Chapter 6: The Father Who Tried to Erase His Son’s Life
Chapter 6: The Father Who Tried to Erase His Son’s Life
The words echoed through the house.
“Because she was never supposed to exist.”
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
For a moment, even time seemed to stop.
Evan Mercer stared at his father as if he were looking at a stranger.
A man who had raised him.
A man whose approval he had spent his entire life chasing.
A man he once believed was protecting the family.
But now…
That same man was standing in his home, looking at Evan’s daughter like she was a mistake.
Like she was a problem that needed to be removed.
Evan’s voice was quiet.
“Say that again.”
Richard Mercer didn’t blink.
“You heard me.”
Evan took one step forward.
“Say it again.”
Richard looked completely calm.
“Ellie was never part of the plan.”
Leah immediately moved closer to her daughter.
Her protective instinct took over.
“You need to leave.”
Richard ignored her.
He kept his eyes on Evan.
“You had a future.”
“You had a responsibility.”
“You were supposed to inherit everything I built.”
Evan’s jaw tightened.
“And Ellie ruined that?”
Richard sighed.
“She complicated it.”
A bitter laugh escaped Evan.
“Complicated it?”
He pointed toward his daughter.
“She is a child.”
Richard’s expression remained cold.
“And you were a man with obligations.”
The anger inside Evan exploded.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
Richard raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t I?”
The confidence in his voice was disturbing.
Because Richard had spent decades believing he controlled everything.
Companies.
People.
Relationships.
Even his own son.
“You always wanted to be different from me.”
Richard continued.
“But deep down, you needed me.”
Evan shook his head.
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“You think you don’t.”
“But look at your life.”
“Your career.”
“Your success.”
“Everything came from the Mercer name.”
Evan stared at him.
“No.”
His voice became stronger.
“Everything I achieved came from fighting against you.”
For the first time, Richard’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Evan noticed.
A crack.
A weakness.
“You always hated that I loved Leah.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“I hated that she distracted you.”
“She made you emotional.”
“She made you weak.”
Leah stepped forward.
“No.”
Richard looked at her.
“You were always the problem.”
Evan immediately moved between them.
“Watch your words.”
Richard looked at his son.
“Protecting her now?”
A cold smile appeared.
“How touching.”
Evan’s fists tightened.
“You threatened her.”
“I protected you.”
“No.”
Evan shook his head.
“You controlled me.”
Richard laughed quietly.
“You’re still too naive.”
Then he looked toward Ellie.
“Children like her create complications.”
Leah’s expression changed.
“Don’t talk about my daughter.”
Richard looked at her.
“Your daughter?”
Then he looked at Evan.
“Our family name was built on legacy.”
“Not emotions.”
Evan felt disgust rising inside him.
“She has my name.”
Richard smiled.
“Not legally.”
The room went silent.
Evan froze.
“What?”
Richard reached into his coat.
He pulled out a folder.
And placed it on the table.
“You should read this.”
Evan didn’t move.
Leah looked terrified.
“What is that?”
Richard answered calmly.
“Documents.”
“Proof that Leah intentionally hid the child.”
Evan stared at him.
“You’re lying.”
Richard smiled.
“Am I?”
He opened the folder.
Inside were legal papers.
Court documents.
Statements.
Everything looked official.
Evan picked up one page.
His eyes moved quickly.
Then stopped.
Because Leah’s name was on it.
His expression changed.
“Leah.”
She immediately shook her head.
“I’ve never seen that.”
Richard smiled.
“Of course she says that.”
Evan looked between them.
His mind was fighting itself.
Because he wanted to trust Leah.
But four years of secrets had damaged something.
Not love.
But certainty.
Richard saw the hesitation.
And he used it.
“You see?”
“This is exactly why I had to intervene.”
“You were too emotional.”
“You would have believed anything she told you.”
Evan slowly put the papers down.
“You planned all of this.”
Richard said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Evan walked closer.
“You separated us.”
“You blocked her calls.”
“You sent fake messages.”
“You threatened her.”
“And now you’re trying to make me doubt her again.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“No.”
Evan shook his head.
“For the first time in my life…”
“I’m making my own decision.”
Richard stared at him.
“You think you can stand against me?”
Evan looked toward Ellie.
Then Leah.
Then back at his father.
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate.
Richard laughed.
“You have no idea who you’re fighting.”
Evan’s expression remained cold.
“I know exactly who I’m fighting.”
“My own father.”
The words hit harder than anything else.
Richard became silent.
Because he never expected Evan to say them.
The man who once obeyed him.
The boy who once wanted his approval.
Was finally standing against him.
Then Ellie’s small voice interrupted.
“Grandpa?”
Everyone turned.
She was standing near the couch.
Confused.
Scared.
Richard looked at her.
For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
But it disappeared quickly.
Ellie looked at Evan.
“Why is Grandpa mad?”
Evan immediately went to her.
He knelt down.
“He’s not your problem.”
“But he’s family.”
The innocent sentence broke something inside him.
Because Ellie still believed family meant safety.
She didn’t know adults could hurt each other.
She didn’t know family could become the source of fear.
Evan gently held her hand.
“Sometimes people make bad choices.”
Ellie looked at Richard.
“Did Grandpa make a bad choice?”
Nobody answered.
Because the truth was too painful.
Later that night, after Richard left, Evan sat alone in his office.
The documents were spread across the desk.
He had spent hours examining every detail.
Something was wrong.
The paperwork looked real.
But one thing bothered him.
A signature.
A date.
A tiny inconsistency.
Something only someone familiar with Richard’s business history would notice.
Evan picked up his phone.
There was one person who could help.
Someone who had worked with his father for decades.
His father’s former assistant.
“Martin?”
The older man answered after several rings.
“Evan?”
His voice sounded surprised.
“I need your help.”
A pause.
“What happened?”
Evan looked at the documents.
“My father.”
Silence.
Then Martin spoke quietly.
“Did you finally find out?”
Evan froze.
“What?”
Martin sighed.
“I was hoping you never would.”
The words sent chills through him.
“What do you mean?”
Martin lowered his voice.
“Evan…”
“Your father wasn’t just hiding your daughter.”
“He was hiding something much bigger.”
Evan gripped the phone.
“What?”
Martin hesitated.
Then said the words that changed the entire situation.
“Your father knew about Ellie before you did.”
Evan stood.
“How?”
“Because he had someone watching Leah from the beginning.”
The room went cold.
“And there’s more.”
Evan waited.
Martin continued.
“The night you broke up with Leah…”
“That wasn’t your decision.”
Evan’s heart stopped.
“What are you saying?”
Martin whispered.
“Someone drugged you.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Evan couldn’t breathe.
Because suddenly…
The past four years were not just built on lies.
They were built on a crime.
And the person responsible had been standing in his home moments ago.
Smiling.
May you like
Pretending to be his father.
TO BE CONTINUED...
