Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the CurtainMr. Cross pointed the gun toward the floor.
Nobody moved.
Evelyn whispered:
“Put it down.”
“I can't.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Who owns the children?”
Mr. Cross's hand trembled.
“You are looking at the wrong signature.”
Adrian looked at the file again.
The second signature was not Cross.
It was Daniel Mercer.
But below the name was another notation.
Authorized by A.V.
Adrian's stomach dropped.
“A.V.”
Mr. Cross shook his head.
“Not you.”
“Then who?”
“Your grandfather.”
“My grandfather died.”
“No.”
Again that word.
Adrian felt something cold crawl down his spine.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep believing the lie.”
A hidden speaker crackled.
Daniel's voice filled the room.
“Enough.”
The lights went out.
When they came back on, the laboratory was empty.
Mr. Cross was gone.
Victoria too.
Only Elena, Evelyn, Clara, Mia, and Adrian remained.
Daniel's voice echoed through the speakers.
“Adrian, you have twenty-four hours.”
“For what?”
“To bring me the seventh file.”
“And if I don't?”
“You will never see Victoria again.”
Adrian looked around.
“She has been working for you.”
“No.”
Daniel laughed.
“She has been working against me.”
Adrian froze.
Evelyn stared at him.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“Victoria has been protecting Clara and Mia.”
Adrian remembered the wedding.
Victoria had tried to drag the children away.
Maybe not to silence them.
Maybe to save them.
His whole interpretation of the day shifted.
Daniel continued.
“You think this is about the wedding.”
“What do you want?”
“The family trust.”
“Take it.”
“I don't want the money.”
Adrian's face tightened.
“Then what?”
“I want the last child.”
Adrian looked toward Elena.
“Jonah.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice became colder.
“The seventh child is not Jonah.”
Silence.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Adrian stared.
“Then who is?”
“That's the question.”
The speakers cut out.
Adrian turned to Evelyn.
“You know.”
She didn't answer.
“You know who the seventh child is.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because once you know, there is no going back.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You already destroyed my life once.”
Evelyn flinched.
“Don't make me do it again.”
Adrian's eyes burned.
“Tell me.”
Evelyn finally whispered:
“The seventh child is not a clone.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“He was born naturally.”
“Then who is he?”
Evelyn looked at Clara and Mia.
“The seventh child is your brother.”
Adrian swallowed.
“I don't have a brother.”
“You do.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked toward the dark corridor.
“He was born the same night you were.”
Adrian's mind raced.
“My father had another son?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Your mother did.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother had twins.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
“One was you.”
“And the other?”
“He was taken before anyone told the world.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“But Daniel does.”
Evelyn nodded.
“That is why he wants the seventh file.”
Adrian looked down.
Inside the file was a photograph.
Two newborn babies.
Side by side.
One had a tiny mark near his left ear.
The other had the same mark.
Adrian stared.
Then he noticed the name written beneath the second baby.
Not Jonah.
Not Vale.
A different surname.
Lucas Mercer.
Adrian's face went white.
“Mercer?”
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“Your brother was raised as Daniel's son.”
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