Chapter 9 - The TradeWe returned home before sunrise.
My mother finally told me the truth.
Three years earlier, when Evelyn gave birth, Marcus demanded access to the baby.
My mother refused.
He threatened to expose my father’s financial network.
Then he threatened Julian.
He told her that unless Noah was surrendered, I would be killed.
My mother chose me.
“She gave them your son.”
I stared at her.
“You decided my life mattered more than his.”
“I was trying to save both of you.”
“But you failed.”
She cried.
“Yes.”
Evelyn listened from the bedroom.
Then she spoke.
“There’s more.”
My mother looked at her.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn stood slowly.
She walked toward us.
“The trade wasn't only Noah.”
My chest tightened.
“What else?”
She looked at my mother.
“The pregnancy.”
My mother went still.
Evelyn touched her stomach.
“They wanted this baby too.”
I felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because they knew Noah was genetically valuable.”
I stared.
“What does that even mean?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Our bloodline.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Julian, your family has a rare genetic mutation.”
I almost laughed.
“What?”
“It isn't supernatural. It's medical.”
She opened a file.
“A hereditary condition that can make certain medications extremely dangerous.”
I shook my head.
“Why would anyone care?”
Claire looked at Evelyn.
“Because researchers have been studying it for decades.”
“And our child?”
“Could inherit it.”
Silence.
My mother spoke.
“They want the baby before birth.”
My hands clenched.
“They're not getting her.”
Evelyn looked at me.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“The baby may already have been monitored.”
My heart stopped.
“Monitored how?”
She pointed toward the ceiling.
I looked up.
Nothing.
Then Claire opened the security app.
She examined the camera network.
“There’s an unauthorized feed.”
From inside our house.
Someone had been watching us.
For months.
Maybe years.
The feed showed our bedroom.
The nursery.
The kitchen.
The hallway.
I watched footage of Evelyn sleeping.
My mother entering the room.
My mother touching the crib.
My blood turned to ice.
Then another file appeared.
A video from two nights earlier.
My mother stood beside Evelyn while she slept.
In her hand was a small vial.
She moved toward Evelyn's bedside.
I turned to her.
“What was in that vial?”
She began sobbing.
“I was told it would keep the baby calm.”
“Calm?”
“It was supposed to prevent premature labor.”
Claire took the vial.
Opened the label.
Her expression changed.
“This isn't a medication.”
“What is it?”
She looked at me.
“It's an experimental sedative.”
I stared at my mother.
“You were drugging my wife?”
“No!”
“You were poisoning her!”
“I was protecting the baby!”
“From what?”
My mother said nothing.
Then Evelyn suddenly doubled over.
She gasped.
“Julian.”
I grabbed her.
“What?”
She clutched her stomach.
“The baby…”
I panicked.
“What’s wrong?”
She whispered:
“She’s not moving.”
We rushed to the hospital.
The doctor placed the ultrasound probe against Evelyn’s stomach.
Nothing.
No heartbeat.
For three endless seconds, there was silence.
Then the machine found it.
Fast.
Strong.
Alive.
The doctor exhaled.
“She’s fine.”
Evelyn began crying.
But I noticed something on the screen.
A dark shape.
The doctor frowned.
“What is that?”
He zoomed in.
Then his expression changed completely.
“Mr. Voss…”
“What?”
“There’s another object.”
Inside the uterus.
May you like
Something that shouldn't have been there.
A tiny metallic capsule.
Related Stories
