Chapter 8 - The Seventh FileAdrian stared at the seven boxes.
“Explain.”
Mr. Cross seemed too tired to continue.
“Your father created seven children from your genetic material.”
“Seven boys?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Three boys. Four girls.”
Adrian looked at Clara.
“But my children weren't part of that project.”
“They weren't supposed to be.”
“What changed?”
“Evelyn.”
Mr. Cross opened another file.
“She discovered what the clinic was doing.”
“And stopped it?”
“She stole the records.”
“Then why didn't she expose them?”
“Because your father threatened her.”
“With what?”
“Adrian.”
The voice came from the doorway.
Evelyn.
Adrian turned.
She stood there.
Alive.
Older.
Her eyes filled with tears.
He couldn't move.
She stepped closer.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because every time I tried, someone disappeared.”
“Who?”
She looked toward Mr. Cross.
“People who helped me.”
Adrian whispered:
“You were the woman in the photograph.”
“Yes.”
“And Clara and Mia?”
“My daughters.”
He stared.
“Mine?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Clara is yours.”
She took a breath.
“Mia too.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The answer should have brought joy.
Instead, it brought grief.
“All these years…”
“I know.”
“You let me believe you abandoned me.”
“I thought it would keep you alive.”
Adrian looked at Clara.
She was watching Evelyn.
“You're her mother.”
Clara nodded.
“Why did you send them to my wedding?”
Evelyn's face changed.
“Because I ran out of time.”
“What does that mean?”
She handed him another file.
Inside was a recent medical report.
Her name.
A terminal diagnosis.
Adrian looked up.
“How long?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
“How long?”
“Not long.”
His throat tightened.
“Why now?”
“Because Daniel has started looking for the seventh child.”
“The seventh child?”
Evelyn nodded.
“You've seen the files.”
“Seven children.”
“One of them is Jonah.”
“Yes.”
“And the others?”
“Gone.”
Adrian froze.
“All of them?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Six disappeared.”
“What happened to them?”
“Your father claimed they died.”
“But you don't believe him.”
“No.”
“Then where are they?”
Evelyn looked toward Clara.
“Somewhere they can still be found.”
Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Adrian Vale.”
A man's voice spoke.
“Congratulations.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“Who is this?”
“You finally found your mother.”
“Where are you?”
“Watching.”
Adrian looked around the room.
No one.
The voice continued.
“You should ask yourself why Victoria was allowed to survive.”
Adrian's eyes moved toward Victoria.
The caller laughed.
“Your bride isn't your enemy.”
“Then who is?”
“You still don't understand.”
“What do you want?”
“The seventh file.”
Adrian looked at the boxes.
“Why?”
“Because it contains the name of the man who owns every child your father created.”
Adrian's heartbeat quickened.
“Their owner?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
The caller's tone became almost amused.
“Read the final page.”
Adrian opened the seventh file.
At the bottom was a signature.
His father's.
And below it, another signature.
Adrian's eyes widened.
The second signature belonged to someone who had been present at his wedding.
Someone he had trusted.
Someone who had just claimed to know nothing about the past.
May you like
Adrian slowly looked toward Mr. Cross.
But the old lawyer was already holding a gun.
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