Chapter 8 - The Woman Behind the ShieldCaroline sat beside the bed.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“Then tell me everything.”
She looked at Lily.
Our daughter was sleeping.
“Before we married, your father contacted me.”
I stared.
“He knew you?”
“Yes.”
“What did he ask?”
“To protect you.”
“From Adrian?”
“From yourself.”
I frowned.
She leaned forward.
“You don't remember the night the old syndicate collapsed.”
“I remember.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You remember what you were told.”
She took my hand.
“Someone altered your memory.”
I almost laughed.
“That isn't possible.”
“Then explain the four missing years.”
I couldn't.
There were gaps.
Small ones.
Hours.
Days.
Conversations I couldn't place.
I had always blamed exhaustion.
Trauma.
Age.
Caroline continued.
“Before Julian Vance, you were something else.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You were Adrian's partner.”
I went still.
“What?”
“You built the syndicate together.”
“I know that.”
“You also built Aurelian.”
Silence.
I stared at her.
“You're saying I created the enemy?”
“Yes.”
Lily stirred.
I lowered my voice.
“Why?”
“To destroy the bloodline from within.”
That changed everything.
My father had created a hidden strategy.
The Aurelian Circle had been designed as bait.
I had become the monster the world feared so I could draw out the monsters beneath it.
Then came the betrayal.
Adrian wanted control.
I wanted destruction.
And someone erased my memories.
Caroline touched my face.
“You weren't powerless.”
I said nothing.
“You were hiding.”
“From whom?”
She whispered:
“Yourself.”
The door opened.
Thorne entered.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“We found the missing aircraft.”
“Caroline's?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Hudson River.”
I got out of bed.
“Crash?”
Thorne shook his head.
“Empty.”
My heart dropped.
“Where is Lily's sister?”
“We don't know.”
I looked at Caroline.
“What sister?”
She closed her eyes.
“Emma.”
My breath caught.
“You named her Emma?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Caroline looked at Thorne.
Then back at me.
“She was taken eight years ago.”
I couldn't speak.
“By Adrian?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
She whispered the answer.
“Cynthia.”
The same woman who had tortured Lily.
The same woman I had believed was merely cruel.
I felt something inside me go cold.
“Why?”
Caroline began to cry.
“Because Emma was the original subject.”
My stomach turned.
“The first daughter.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
Caroline looked toward Lily.
“Adrian didn't kidnap her.”
May you like
She whispered:
“Cynthia gave her away.”
