The rain began before Daniel arrived.
Lila stood beside the living-room window, watching droplets race down the glass.
Adrian had barely spoken since the phone call.
He sat on the sofa with his elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor.
His mother had gone upstairs.
His former fiancée was sitting silently in the corner.
Nobody seemed to know what to say.
Then headlights appeared outside.
A black car stopped in front of the house.
Adrian stood.
His breathing changed.
Lila reached for his hand.
He looked at her.
"Whatever happens," she whispered, "don't let anger decide for you."
He nodded.
The front door opened.
A man walked inside.
He was slightly taller than Adrian, with tired eyes and a face that carried the unmistakable resemblance of the Adebayo family.
Adrian stared at him.
"Daniel."
Daniel stopped.
For a moment, neither brother moved.
Then Daniel gave a faint smile.
"You've changed."
Adrian's expression remained cold.
"You haven't."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"I suppose I deserve that."
"You disappeared."
"I had to."
"You left everyone."
"I had reasons."
"You always had reasons."
Lila stepped back, giving them space.
Daniel's eyes moved toward her.
"So you're Lila."
She frowned.
"You know me?"
"I've heard a lot about you."
Adrian immediately stepped between them.
"Don't."
Daniel raised his hands.
"I didn't come here to cause trouble."
"Then why are you here?"
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
Then at Adrian's former fiancée.
Finally, he sighed.
"I came because my daughter deserves to know me."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"You abandoned her."
"I was told she wasn't mine."
The former fiancée suddenly stood.
"Don't pretend you didn't know."
Daniel looked at her.
"You lied to me too."
"I was protecting her."
"You were protecting yourself."
His voice remained strangely calm.
Then he turned toward Adrian.
"I found out about her six months ago."
Adrian stared.
"Six months?"
"Yes."
"And you waited until now?"
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of becoming the man our father always said I was."
Adrian's expression softened slightly.
Their father.
The subject neither brother liked discussing.
Daniel continued.
"I made mistakes. Terrible ones. But I don't want my daughter growing up believing her father didn't want her."
Adrian looked away.
For the first time, his anger seemed to weaken.
"What do you want from me?"
"Nothing."
Daniel paused.
"Actually, that's not true."
Adrian looked at him.
"I want your help."
"With what?"
"Getting to know her."
Adrian remained silent.
Then Daniel reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to him.
Adrian stared at the little girl in the picture.
She couldn't have been more than five.
She was smiling.
And there was something about her eyes that made Adrian's chest tighten.
Lila watched him carefully.
"She's beautiful," she whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"She is."
Adrian continued staring at the photograph.
Then he noticed something.
A small birthmark near the girl's left eyebrow.
His face suddenly changed.
"Where did she get that?"
Daniel frowned.
"She was born with it."
Adrian looked at his brother.
Their mother had the same mark.
And so did Daniel.
Adrian slowly sat down.
For years, he had believed his brother's disappearance was a family tragedy.
Now he realized it had been connected to something much bigger.
Something their parents had apparently known about.
He looked toward the staircase.
"Why did Mum never tell me Daniel was coming back?"
Daniel's expression darkened.
"Because she didn't want you to know what happened the night I left."
Lila's heart sank.
"What happened?" she asked.
Daniel looked directly at her.
Then at Adrian.
"Our father didn't just throw me out of this family."
He paused.
"He threatened to destroy me."