Chapter 4 - The Stolen Document
Chloe stared at the name printed on the birth certificate until her vision blurred.
Richard was David's older brother, the charismatic firstborn son of the family.
But Richard had died in a tragic car accident a few months before Chloe was even born.
"He is my uncle," Chloe whispered, her mind racing to connect all the scattered pieces.
"If Richard is your father, that means you and I are cousins, not half-siblings."
Marcus let out a long, shaky breath, rubbing his temples in utter exhaustion.
It was slightly less horrific than being brother and sister, but it was still an absolute nightmare.
Their romantic relationship was completely destroyed either way.
"My mom lied to me my entire life," Marcus said, staring out the rainy diner window.
"She always told me my father was a soldier who died overseas."
"Why would she lie to David and make him think he was the father?" Chloe wondered out loud.
"Maybe she didn't," a deep, familiar voice interrupted from behind them.
They both jumped as David slid into the empty seat beside Chloe.
He had tracked the GPS location on Chloe's phone and followed her straight to the diner.
David reached across the table and picked up the stolen birth certificate.
He read his deceased brother's name and went completely pale.
"Sarah was dating Richard first," David explained in a hollow, haunted voice.
"But Arthur hated her so much that he forced Richard to break up with her."
"I found Sarah crying one night, and one thing led to another."
David admitted he truly thought the baby was his because of their brief, secret affair.
"Richard was planning to elope with her anyway," David continued softly.
"He told me he was going to give up his entire inheritance just to be with Sarah and the baby."
"But he died in that terrible car crash the very next morning."
David looked up from the paper, his eyes wide with a terrifying new realization.
"His brakes failed on a steep mountain road," David whispered.
"I always thought it was just a horrible accident."
Chloe felt a cold chill run down her spine as she looked at her father's terrified face.
"You think Grandfather Arthur had him killed?" Chloe asked in horror.
Before David could even answer the question, blinding headlights flooded the diner window.
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Three massive black SUVs pulled into the parking lot, completely blocking all the exits.
The doors swung open, and Grandfather Arthur stepped out into the rain, flanked by large men in dark suits.
