Chapter 4 - THE FATHER WHO KNEW FOR FIVE YEARS
Tyler came to my apartment at eight the next morning.
Not alone.
His attorney came with him.
That told me everything.
I let them stand in the hallway.
“You don’t come inside.”
Tyler looked exhausted.
“Jessica.”
“No.”
“We need to talk.”
“You can talk there.”
His attorney started.
“Ms. Hale, my client—”
“Your client had my daughter genetically tested without my permission.”
“We don't yet know the circumstances surrounding—”
Tyler interrupted.
“I did it.”
His attorney closed his eyes.
At least someone in Tyler’s life understood when he should shut up.
I stared.
“When?”
“After Lily was born.”
“How?”
He looked away.
“Hospital sample.”
My stomach twisted.
“You accessed my newborn daughter’s medical sample.”
“My father's diagnostics division processed outside testing for the hospital.”
“You stole genetic material.”
“I wanted certainty.”
“You never asked.”
“You hated me.”
“You abandoned me.”
“I was scared.”
“So was I!”
The hallway echoed.
Inside my apartment, Lily was eating cereal with Megan.
I lowered my voice immediately.
Tyler did too.
“I was twenty-four.”
“You keep saying that as though my age froze at twenty-nine.”
His face tightened.
“I thought if the test showed she was mine, everything changed.”
“It did.”
“No. I mean legally.”
“What?”
“My parents were restructuring the company.”
I stared.
He continued.
“My grandfather’s trust had a morality clause.”
I almost laughed from disbelief.
“You’re telling me you abandoned your pregnant girlfriend because of corporate inheritance?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“It was more complicated.”
“It always is when cowards explain themselves.”
His attorney whispered, “Tyler.”
Tyler ignored him.
“If an acknowledged child was born outside marriage during the succession period, my father could challenge my executive appointment.”
My skin went cold.
“So you hid Lily.”
His eyes filled.
“I told myself it was temporary.”
“For five years?”
“I kept watching.”
“What?”
“I knew where you lived.”
The words frightened me.
“You knew where Lily went to school?”
He said nothing.
“Her hospital?”
Nothing.
“My job?”
“Yes.”
Rage moved through me.
“You knew I worked double shifts.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was using food assistance for eight months after she was born?”
His face cracked.
“How do you know about that?”
“Because apparently you monitored me.”
He looked ashamed.
Good.
“You knew we were struggling.”
“Yes.”
“And did nothing.”
“I sent money once.”
“What money?”
“Anonymous cashier’s check.”
I remembered.
Ten thousand dollars when Lily was eight months old.
No name.
I had assumed Dad had arranged something before he died.
I used it to clear medical debt.
“That was you?”
“Yes.”
“One check.”
“I didn't know how to contact you without—”
“You had my address.”
His voice broke.
“I was weak.”
Finally.
Not young.
Not complicated.
Weak.
I looked at his attorney.
“Why is Vanessa involved?”
Tyler’s face changed.
“Jess.”
“Answer.”
He ran both hands through his hair.
“Vanessa knew about the test.”
“How?”
“She worked in compliance at Brooks Diagnostics.”
Of course.
My cousin.
The woman who smiled while Tyler insulted me.
The woman he later married.
“She processed it?”
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
“Was that how you started sleeping together?”
“No.”
A pause.
Too long.
“How long?”
“Jessica.”
“How long after Lily’s birth?”
“Six months.”
I laughed.
It hurt.
Everything hurt.
“You left me pregnant, secretly confirmed Lily was yours, then started sleeping with the cousin who helped hide it.”
“Vanessa didn't hide it at first.”
“What does that mean?”
“She told me to acknowledge Lily.”
That surprised me.
“What?”
“She thought I should.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“My father found out.”
My heartbeat changed.
“About Lily?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Tyler looked toward the floor.
“That if I acknowledged her before the succession vote, I would lose control of Brooks Medical.”
“And Vanessa?”
“He promoted her.”
I understood.
A transaction.
Silence in exchange for career.
“Then she stopped encouraging you.”
“Yes.”
“Did my family know?”
His face told me before he answered.
I stepped backward.
“No.”
“Jessica.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
The hallway tilted.
“My mother knew Tyler was Lily’s father?”
“She knew there was a test.”
“When?”
“About four years ago.”
I felt sick.
My mother had watched me count grocery money.
Watched me work Christmas.
Watched Lily ask why she didn’t have a dad.
And she knew.
“Why?”
“She said bringing it out would damage everyone.”
Everyone.
That word always meant me.
My phone rang.
Mom.
Perfect.
I answered.
“Come over.”
“Jessica—”
“Now.”
She arrived thirty minutes later.
