Chapter 8 - THE SECOND BETRAYAL
Dr. Mercer agreed to meet at a church.
He looked exhausted.
“I know what happened to Nora.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
Ethan nearly lost control.
“Then why did you call me?”
“Because I know who took her.”
“Victor?”
“No.”
Mercer swallowed.
“Margaret.”
Claire stared at him.
“That isn't possible.”
“She arranged the adoption.”
Ethan looked at his mother.
Mercer continued.
“Margaret contacted Starbridge months before Nora was born.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I wanted to protect them.”
“You sold them.”
“No.”
“You gave them access.”
Margaret began crying.
Mercer handed Ethan a folder.
Inside were emails between Margaret and Starbridge.
One sentence appeared repeatedly:
THE CHILD MUST REMAIN WITH THE COLE FAMILY.
Ethan looked confused.
“If she wanted Nora taken, why keep her with us?”
Mercer answered.
“Because Nora was supposed to be monitored.”
Claire's face went pale.
“For what?”
“Her genetic markers.”
Ethan realized the truth.
Nora was not valuable because she was related to Daniel.
She was valuable because she carried a rare genetic combination connected to several families in Project Star.
A biological key.
Victor wanted it.
But someone else wanted Nora for a different reason.
Mercer lowered his voice.
“Daniel.”
Claire froze.
“He's alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Mercer hesitated.
“Closer than you think.”
The church doors opened.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Scar across one cheek.
Claire recognized him instantly.
Daniel Vale.
She could not move.
Daniel looked at her.
“I've been trying to find you for eighteen years.”
Claire whispered, “You let me believe our daughter was dead.”
“I was told she was.”
“By whom?”
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Her.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Daniel approached.
“I was framed for your father's death, Ethan.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“My father?”
“I tried to warn him.”
“What happened?”
“Victor killed him.”
“Why?”
“Because your father had evidence.”
Daniel pulled a small envelope from his coat.
Inside was a photograph of Ethan's father holding baby Nora.
Ethan stared.
“That photograph was taken eighteen years ago.”
Daniel nodded.
“Your father met her before she disappeared.”
Claire's knees weakened.
“But Nora was born eleven days ago.”
Daniel looked at her.
“The baby is not the child in that photograph.”
Silence.
Ethan felt the room tilt.
“What are you saying?”
Daniel pointed at the picture.
“That was my daughter.”
Claire whispered, “Lena.”
Daniel nodded.
“The baby in your house is connected to another part of the plan.”
Ethan stared.
Then his phone rang.
It was the hospital.
A nurse spoke urgently.
“Mr. Cole, we have a problem.”
“What?”
“The infant records have been changed.”
“By whom?”
The nurse paused.
“Your wife's medical file now lists her as deceased.”
Ethan looked at Claire.
She was standing right in front of him.
Alive.
May you like
And somewhere, someone had just rewritten her identity.
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