Chapter 13 - The Daughter Who RememberedThey returned to the mansion.
The house was dark.
No guards.
No staff.
No security.
Daniel entered first.
Victoria followed.
Charles stayed behind.
“You shouldn't come.”
Victoria looked at him.
“She is my daughter.”
Both girls.
She no longer cared about bloodlines.
No child would be left behind again.
Inside the library, they found Evan.
He was holding Rosie by the shoulder.
A gun rested against her temple.
Victoria stopped.
“Let her go.”
Evan smiled.
“You finally understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That children are currency.”
Victoria's face hardened.
“Not to me.”
Evan looked at Rosie.
“Then perhaps she can explain.”
Rosie was crying.
“Explain what?”
Evan leaned closer.
“Tell her what your mother did.”
Rosie shook her head.
“She protected me.”
“She lied.”
“No.”
Evan looked surprised.
Rosie raised her chin.
“She told me the truth.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“What truth?”
Rosie stared at her.
“About the night Mama died.”
Victoria froze.
“Tell me.”
“Mama wasn't killed by your father.”
“Who killed her?”
Rosie looked toward Charles.
“Mr. Charles.”
Charles went pale.
Victoria turned.
“What?”
Rosie continued:
“He didn't kill her.”
Evan frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Rosie stared at him.
“Charles tried to save her.”
Evan's gun hand tightened.
“Enough.”
Rosie cried:
“Mama jumped.”
Victoria stopped breathing.
“Jumped?”
“She jumped from the bridge.”
Evan looked furious.
“She chose to die so they couldn't use me.”
Victoria felt tears in her eyes.
“Where?”
“The river.”
Evan shook his head.
“That's a lie.”
Rosie stared at him.
“No.”
The little girl looked directly into Evan's eyes.
“Mama told me the truth because she knew you were listening.”
Evan froze.
“What?”
Rosie smiled through tears.
“She knew you would come for me.”
Daniel suddenly noticed something.
A tiny red light beneath Rosie's collar.
A recording device.
“Rosie.”
The child touched it.
“Mama gave it to me.”
Victoria stared.
“What did she tell you?”
“She said to let him talk.”
Evan's face changed.
Daniel understood.
“Keep him talking.”
Evan lowered the gun slightly.
“What did Eleanor say?”
Rosie whispered:
“She said Evan killed Claire.”
Silence.
Evan's face went blank.
Victoria looked at him.
“Did you?”
“No.”
But the answer came too quickly.
Daniel moved.
Evan fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Daniel tackled him.
The gun skidded away.
Charles grabbed Rosie.
Victoria ran toward them.
Evan fought like a cornered animal.
Then he shouted:
“You stupid woman!”
He looked at Victoria.
“Your father didn't build this.”
Victoria froze.
“I did.”
Charles stopped moving.
Evan continued:
“I convinced him.”
Victoria stared.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted the trust.”
Daniel pinned him.
“Where is Claire?”
Evan smiled.
“Ask Charles.”
Victoria turned.
Charles was holding a phone.
His screen showed a live location.
Coordinates.
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
“What is that?”
Charles looked at her.
“Where I left Claire.”
Victoria froze.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“She's alive?”
Charles nodded.
“Barely.”
“Where?”
“The old clinic.”
Victoria took the phone.
A final message was on the screen.
COME ALONE.
Then the sender name appeared.
Claire.
Victoria looked up.
“She's waiting for me.”
Charles said:
“No.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I've spent eight years waiting for the dead to speak.”
May you like
She walked toward the door.
“Now I'm going to listen.”
