Chapter 11 - Victoria’s ConfessionVictoria closed the door behind her.
For once, there was no pretending.
No tears.
No excuses.
Just the cold woman I had seen standing over Grace with a hockey stick.
“You were never supposed to find this.”
I looked at the DNA report.
“Lily is my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And Emily's.”
“Yes.”
“You stole her embryo.”
“Yes.”
The simplicity of her answer stunned me.
“Why?”
Victoria walked closer.
“Because I loved you.”
I laughed.
“You destroyed my family.”
“I protected our future.”
“By kidnapping my niece?”
“She was never your niece.”
I stared at her.
Victoria lowered the gun.
“Emily used you.”
“What?”
“She knew she couldn't control the trust herself.”
“So she created Lily?”
“No.”
Victoria's voice dropped.
“Daniel created the plan.”
I felt sick.
“You're saying Lily was designed?”
“Not entirely.”
“Then why?”
“Because fifty million dollars requires a legal heir.”
She told me the truth.
Daniel had wanted access to Grandfather's trust.
But the safeguards required my genetic involvement.
Lily became the perfect solution.
My DNA.
Emily's embryo.
A child no court could easily dispute.
But there was one flaw.
Me.
I had to remain alive long enough to authorize the trust.
Victoria was supposed to marry me.
Then slowly control me.
And eventually force me to sign.
“But Emily found out.”
“Yes.”
“She tried to stop you.”
“She tried to expose Daniel.”
“And you?”
Victoria looked down.
“I chose survival.”
She told me she had helped stage Emily's disappearance.
But she insisted she never killed her.
“Then who did?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Ryan.”
I turned.
Grace gasped.
“What?”
“Ryan believed Emily was going to destroy Lily's inheritance.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“That's why Ryan has been chasing you.”
“Where is he now?”
A voice answered from behind us.
“Right here.”
Ryan stepped through the doorway.
Bleeding.
Holding another gun.
Victoria turned.
“You're alive.”
Ryan smiled.
“Disappointed?”
Then he looked at me.
“Nathan, you have one hour.”
“For what?”
He threw a small metal box onto the floor.
It landed with a heavy clang.
“Open that.”
I did.
Inside was a photograph.
Emily.
My mother.
Daniel.
And a baby.
Lily.
But the photo had been taken in a hospital.
The date was four years earlier.
What shocked me wasn't Lily.
It was the name written on the back.
Subject A-17.
Ryan whispered:
“Lily wasn't the first.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“There were six children.”
My heart froze.
“What happened to the other five?”
May you like
Ryan's smile disappeared.
“They were killed.”
