Chapter 8 - THE CHILD WHO SURVIVED
We found the child the next morning.
Her name was Lily.
She was six years old.
And she lived less than ten miles from my estate.
A retired nurse had raised her.
When I saw her photograph, I couldn't move.
She had my father's eyes.
The same crooked smile.
The same small scar above her eyebrow.
I looked at Mara.
“Who is she?”
Mara was crying.
“She is your sister.”
The world went silent.
I had spent my entire life believing I was an only child.
But my father had another daughter.
A daughter Kareen had tried to erase.
The nurse explained everything.
“She was born six years ago.”
“Who was her mother?”
The nurse looked at me.
“Clara.”
My biological mother.
“She survived the attack?”
“No.”
“But the baby did.”
The nurse nodded.
“Your father arranged for her to be hidden.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because Kareen was looking for her.”
I stared at Lily through the glass door.
She was drawing.
“What does Kareen want with her?”
The nurse hesitated.
“The trust.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily is the original beneficiary.”
I felt my stomach turn.
“What?”
“Your father changed his will after discovering Kareen's crimes.”
The truth became clear.
My unborn child wasn't the first threat.
Lily had always been the real heir.
Kareen had spent six years trying to find her.
But why kidnap Alora now?
The answer arrived in a phone call.
Victor.
“She knows where Lily is.”
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“How?”
“Your mother found the nurse.”
“Where is Alora?”
“Alive.”
“Bring her to me.”
“Not until Lily is delivered.”
My heart stopped.
“You want a six-year-old child?”
“We don't.”
Victor sounded terrified.
“Kareen does.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily carries the evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“The original DNA records.”
I stared at the nurse.
She nodded slowly.
“Your father hid everything inside Lily's medical records.”
Victor continued:
“If Lily is identified as your father's biological child, Kareen loses control of the trust.”
I understood.
The money wasn't the only thing.
The trust contained evidence.
If Lily became legally recognized, the entire criminal network could collapse.
I hung up.
“We're going to get Alora.”
Mara shook her head.
“We don't know where she is.”
I looked at Lily.
“Yes, we do.”
The nurse handed me an old photograph.
On the back was an address.
A farmhouse.
The same farmhouse where my father had once taken Clara.
The same property Kareen had purchased under another name.
We arrived at sunset.
The house was surrounded by security guards.
I whispered into my phone:
“Now.”
Police vehicles appeared from every direction.
The guards scattered.
We entered.
I heard Alora screaming.
“Thane!”
I ran toward her.
She was tied to a chair.
I cut the ropes.
“Are you okay?”
She threw her arms around me.
“I knew you'd find me.”
Then a slow clap came from the hallway.
Kareen appeared.
She was holding a little girl's hand.
Lily.
My heart shattered.
Kareen smiled.
“Meet your sister.”
Then she pulled a gun.
“Now choose.”
She pointed at Alora.
May you like
Then Lily.
“Which one lives?”
