Chapter 10 - THE FATHERThe man looked like someone who had never been afraid of consequences.
His suit was perfect.
His silver hair was neatly combed.
He smiled at Sophie as if they had known each other forever.
Sophie backed away.
“Who are you?”
The man looked at me.
“You never told her?”
I turned to Daniel.
He looked defeated.
“His name is Richard Vale.”
The name meant nothing.
Until Rebecca whispered,
“He owns the foundation.”
Richard smiled.
“Not anymore.”
“What do you want?”
“My daughter.”
Sophie shook her head.
“You're not my father.”
Richard laughed softly.
“DNA says otherwise.”
He reached into his pocket and removed a photograph.
It showed my mother.
Standing beside Richard.
And beside them was a young Daniel.
All three were wearing laboratory coats.
I stared at the photograph.
“You worked with them.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you marry me?”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Daniel believed marrying you would hide you.”
“Hide me from whom?”
“Me.”
I stepped forward.
“You used me.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I needed your genetics.”
“You never touched my life.”
“You became pregnant.”
I felt sick.
“You implanted the embryo?”
Richard didn't deny it.
Five years before Sophie was born, my mother had secretly transferred an embryo.
But the embryo wasn't Sophie.
It was another child.
Sophie.
The daughter I believed I had conceived naturally was created from a controlled genetic program.
I couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
Richard looked at Sophie.
“Because she was the first viable carrier.”
“For what?”
Richard turned serious.
“The human brain has limits.”
Sophie shook her head.
“You're insane.”
“We've already extended memory retention.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
Silence.
He smiled.
“You could remember everything.”
“That sounds like a curse.”
“It depends what you remember.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“She isn't going anywhere.”
Richard looked at him.
“You failed.”
“I protected them.”
“You betrayed the project.”
“You murdered children.”
Richard sighed.
“Some sacrifices were necessary.”
I slapped him.
He didn't move.
“You killed my husband.”
“No.”
He looked at Daniel.
“Daniel survived because I allowed it.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Because I needed someone to keep you safe.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
Richard smiled.
“Am I?”
Then the building shook.
An explosion rocked the basement.
Everyone fell.
Smoke filled the hallway.
Thomas shouted,
“Move!”
We ran.
Richard grabbed Sophie.
Daniel attacked him.
They struggled.
I saw Rebecca pull out a gun.
Then another explosion.
The floor collapsed between us.
Sophie disappeared into the smoke.
“SOPHIE!”
I lunged forward.
Daniel grabbed me.
“It's too dangerous!”
“My daughter!”
We heard her scream.
Then silence.
Richard emerged from the smoke carrying Sophie.
He looked at me.
“Don't worry, Karen.”
He smiled.
“You'll see her again.”
“When?”
“When she remembers who she really is.”
He disappeared through a hidden door.
Daniel stared at the opening.
“There's another entrance.”
I turned to him.
“Then we're going after them.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You can't.”
“Why?”
Daniel's face was pale.
“Because I finally understand.”
“Understand what?”
He looked at me.
“Richard didn't come for Sophie.”
He paused.
“He came for the baby.”
My blood ran cold.
“Grace?”
May you like
Daniel nodded.
“Because Sophie is only the key.”
