Anthony took it?"
"Yes."
Daniel's eyes filled.
"After the guards attacked me, Anthony picked it up."
He swallowed.
"I saw him put it inside his jacket."
Marcus clenched his jaw.
"Then he had proof."
Daniel nodded.
"For thirty-one years."
I felt anger rise.
Anthony could have told the truth.
He could have cleared Daniel's name.
He could have helped Marcus understand his childhood.
Instead, he'd stayed silent.
Daniel looked exhausted.
But he forced himself to continue.
"Walter told me that if I returned, he'd make sure Marcus disappeared from my life forever."
Marcus's face hardened.
"So you left."
Daniel nodded sadly.
"I was afraid."
His voice cracked.
"I had no money. No connections. No lawyer who could stand against him."
Marcus squeezed his hand.
"I understand."
Daniel looked relieved.
But then his expression changed.
"There's something else."
I leaned forward.
"What?"
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Anthony didn't just keep the recording."
Marcus frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He used it."
I stared.
"Used it how?"
Daniel swallowed.
"To get money from Walter."
My stomach twisted.
"Blackmail?"
Daniel nodded.
"Anthony threatened to release the recording unless Walter paid him."
Marcus stared at the floor.
I could see the anger building.
Daniel continued.
"After Walter died, Anthony started demanding money from other people who were involved."
I felt cold.
"Is he still doing it?"
Daniel hesitated.
"I believe so."
Marcus looked up.
"Do you know where the recording is?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
He looked exhausted.
"But there's someone who might."
I leaned closer.
"Who?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then whispered, "Your grandmother's old attorney."
Marcus frowned.
"Mr. Harris?"
Daniel nodded.
"Samuel Harris."
I recognized the name.
Samuel had handled legal matters for Walter's businesses for decades.
He had retired five years earlier.
Marcus stared at Daniel.
"What does he know?"
Daniel took a shaky breath.
"He helped Walter conceal the payments."
I felt sick.
Daniel continued.
"And if Anthony is still blackmailing people, Samuel may know where the money goes."
Marcus squeezed his father's hand.
"Then we'll find him."
Daniel smiled weakly.
"My boy..."
His eyes filled.
"I don't want you wasting your life chasing revenge."
Marcus shook his head.
"This isn't revenge."
He looked at me.
Then at Nia.
Then back at Daniel.
"It's the truth."
Daniel nodded.
"And truth matters."
Marcus leaned forward.
He kissed his father's forehead.
"I love you, Dad."
Daniel began crying.
"I love you too, son."
I watched them hold each other.
Then Daniel suddenly gripped Marcus's wrist.
His expression changed.
"Marcus."
My husband leaned closer.
"What?"
Daniel's voice became urgent.
"Be careful of Anthony."
Marcus frowned.
"Why?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Because if he realizes you're looking for that recording..."
He paused.
His breathing became uneven.
I stepped toward the nurse call button.
Daniel held Marcus's hand tighter.
May you like
"He won't let you find it."
And before Marcus could ask another question, the heart monitor began beeping faster.