Sophia came too.
I hadn't called her.
Apparently she refused to let Mom face me alone.
My mother entered my apartment and saw Tyler.
Her face went white.
“You told her.”
Tyler nodded.
I laughed.
“Good morning to you too.”
“Jessica, this should not happen with Lily nearby.”
“Interesting that Lily’s well-being matters now.”
Her lips tightened.
“I was protecting her.”
“From her father?”
“From scandal.”
Sophia stared.
“What scandal?”
Mom looked at her.
Sophia’s face changed.
“You knew?”
“I knew Tyler had reason to believe—”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You knew there was a DNA test.”
Silence.
Sophia covered her mouth.
“Mom.”
My mother finally sat.
“I knew.”
“How?”
“Tyler’s father contacted me.”
“Why?”
“He offered help.”
“What kind?”
“Financial.”
The room froze.
“How much?”
She looked away.
“Mom.”
“Two hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
Sophia whispered, “Oh my God.”
I stopped feeling anything.
“You took money?”
“No.”
Relief arrived too early.
“I negotiated.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He initially offered that amount to ensure the situation remained private.”
“You negotiated what?”
My mother’s hands twisted.
“I told him Jessica deserved security.”
Sophia looked horrified.
“How much did you take?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Where is it?”
My mother started crying.
“I used part to pay your father's remaining medical debts.”
“How much is left?”
“Jessica.”
“How much?”
“About one hundred eighty thousand.”
I laughed.
A broken sound.
“You took money for my silence without telling me.”
“I thought I was protecting your future.”
“I was raising his child alone!”
“I offered to help.”
“You gave me six hundred dollars when Lily needed a new crib and made me pay you back!”
Sophia started crying now too.
Mom stood.
“I was terrified.”
“Of what?”
“Of Tyler's family.”
That stopped me.
“What did they threaten?”
She went quiet.
Giovanni had been standing near my front window the entire time.
I had allowed him to come because the paternity document was tied to his investigation.
He finally spoke.
“Answer her.”
My mother stiffened.
She knew him.
Everyone did.
Tyler’s attorney looked like he wanted to disappear.
Mom whispered:
“Robert Brooks said if Jessica made trouble, he would prove she was unfit.”
My blood chilled.
“How?”
“He said she had no money, no completed medical degree, and a history of depression after the pregnancy.”
“I had postpartum depression.”
“I know.”
“He threatened custody?”
“Yes.”
Tyler stared.
“What?”
My mother looked at him.
“Your father told me your family would take Lily.”
Tyler went pale.
“He never told me that.”
“That doesn't absolve you.”
“No.”
For once, Tyler didn’t argue.
Sophia moved beside me and took my hand.
I was shaking.
Giovanni’s phone buzzed.
He read something.
Then looked at Tyler.
“We have another problem.”
Tyler’s face hardened.
“What?”
“My audit team found pediatric diagnostic charges connected to the same lab that processed Lily’s sample.”
“What charges?”
“Hundreds of genetic tests billed to hospitals under newborn screening programs.”
I looked at him.
“Were they performed?”
“Some were.”
“And the others?”
“Possibly not.”
Tyler looked sick.
Giovanni continued.
“Your father’s authorization appears on the reimbursement structure.”
Tyler whispered, “Dad retired three years ago.”
“The program began six years ago.”
One year before Lily.
Suddenly her test didn't look like a single ethical violation.
It looked like part of something bigger.
“Did they use hospital samples for private testing?” I asked.
Giovanni’s expression hardened.
“That’s what we need to find out.”
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message.
A photograph of Lily leaving kindergarten three days earlier.
My blood turned cold.
Below it:
Some family secrets should remain family secrets. Stop asking questions about Brooks Diagnostics.
Tyler saw.
His face emptied.
“Dad.”
I looked at him.
“You think your father sent this?”
“I don't know.”
Giovanni took the phone only after I handed it to him.
He read.
Then his expression became something I had not seen before.
Not calm.
Not amused.
Cold enough to frighten me.
“Jessica.”
“Yes?”
“Lily stays home today.”
I started to object.
Then he continued.
“You choose who protects her.”
Not him.
Not his men automatically.
Me.
I looked at Megan.
She nodded.
Then at Sophia.
“I’ll stay too.”
Tyler stepped forward.
“I can—”
“No.”
He stopped.
“You do not get to become her father because someone frightened you.”
His face broke.
“I know.”
I looked at Giovanni.
“What happens now?”
He slipped his phone into his pocket.
“Now we find out whether Tyler’s father has been stealing money from children's hospitals…”
May you like
His eyes moved to the photograph of Lily.
“…or whether he’s been stealing something much worse.”
