Chapter 10 - A hand covered my mouth.I fought.
My stomach tightened.
I heard Dad shouting.
"EMILY!"
Then someone injected something into my neck.
The room disappeared.
When I woke up, I was lying on the same hospital bed from the hidden room.
My wrists were not restrained.
That frightened me more.
The door opened.
Ryan entered.
I stared at him.
"Where's Lily?"
"Safe."
"Where?"
"I can't tell you."
I sat up.
"You kidnapped me."
"I brought you somewhere they can't reach."
I laughed bitterly.
"They've reached me everywhere."
Ryan looked exhausted.
"Emily, listen."
"No."
"You need to understand what happened."
"You hurt me."
"I know."
"You drugged me."
"I know."
"You lied about my child."
"I know."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Then why should I listen?"
Ryan pulled a chair beside the bed.
"Because I never wanted this."
"Then who did?"
He looked toward the door.
"My mother."
I froze.
"Linda?"
Ryan nodded.
"She worked for your uncle."
"Anthony Vale."
"Anthony was not my father."
"What?"
Ryan shook his head.
"He wanted everyone to believe he was."
"Then who?"
Ryan whispered:
"Your father's brother."
Dad.
His biological brother.
The man who had vanished.
The man whose identity had been erased.
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because your uncle had access to the family."
"And you?"
"I was his insurance."
Ryan looked down.
"When you married me, I was supposed to steal the ledger."
"But you didn't."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
He looked at me.
"Because I loved you."
I didn't know whether to believe him.
Ryan continued.
"Then you got pregnant."
"And everything changed."
"Yes."
"Why did you tell me the baby died?"
"Because they found out she was real."
"Who?"
"Linda."
I stared.
"Your own mother?"
Ryan nodded.
"She wanted the child."
"Why?"
"Because Lily's DNA would confirm the true Moretti bloodline."
"And the baby I'm carrying?"
He looked at my stomach.
"Another confirmation."
I felt cold.
"Then why attack me?"
Ryan's expression broke.
"I didn't."
I stared at him.
He whispered:
"I covered for Linda."
"What?"
"Every bruise."
"You're saying Linda did this?"
He nodded.
"She believed fear would make you surrender the ledger."
I remembered Linda standing in my doorway.
Pregnant women want attention.
She's dramatic.
She's lucky we're taking care of her.
My hands trembled.
Ryan reached into his pocket.
He placed a small recorder on the table.
"Everything is on this."
I pressed play.
Linda's voice filled the room.
"She won't talk."
A man's voice answered.
"Then increase the pressure."
Linda:
"Her father is getting suspicious."
The man:
"Then make Vincent believe Ryan is responsible."
I stopped breathing.
Ryan looked at me.
"That man isn't my father."
The recording continued.
The voice said:
"And when Emily gives birth, kill the baby."
I covered my mouth.
Ryan shut off the recorder.
"That's why I got you out."
I stared at him.
"You knew."
"I knew three weeks ago."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because there was someone listening."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
I looked up.
A tiny red light blinked.
Another camera.
Ryan whispered:
"They're watching now."
Then the door opened.
Linda walked in.
She smiled.
"Good."
Ryan stood.
"What are you doing here?"
Linda looked at me.
Then at my stomach.
"Checking on my granddaughter."
I backed away.
Linda locked the door.
Then she smiled.
"Because tonight..."
May you like
She pulled a syringe from her coat.
"...she finally comes out."
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