Chapter 11 - The FireThe blast threw Claire into a wall.
Smoke swallowed the corridor.
Alarms screamed.
Glass shattered.
Gabriel grabbed Claire.
“Where's Lily?”
Claire turned.
Gone.
“LILY!”
They searched through the smoke.
A tiny cough came from beneath the desk.
Claire dropped to her knees.
Lily crawled out.
Claire pulled her close.
“I've got you.”
Lily shook violently.
“Mommy.”
“What?”
“She said the last part.”
“What last part?”
Lily pointed at the music box.
Claire opened it.
Inside was a second recording.
Elena's voice.
“If you're hearing this, Lily is safe.”
Claire nearly cried.
The recording continued.
“Gabriel, if you blame yourself, stop.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
“You did not kill me.”
A pause.
“You saved our daughter.”
Claire looked at Gabriel.
His eyes were wet.
Elena continued.
“The person who ordered everything is not the man you think.”
Gabriel frowned.
“What?”
Static.
Then a final sentence:
“Look at the person who survives.”
The recording ended.
Claire stared at Evelyn.
Evelyn looked devastated.
Gabriel stared at his security team.
Then at his lawyer.
Then at Dr. Price.
Anyone could have survived.
Anyone could have benefited.
Then Claire noticed something.
A small burn mark on the doctor's cuff.
Same chemical smell as the explosion.
She looked at him.
“You.”
Dr. Price froze.
Gabriel followed her gaze.
The doctor reached for his phone.
Gabriel crossed the room in two seconds.
He slammed him against the wall.
“Why?”
Dr. Price laughed.
“You people think you're the only ones who know how to manipulate children?”
Lily screamed.
The doctor looked at her.
“Your daughter was never supposed to survive this long.”
Gabriel's expression became murderous.
The doctor continued.
“Evelyn thought she was saving Lily.”
Evelyn looked horrified.
“I was.”
“You were serving the plan.”
“What plan?”
The doctor smiled.
“The plan to replace the Varrick heir.”
Claire felt cold.
“Replace her with who?”
The doctor looked at Gabriel.
Then at Claire.
“With the child you've already been calling yours.”
Claire frowned.
Lily clung to her.
“What does that mean?”
May you like
The doctor smiled.
“Ask your mother.”
