Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN THEY NEEDEDI spent the entire night reviewing everything.
Every photograph.
Every message.
Every document.
There was a pattern.
I had met Flynn at a charity gala.
I had thought it was coincidence.
It wasn't.
The company had hired my brother's firm.
Coincidence.
My apartment had been sold six months later.
To a Vance subsidiary.
Coincidence.
My gynecologist had been recommended by Flynn's mother.
Coincidence.
There were too many.
My life had been engineered.
Flynn found me at dawn.
“I remember something.”
“What?”
“The first time I saw you.”
I looked at him.
“We met at the gala.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I saw you before that.”
“Where?”
“At a hospital.”
My blood ran cold.
“When?”
“Six months before we met.”
“Why?”
“You were visiting your mother.”
I stared.
“My mother died when I was fifteen.”
“I know.”
“So?”
Flynn looked shaken.
“She had an appointment with Dr. Reed.”
That name hit me.
“She knew him?”
“Yes.”
I had never known that.
“What was she treated for?”
“She wasn't sick.”
“Then why?”
Flynn whispered:
“She was part of the genetic study too.”
I sat down.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“What did they want from her?”
“I don't know.”
He handed me a file.
It contained a photograph of my mother.
Standing beside Marcus Vale.
I dropped it.
“How?”
Flynn's voice broke.
“They knew your family had the same genetic marker.”
I looked up.
“You married me because of that?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“They chose you because you were compatible with the study.”
I stared at him.
“My blood.”
“Yes.”
“And the twins?”
“The pregnancy gave them access to both bloodlines.”
I felt sick.
Flynn stepped closer.
“I swear I never knew.”
I looked at him.
“But you knew Selina was involved.”
“I suspected.”
“And you still chose her.”
He lowered his head.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt.
But the truth was finally becoming clear.
Selina hadn't lied because she wanted Flynn.
She lied because she wanted access to me.
The pregnancy.
The blood.
The children.
Everything.
Then Jonathan appeared at the door.
“She's here.”
I turned.
“Who?”
“Selina.”
Flynn stood.
“How did she get inside?”
Jonathan looked at him.
“She was invited.”
“By whom?”
Jonathan pointed toward the hallway.
Marcus Vale walked in.
He held a pistol.
“By me.”
Flynn stepped forward.
“Stay away from Mabel.”
Marcus smiled.
“You still think you can protect her?”
“I will.”
Marcus looked at me.
“You have something I need.”
“I have nothing.”
“You have your mother's blood.”
He nodded toward Flynn.
“And you gave me access to it.”
Flynn's face went pale.
“Wait.”
Marcus looked amused.
“You didn't know?”
“Know what?”
Marcus smiled.
“Your wedding was arranged.”
Flynn shook his head.
“No.”
“Your wife was selected years ago.”
“Stop.”
“The pregnancy was expected.”
“No.”
“The twins were planned.”
I looked at Flynn.
He stared back in horror.
Then Marcus said the sentence that shattered everything.
“Your marriage was never about love.”
He pointed the gun at me.
“It was a breeding program.”
May you like
The room went silent.
And behind Marcus, Selina smiled.
