Chapter 7 - EVELYNEvelyn aimed the weapon at Victor.
No one moved.
She smiled.
“How disappointing.”
Victor stared at her.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“For twenty-five years.”
“I was patient.”
Marcus raised his weapon.
Evelyn immediately pressed a button.
Every light went out.
A second later, a dozen red laser dots appeared on Victor's chest.
Snipers.
Victor lowered his weapon.
Evelyn laughed.
“Smart.”
“What do you want?”
“What I've always wanted.”
“The company?”
“No.”
She looked at Chloe.
“The bloodline.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“Why?”
Evelyn's smile disappeared.
“Because your family built everything on stolen research.”
Victor frowned.
“What research?”
“Your grandfather developed a neurological system that could identify rare hereditary musical patterns.”
Victor stared.
He remembered his grandfather's obsession with music.
Evelyn continued.
“Your family used it to find children with exceptional abilities.”
“And Amelia?”
“Your daughter was the best subject.”
Victor's stomach turned.
“You experimented on your own family?”
“Not me.”
Evelyn's eyes sharpened.
“Your grandmother started it.”
Victor felt sick.
“No.”
“She believed your bloodline was special.”
Evelyn looked at Chloe.
“Amelia inherited it.”
“And Chloe?”
“The strongest expression yet.”
Chloe stepped forward.
“What do you want from me?”
Evelyn smiled.
“You.”
Victor moved in front of her.
“You'll never touch her.”
Evelyn looked almost amused.
“You've already lost her once.”
Victor's eyes flashed.
“I didn't lose her.”
“You abandoned her.”
The words cut deeper than any weapon.
Evelyn revealed another photograph.
Victor looked.
It showed Amelia as a teenager.
She stood beside Victor.
On her wrist was a hospital bracelet.
Victor remembered that day.
He had dismissed it.
He had been too busy.
He hadn't asked.
Evelyn whispered:
“Your daughter begged you for help.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“And you ignored her.”
“I didn't know.”
“You never asked.”
A phone rang.
Evelyn answered.
“Yes?”
She listened.
Then her expression changed.
“Already?”
Victor noticed.
“What happened?”
Evelyn looked at Chloe.
“Someone found Amelia.”
Victor's heart leapt.
“Where?”
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
“She escaped.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Where is she?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Home.”
Victor frowned.
“What?”
“She went to the one place she thought you would never look.”
Evelyn turned toward the tunnel entrance.
“Your childhood home.”
Victor's eyes widened.
The estate where his mother had lived.
The house destroyed in a fire twenty years ago.
Evelyn pressed the button again.
The snipers disappeared.
But before leaving, she leaned toward Victor.
“There's one thing you should know.”
“What?”
“She didn't come alone.”
Victor froze.
“With whom?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Your grandson.”
Victor stared.
“Chloe is my granddaughter.”
“Yes.”
May you like
Evelyn nodded.
“But she has a brother.”
