Chapter 12 - The Child Who Was Switched
Emily returned to Claire’s apartment carrying the DNA report.
For the first time since leaving Mark, she felt she had reached the center of the mystery.
Instead, she had discovered another door.
Claire read the report twice.
“So Diane isn’t Mark’s biological mother.”
“According to Sarah.”
“Do we trust Sarah?”
“No.”
“Do we trust the lab?”
“I’m checking.”
Jordan verified the laboratory was real.
The report number matched the formatting used during the listed year.
Still, authenticity required direct confirmation.
Emily contacted the lab through an attorney recommended by Jordan.
While waiting, she confronted Richard.
This time she demanded video.
His face appeared on screen.
Older than the archival photographs.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
Emily held up the report.
“Tell me who Mark is.”
Richard went pale.
“Where did you get that?”
“Sarah.”
He closed his eyes.
“She contacted you.”
“Yes.”
“Emily, you need to stay away from her.”
“She says the same thing about you.”
Richard looked almost amused.
“She would.”
“Who is Mark?”
Richard remained silent.
Emily leaned closer.
“If you lie once, I end the call.”
Richard finally spoke.
“Thirty-six years ago, Diane gave birth to a boy.”
“Your son?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“The baby was premature.”
Emily waited.
“He spent weeks in neonatal care. Diane was unstable emotionally and financially.”
“What happened?”
Richard looked away.
“The baby died.”
Emily felt a chill.
“And Mark?”
“Another infant was born at the hospital two days earlier.”
“No.”
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“His mother was seventeen. She disappeared shortly after delivery.”
Emily whispered, “You stole a baby?”
“No.”
“Then explain how Diane left with someone else’s child.”
“I didn’t know until years later.”
“Who did?”
“Diane.”
Richard explained that medical records from the hospital had been falsified.
A nurse later claimed Diane arranged an illegal adoption through a physician.
No official adoption papers existed.
The infant became Mark Daniel Carter.
Daniel Carter believed the child was biologically his.
“What about the dead baby?”
“Records were altered.”
Emily stared at him.
“And you found out when?”
“Twelve years ago.”
“Before Sarah.”
“Yes.”
“So you lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth could destroy Mark.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“You all keep saying you’re protecting Mark while destroying everyone around him.”
Richard had no answer.
“Was Northbridge created to find women for him?”
“Not originally.”
“What was it?”
“A private investigative consultancy.”
“You funded it.”
“Yes.”
“Diane used it to select Sarah.”
“Yes.”
“And me.”
Richard lowered his eyes.
“I didn’t know about you until after you and Mark were already dating.”
“Did you stop her?”
“No.”
“Then you participated.”
“I looked at your report.”
Emily swallowed her disgust.
“You evaluated me.”
“I was afraid Mark would repeat Diane’s patterns.”
“So you investigated his girlfriend.”
“Yes.”
“You all talk about people like property.”
Richard flinched.
Emily continued.
“Why does Diane care about bloodline if Mark isn’t her biological son?”
“She doesn’t.”
“Then why Noah?”
“Because I accepted Mark as my son anyway.”
Emily frowned.
Richard explained that after learning the truth, he chose not to expose Mark’s origin.
He had believed Mark innocent.
Regardless of genetics, Mark had grown up believing Richard might be his biological father after Diane’s revelation.
Richard felt responsible for the chaos surrounding his childhood.
He decided to treat Mark as family.
Diane realized she could profit from that choice.
“And Noah became leverage.”
“Yes.”
“But the DNA report says Diane isn’t his grandmother.”
“Yes.”
“Why test that?”
“Mark ordered it.”
Emily stopped.
“Why?”
“Because Mark started doubting Diane.”
“When?”
“After Noah was born.”
Richard leaned closer to the camera.
“He began investigating his own birth.”
Emily thought about Mark sneaking through the floor vent with documents.
Maybe not every secret had been shared between mother and son.
“What did he find?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sarah says you do.”
“Sarah thinks I know everything.”
“You usually know more than you admit.”
Richard nodded sadly.
“That’s fair.”
Emily asked one final question.
“Who is Mark’s biological mother?”
Richard’s expression changed.
Fear again.
“I don’t know.”
Emily almost ended the call.
Then Richard added, “But Diane does.”
At that exact moment, Emily’s phone displayed an incoming message.
Mark.
I found out what she did.
I know I hit you and I know you hate me.
But Mom lied to me too.
Please.
I need your help.
Attached was a photograph.
The blue folder lay open on a table.
Inside was a birth certificate.
Name of mother:
Elizabeth Anne Mercer.
Emily stared at the surname.
Mercer.
Diane’s maiden name.
Claire whispered, “Who is Elizabeth Mercer?”
Richard saw the document on Emily’s screen.
His face lost all color.
Emily looked at him.
May you like
“You know her.”
Richard whispered, “Diane had a younger sister.”
