Chapter 14 - THE TRUTHI confronted Margaret.
She denied killing Richard.
So did Brandon.
But the diary suggested otherwise.
We hired a private investigator.
Within two days, he found an old police report.
Richard's death had been ruled accidental.
Car crash.
No witnesses.
No mechanical failure.
But the investigator found one strange detail.
The vehicle's brake line had been cut.
Richard had been murdered.
The case had been buried.
Why?
Because someone paid to bury it.
The money trail led to Carter Family Holdings.
Margaret.
I confronted her.
She finally broke.
“I didn't kill Richard.”
“Then who did?”
She cried.
“Daniel.”
“Why?”
“Richard found out about you.”
“What about me?”
“He knew Daniel was your biological father.”
“And the embryos?”
“Richard discovered the research.”
“What did he do?”
“He threatened to expose them.”
“Then Daniel killed him.”
Margaret nodded.
“And you helped cover it up.”
“Yes.”
Brandon stepped away from her.
“You lied to me my entire life.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
Margaret cried.
Then she told us the final secret.
The genetic mutation wasn't a disease.
It was a resistance marker.
A rare genetic trait that made certain cells unusually resistant to degeneration.
Daniel wanted it.
Pharmaceutical companies wanted it.
Private researchers wanted it.
And someone had been secretly studying Emily's DNA for years.
But the twins inherited a stronger version.
That was why they were targeted.
That was why Daniel had watched Emily.
That was why the money mattered.
And that was why Megan was killed.
I asked one question.
“Who is behind it now?”
Margaret looked at me.
“Victor Hale.”
Samantha's husband.
Ava's legal father.
The man whose family had been connected to the project.
We contacted the police.
They were already looking for him.
But before they could arrest him, he contacted me.
A video appeared on my phone.
Victor stood inside a warehouse.
Ava was beside him.
My heart stopped.
“Let my daughter go.”
Victor smiled.
“You finally understand.”
“Ava is not your daughter.”
“She is mine legally.”
“She is my daughter biologically.”
“Then you should care about her.”
He held up a small vial.
“We need Emily's blood.”
“No.”
“Then the girls die.”
My body went numb.
Brandon stepped toward the phone.
Victor laughed.
“You see, Brandon?”
Brandon stopped.
“You were always weak.”
“What do you want?”
“Come alone.”
“No.”
“Then I'll start with Ava.”
The video ended.
I looked at Brandon.
“We're going.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“I am.”
“You'll die.”
“Then help me survive.”
For the first time since our marriage began, Brandon didn't lie.
He told me everything.
Every location.
Every secret account.
Every person involved.
He gave me the evidence.
Then he looked at me.
“I'll get Ava.”
“I'll get the twins.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“You said you wanted to be a father.”
He swallowed.
“I do.”
“Then prove it.”
That night, we went to the warehouse.
Police watched from a distance.
Lauren coordinated the evidence.
I entered first.
Victor was waiting.
Ava was tied to a chair.
The twins were in a nearby room.
Victor smiled.
“You came.”
I looked at my children.
Then him.
“You wanted the gene.”
“Yes.”
“You can have my blood.”
Brandon grabbed my arm.
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“You're still trying to save her.”
Brandon whispered,
“Always.”
Then the lights went out.
Gunshots erupted.
People screamed.
Someone tackled Victor.
The police stormed in.
I ran toward the twins.
May you like
But one of the cribs was empty.
Sophie was gone.
