Chapter 6: The Ultimate Betrayal

Jason’s face went ghost-white. He looked like he’d swallowed something sour.

Before anyone could answer, a small voice piped up: “Who’s calling you grandpa?”

A little boy ran over, waving a plastic sword. He wore a superhero t-shirt and mismatched socks, brow furrowed in confusion.

I looked at his face—he didn’t look like a Douglas. His nose was shaped like mine, but his eyes were wide and brown, not blue.

Detective Jamison crouched down, badge at eye level: “Hey there, are you Eli Quinn?”

The boy shrank behind Jason. “Daddy, why are the police here to catch me? I didn’t hit anyone.”

Jamison turned to Jason: “You’re Jason Douglas? Is he Eli Quinn? Are you his father?”

Jason stammered, “Yes, no… no.” His fingers twisted his jeans.

“So is he or isn’t he?” The police were losing patience.

Mrs. Douglas jumped in: “Officer, don’t keep questioning my son. The one who abandoned the child isn’t my son, it’s Derek Quinn behind you. This is his own son, Eli Quinn. He calls my son ‘dad’ just because my son is his godfather.”

“Now that your whole Quinn family is here, hurry up and take your child home to raise him. Don’t delay my son’s marriage.”

Her words made my head spin. My dad leaned against the doorframe, looking like he needed to sit down.

I turned to Jason, my voice shaking: “Jason, what’s going on? I don’t even know this kid—how is he mine?”

Jason wiped his forehead, eyes darting to the police. “Officer, here’s the situation. Derek is my childhood friend. He said he didn’t dare bring his illegitimate child home because his family wanted to set him up on blind dates and he was afraid the girls would mind, so he asked me to take care of the child for a while.”

“I thought the kid was pitiful, so I took him in as my godson and raised him.”

“Derek, just admit it. If you can’t take care of the child, I can keep taking care of him.”

He made a secret sign—the one we’d used as kids to cover for each other.

The boy’s eyes darted, and he ran to me, hugging me tight and calling me dad over and over. His arms were skinny but strong, his cheek pressed against my jacket.

He sounded so convincing that even my parents half-believed him. Mom’s eyes searched my face, desperate for some hidden truth.

I stared at Jason, stunned. I’d seen people take the blame for others, but never someone pin a child on a friend.

My anger turned to disbelief. “Jason, are you sure he’s my child?”

He shot back, “If he’s not yours, could he be mine? Why would my kid’s last name be Quinn instead of Douglas? Derek, since your parents know now, don’t hide it anymore.”

He kept winking at me, the old secret signal. But this was about my future—why should I play along?

I shook with anger, pointing at Eli. “This isn’t like covering for each other as kids—this is a real, living child. It’s a lifetime responsibility!”

“Jason, you still insist he’s my child?”

“So, you were the ones who reported me to the office where I applied?”

Jason’s eyes pleaded for me to play along, but this time, I wasn’t sure I could. Not when my whole future was on the line.