Ava’s Birthday Drawing Was Ruined While Everyone Blamed Lily — Then the Kitchen Camera Showed Who Really Scribbled Over It
Chapter 4 — The Red Farmhouse
Ben lived with Richard and Margaret at the old Carter farmhouse.
The same red house in Ava’s drawing.
After Susan died, everyone assumed Ben would remain with them permanently.
Richard loved the boy.
Margaret did too.
They began discussing legal guardianship.
Then Ben’s biological father appeared.
His name was Stephen Carter.
He and Susan had separated years earlier.
Stephen had rarely visited Ben.
But after Susan died, he suddenly demanded custody.
“Did he get it?” Claire asked.
Richard nodded.
“Eventually.”
There was a custody dispute.
Richard and Margaret tried to intervene.
But legally they were family friends.
Stephen was Ben’s father.
The court returned Ben to him.
Within weeks, Stephen moved away.
Richard received two letters from Ben.
Then nothing.
“Did you look for him?”
Richard stared at Claire.
“For years.”
Claire struggled to understand.
“Why have I never heard any of this?”
Richard looked away.
“Because your mother couldn’t talk about it.”
Margaret blamed herself for losing Ben.
After Claire and Matthew were born, she packed every photograph of him away.
The farmhouse was later sold.
Eventually, Ben became one of those family stories nobody told.
But Claire still didn’t understand Matthew.
“Why would he care about hiding Ben?”
Richard shook his head.
“He shouldn’t.”
Matthew had not even been born when Ben lived with them.
Claire looked at him.
“Then there’s something you’re still not telling me.”
Richard hesitated.
Then admitted one more thing.
Six months earlier, a letter had arrived for him.
Sender:
BENJAMIN CARTER.
