Chapter 8 - Daniel lunged before Adrian could reach through the window.Adrian stepped back.
Marcus struck him across the face.
The two men fought beside the wreckage.
Claire screamed for Daniel.
A second vehicle stopped behind them.
Three men jumped out.
Everything became chaos.
Daniel pulled Claire free.
“Run!”
They raced into the woods.
Branches tore at Claire's arms.
Her lungs burned.
She could hear footsteps behind them.
Daniel grabbed her hand.
“Keep moving.”
“I can't.”
“Yes, you can.”
They reached an abandoned farmhouse.
Marcus locked the door.
Everyone stood breathing hard.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Are you hurt?”
“My head.”
“Sit.”
Evelyn entered seconds later.
She had escaped from the second car.
Daniel stared at her.
“How did you know where we were?”
“I tracked the file.”
Marcus looked suspicious.
“You're not telling us everything.”
Evelyn glared.
“Neither are you.”
Claire interrupted.
“The farmhouse.”
She stared around.
“I've been here.”
Daniel froze.
“Before?”
Claire nodded.
She walked toward an old wooden cabinet.
Behind it was a loose board.
She pulled it away.
A hidden compartment appeared.
Inside was a child's drawing.
A pink house.
Three stick figures.
One woman.
One man.
One little girl.
Claire touched it.
Written beneath it were three words.
Mom. Dad. Emma.
Daniel couldn't breathe.
“Who drew that?”
Evelyn whispered:
“Emma.”
Claire looked at her.
“My daughter was here?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After the accident.”
Claire stared.
“You brought her here?”
“I hid her here temporarily.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
Claire's eyes filled.
“Why didn't you let me see her?”
“Because you were recovering.”
“No.”
Claire turned.
“You told me she was dead.”
“I lied.”
“You let me grieve a child who was alive.”
“I was trying to keep her alive.”
Claire's voice broke.
“Those are not the same thing.”
Evelyn lowered her head.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“You stole four years from us.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Evelyn looked up.
“I saw her every month.”
Claire froze.
“Emma?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“She's with a family in Rosewood.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Take me there.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because they believe she's their biological daughter.”
Claire stared.
“Who are they?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“The Carters.”
Daniel frowned.
“Who are the Carters?”
“A wealthy family.”
Marcus's face changed.
“Thomas Carter?”
Evelyn nodded.
Marcus stepped backward.
“No.”
Claire looked at him.
“What's wrong?”
Marcus stared at Evelyn.
“Thomas Carter is Adrian's business partner.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“So Emma is with Adrian.”
“No,” Evelyn said. “Thomas took her without Adrian knowing.”
Marcus frowned.
“How?”
“Through the adoption network.”
Claire felt sick.
“So everyone has been searching for her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Adrian say he watched her being born?”
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
Marcus slowly understood.
“Because he was there.”
Claire's memory returned in fragments.
A hospital room.
Adrian standing near the door.
A baby crying.
A nurse handing Claire something.
Adrian whispering:
She shouldn't survive.
Claire gasped.
“He wanted Emma dead.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“But someone stopped him.”
Marcus nodded.
“Your wife.”
Claire looked at him.
“She protected my baby?”
“She died protecting her.”
Silence.
Claire touched the bracelet.
Then she heard a child's voice.
Soft.
Just outside the farmhouse.
“Mom?”
Every person in the room froze.
Claire slowly turned toward the door.
A little girl stood there.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
Silver bracelet.
Emma.
Claire's legs gave out.
She covered her mouth.
The child stared at her.
Then whispered:
“Why did it take you so long?”
Claire broke down.
She rushed forward.
Emma stepped into her arms as if she had been waiting all her life.
Daniel fell to his knees beside them.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Emma looked over Claire's shoulder.
Her smile disappeared.
She pointed toward the window.
“That man came before.”
Daniel looked outside.
Adrian stood among the trees.
Watching.
He lifted his phone.
A message appeared on Daniel's screen.
You found her.
May you like
Then another.
Now give me my proof.
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